Situated 40km south east of Adelaide this region is regarded
as one of the finest in Australia for full flavoured Shiraz
and Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit sourced from the region is traditionally
richly flavoured, producing wines of great colour and structure.
The region is also earning a reputation for its Chardonnay.
Main varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Chardonnay, Semillon,
Sauvignon Blanc
New Varieties to watch for:
Viognier, Merlot, Sangiovese, Marsanne, Tempranillo
Harvest Period: late February - late April
Location: 35°14'S, 138°33'E
Annual Rainfall:
660mm
Mean January temp:
21.7°C
Sunshine hours per day:
8.6
Soil types:
Vines are planted on a wide range of soils including podsolic
soils of low fertility, fertile red brown earths, terra rosa,
renzina, solodic and dark cracking soils.
Area under vine:
5200HA
South Australian Wine Region
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Vineyard
Key Milestones
John Reynell planted the first vines in the region on his property
Reynella in 1838.
In 1845, prominent medical practitioners of the time, including Dr
Penfold, planted vineyards for the purpose of meeting medical needs.
By the 1880s, Thomas Hardy and son's winery proved highly successful
and they were able to exploit opportunities in the British market.
In 1879, Frederick Wilkinson purchased the 65ha Ryecroft Estate with
the assistance of James Ingoldby and T C Walker.
In the 1960s the red wine boom arrived, however in the 1970s and 1980s
Chardonnay became extremely popular.
By
the 1990s, McLaren Vale was shrugging off its reputation as the "middle
palate of Australia" and establishing its unique regional identity
as a high quality region for full-blooded reds and well balanced whites.
