The South Australian Wine Story

The Eden Valley is sometimes referred to as the “cool climate Barossa”, and its greater altitude allows winemakers to produce premium white wines (Chardonnay as well as Riesling) alongside the Shiraz that is the hallmark of its immediate and otherwise similar neighbour. The Barossa, of course, is Australia’s best-known wine region and Shiraz grown from some of the oldest vines in the world is its star performer (alongside some exciting Grenache, Mourvèdre and Semillon). The growing conditions are also conducive to fortified wines, including Seppeltsfield’s legendary 100-Year-Old Para Vintage Tawny. South Australia’s true cool climate region is the Adelaide Hills, just 20 minutes from the CBD, where vines were planted as early as 1839. This is one of the very few regions in Australia to produce truly great Sauvignon Blanc – wines with structure and authority that can only be created in the right conditions by winemakers with a real feel for the variety. In recent years, the Adelaide Hills has also become known for Pinot Gris and sophisticated Chardonnay, for premium still and sparkling wines The quiet achiever is Langhorne Creek, rated by many good judges as among the best regions in Australia for Cabernet Sauvignon. After all, it’s where Wolf Blass sourced the grapes that helped him win Australia’s highest profile wine award, the Jimmy Watson Trophy, an unprecedented three years in a row. The underlying theme here is quality fruit. The four Australian regions producing the highest percentage of the very best grapes are all from South Australia. The Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the Adelaide Hills between them have a majority share. The four Australian regions producing the highest percentage of the very best grapes are all from South Australia. 04 The South Australian Wine Story Image: McLaren Vale Grape & Wine Tourism Association