South Australia Wine

South Australia wine - from Barossa to the Outback 

The wine regions of South Australia have been at the forefront of the rise of Down Under wine and have worked their way to the top of the world with finesse and distinctive Shiraz wines. Fruit-intensive, concentrated, powerful red wine as well as delicate, juicy white wine from Adelaide and the surrounding area - this makes up about 50% of the wines from Australia. Welcome to the Australian Wine State. 

South Australia wine - from Barossa to the Outback 

The wine regions of South Australia have been at the forefront of the rise of Down Under wine and have worked their way to the top of the world with finesse and distinctive Shiraz wines. Fruit-intensive, concentrated, powerful red wine as well as delicate, juicy white wine from Adelaide and the surrounding area - this makes up about 50% of the wines from Australia. Welcome to the Australian Wine State. 

South Australia - Wine from the South of Australia

Winegrowing in South Australia has a certain tradition. Only 3 years after the colonisation of the area German settlers recognised the potential. The first wineries sprouted from the soil and viticulture flourished in the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. Some wineries still create world-class wine to this day - the original intention of the cultivation - using ancient vines. Because what didn't happen here is what makes South Australian wines special. Phylloxera, the phylloxera, never made it into the vineyards around Adelaide thanks to strict measures. As a result, the wine region is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world. 

Shiraz, for example, is considered a native variety by the winegrowers. After all, the variety has thrived for almost 200 years from the coastal city of Adelaide to the barren plains and hills of the Southern Flinders Ranges. Arrived on ships, stayed to establish South Australian wine. German immigrants brought Riesling along with sausage and beer. The French brought Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They brought along what tasted good. This has hardly changed to this day, although the wines can hardly be compared with their European counterparts due to the special climate in South Australia. 

The Australian wines are oriented towards the strong fruit, are not very smooth but opulent and direct. A lot of alcohol, soft tannins, true to their roots - the wines from the six wine regions of South Australia have it all and can stand up to any comparison.

Hot climate and red soil

The South Australian wine region stretches from the Limestone Coast in the south to Far North. The landscape is characterised by green plains, bushy ridges of hills and unreal forerunners of the outback, on which there is only a small amount of cultivation. The climate is hot and very dry in the summer and slightly cooler and more rainy in the winter. Note that the grape harvest in South Australia takes place from February to April, the early Australian autumn. Due to the high temperatures, grapes can ripen perfectly, losing acidity in some cases. South Australia is very hot and experiences many hours of sunshine, so the grapes develop a lot of sugar. Therefore, most Australian wines are also quite strong in alcohol. Ocean winds and the hills of the Mount Lofty Ranges offer cooling. The cool climate on the mountain ranges makes it possible to develop fruity and balanced white wines. 

Grape varieties in South Australia

The number 1 grape variety is undoubtedly the "native" Shiraz grape, which is vinified in all forms. In addition, there are vineyards with the following varieties:

Red grape varieties

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Garnacha (Grenache)
• Merlot
• Mourvèdre
• Sangiovese
• Monastrell

White grape varieties

• Chardonnay
• Riesling
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Sémillon
• Viognier
• Rousanne
• Marsanne
• Colombard

Wine regions in South Australia

Wine-growing in South Australia takes place mainly in the 6 wine regions. A small amount of wine is also cultivated on the so-called Peninsulas, but the proportion is negligible in the overall picture. 

Limestone Coast Zone - Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully

On the dark red "Terra rossa" soils of the Limestone coast the best Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive for deep dark wines with wonderfully concentrated aromas of plum and currant. Especially in Coonawarra, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines develop an incomparable cassis and eucalyptus note on the fertile red limestone clay. Shiraz also performs well on this unique soil. In the higher regions of Padthaway and Wrattobully, in addition to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, crisp Chardonnay and Riesling are also grown.

Terra rossa - the Coonawarra terroir

The extremely fertile terra rossa soil runs over a small area of 2 x 20 kilometres, giving the vines an unmistakable, distinctive character. The red chalk-loam layer, pure water in the subsoil and maritime winds combine to create a terroir that allows the grapes to ripen slowly. The terra rossa Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Coonawarra are sometimes considered the best wines from South Australia.

Lower Murray Zone - the Riverland

The Riverland, named after the Murry River, is the largest growing area in South Australia, if not all of Australia. The subtropical climate together with the moderate rainfall provides ideal conditions for agriculture. Therefore almost every grape variety is cultivated here. The harvest almost exclusively goes into the "Multi-District-Blends" - wines with grapes from different growing areas. 

Fleurieu Zone - McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek

The Fleurieu Peninsula in the south of Adelaide combines the McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek growing areas. The Mclaren Vale produces magnificent red wines with their own identity. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are planted here on a large scale and, thanks to local winegrowers such as d'Arenberg, are also vinified locally, which is not a matter of course. Wineries outside McLaren Vale also like to use the ancient vines. Further south, the Bremer River and Angas River flow through the Langhorne Creek wine region. On gravel and alluvial soil, all the grape varieties common in South Australia grow, but once again primarily for sale to larger companies for "multi-district blends". There are only a few wineries in Langhorne Creek. 

Off the Fleurieu Peninsula lies Kangaroo Island, where Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot grow on about 80 hectares.

Mount Lofty ranges - Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley

In the lofty heights of Mount Lofty and its hills, the Adelaide Hills growing area is situated at 400 metres above sea level. This is where cooler varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are grown - a very unique style in contrast to the opulent red wines. The acidity is solid and smooth, the character fresh and spicy. In addition to still wines, the grapes are thus also excellently suited for sparkling wines.

The Clare Valley, on the other hand, nestles in lush green to the north of the Mount Lofty ranges. It is one of the oldest wine growing areas and is spared from too high temperatures and lack of rainfall. The grapes ripen well and retain their acidity. Ideal for crisp, fresh grape varieties such as Riesling and Chardonnay. Of course, Shiraz and Cabernet are not to be missed, as is appropriate for a wine growing region in South Australia.

Barossa - Eden Valley and Barossa Valley

Northeast of Adelaide lies the most famous and renowned wine region of all: the Barossa Zone with the two areas Eden Valley and Barossa Valley. Shiraz wine from the Barossa Zone has been shaping the style of Australia for years: powerful, chocolaty and full of spice. Over 100-year-old vines give the world harvest after harvest rich and hearty Shiraz wines - some of them the best in the world. Grenache, Mourvèrde and Semillon are also grown on the more than 10,000 hectares and vinified directly in the Barossa Valley. The valley is home to many famous wineries, such as Torbreck and Penfold's, underlining its special position in the Australian wine world,

The Eden Valley, locally known as the cool climate Barossa, is the leading region for Riesling wines from South Australia. The white wine presents itself as mineral, floral and fresh. Nevertheless, the Eden Valley, under the leadership of the Henschke Winery, produces excellent Shiraz wines. 

Far North Zone - South Flinders Range

The southern sections of the Flinder Range in northern South Australia are the last bastion for wine growing and the beginning of the Australian Outback. Temperatures are high during the day and cool at night. Deep and fertile limestone forms the basis for the robust and powerful Shiraz red wines, which have a very good storage potential. Viticulture in the Far North Zone takes place at altitudes between 2 and 700 metres, with most of the vineyards situated between 350 and 550 metres. The focus is clearly on red grape varieties such as Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which bring the blazing sun of Australia to the cuvées.

Sustainability and consistency

Wine is a natural product. And Australia has plenty of original nature. The winegrowers and winegrowers from South Australia know that this must be preserved. In recent years, environmentally friendly systems and protocols for environmental protection have been established in this regard. In 2003, the South Australia Wine Industry Association, SAWIA for short, issued guidelines for wineries and regions to ensure that continued success goes hand in hand with the sustainability of the wine industry. Sustaining Success was the name of the initiative, and in some cases in South Australia it resulted in 14% less soil irrigation than the national average.

In 2008, the Entwine Australia programme was launched, offering wine producers the opportunity to become certified to international sustainability and organic standards. Approximately two-thirds of certified farms are located in South Australia. 

In addition, the individual wine regions introduced their own environmental programmes. McLaren Vale is considered a leader in this respect. After only 2 years, various programmes were able to make up to 40% of the vineyards comprehensively sustainable.

Further advantages are offered by nature itself. The diverse climate prevents numerous diseases and gives pests hardly a chance. Chemical agents are therefore only necessary in a few cases. Solar plants use the power of the sun. The d'Arenberg Winery, for example, operates the largest photovoltaic system for its winery in McLaren Vale. SAWIA is also working to ensure the smooth adaptation of climate-friendly measures, which have already been signed by the wine industry and the South Australian government. 

Sustainable viticulture is the only way forward for the wine industry. This results not only in near-natural viticulture, but also in excellent quality.

Buy wine from South Australia online

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