REGION
THE ADELAIDE PLAINS and the THE ADELAIDE HILLS
Our vineyards and olive grove lie just north of Adelaide, the heart of South Australia's wine growing regions, on the rich red terra rossa soils of the fertile Adelaide Plains.
Our home and the vineyards where the Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are grown are nestled in the gentle slopes of the beautiful Adelaide Hills, to the east of Adelaide.
We enjoy making the best of both worlds highlighting the different styles of warm climate and cool climate wines.
Our wines from grapes that the sunny Mediterranean climate of the Adelaide Plains region grows best - Shiraz, Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are known for their wondrful intense colours and deep rich flavours.
Recently, we introduced the Italian-inspired Pinot Grigio and a Sauvignon Blanc from the cooler climes of the Adelaide Hills . Adelaide Hills wines are distinctive for their elegant finely-tuned flavours and crisp acidity.
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The Adelaide Plains
Mount Lofty Ranges Zone, South Australia
Altitude: 20-50m
We have been passionate about putting our Adelaide Plains wine region on the map.
Joe is President of the Adelaide Plains Wine Region. It is one of the oldest wine regions in Australia. Grapes were known to have been first planted here in 1848 but it was only a few years ago that wine producers and grape growers in our district came together to form an Association. The 'Adelaide Plains' wine region was granted formal Australian Geographical Indication status in 2002.
The Adelaide Plains are near the 35 S parallel, similar to the Mediterranean wine regions of France, Italy and Spain.
Thirty minutes and 30 kilometres north of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains sprawls south east of the Barossa Valley, bounded on the east by the Adelaide Hills and to the west by the coastal waters of Gulf St Vincent.
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Wander off the Port Wakefield Road and you will find a cornucopia of market gardens, almond & olive groves, flowers, herbs and hydroponic glasshouses. The Adelaide Plains are Adelaide's summer salad bowl. Old stone buildings, crumbling in the golden haze of wheatfields and stands of majestic River Red Gums are reminders of a time when Cobb & Co coaches passed through pioneer villages straddling roads that stretch for miles in straight lines across the plains.
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Set amidst the lush gardens and dry paddocks is the sun-bronzed Adelaide Plains wine region. Paradoxically one of the original wine producing areas of the state and now one of Australia's newest wine regions the Adelaide Plains, after an early burst of vigour in the 1950s when wines from the region set the scene for the emerging export markets - grapes for Penfolds original Grange came from the Adelaide Plains, so did Wolf Blass's original Jimmy Watson Trophy wine - the area as a major wine producer, withered on the vine in the latter part of the twentieth century. It was easier to cart grapes to the wineries of the nearby Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Adelaide Plains grapes have long been favoured to top up other wines from other regions.
But in very recent years there has been a renaissance of local wines with a renewed focus on producing premium grapes and premium wines. Paradoxically, many Adelaide Plains wines are better known abroad than locally, with a strong emphasis on export.
The Adelaide Plains has been classified with other regions that fall between 21 C and 22.9 C MJT - Barossa, Clare, McLaren Vale, Rutherglen, Goulburn Valley, Mudgee, Hunter Valley. Harvest is generally earlier than other regions usually starting in mid-February. The growing season's low rainfall creates favourable conditions for consistent & predictable high quality fruit, unaffected by changes in weather that often follow later in the season. The flat topography assists mechanical harvesting which is often done at night.
Most vineyards are medium to small, in private family ownership with the real flavours and smells of winemaking from a far off time still evident in the homely cellars and barns of their hands-on owners. The maritime Mediterranean climate, with long warm days and slightly cooler nights and warm to hot summers and mild wet winters, and seabreezes from the nearby Gulf St Vincent provides for a healthy micro-climate with one of the lowest incidence of pests & diseases in Australia. There is minimal chemical and pesticide use.
The formation of the Plains was derived from sediments from the eastern foothills that form part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. There are two soil types; the red loamy sands with alkaline subsoils and deeper free limestone. These are excellent viticultural soils.
There are also smaller patches of heavier loam and cracking clay soils which are very different in structure, again tending to be alkaline rather than acidic, promoting healthy vine growth. Controlled drip-irrigation is used throughout the region with recycled water and water from underground aquifers.
It is the highly prized rich red terra rossa soils over limestone of our Estate that give our wines their unique full fruit flavours and intense deep colours.
Shiraz
Shiraz from the Adelaide Plains is of remarkable quality showing a surprising touch of spice, (normally reserved for cooler climates) and fine-grained tannins. Renewed focus on producing premium fruit with controlled yields is paying dividends with Shiraz wines distinguished by their intense rich cardinal colours and full fruity mulberry & plum flavours .
Cabernet Sauvignon
Forward, ripe style medium to full-bodied Cab. Sav from the Adelaide Plains has long been a mainstay often blended with Shiraz and or Merlot.
Sangiovese
The sunny Maritime climate is a perfect start to growing this variety on the Adelaide Plains producing a rich red distinctive Australian-Mediterranean style.
Merlot
Merlot is a popular variety, competing with Cabernet Sauvignon as the second most popular red grown in the region. Sometimes used to blend with Cabernet. Sauvignon or Sangiovese.
Petit Verdot
Petit Verdot is often blended with other reds to enhance tannin structure. The grapes from our rich red terra rossa soils are the key to producing this rich intense wine small robust berries with high juice to skin ratio.
Chardonnay
Early-pick Chardonnay grown on the Adelaide Plains helps some of the big wineries turn out some cool, crisp sparkling wines. Warmer climate Adelaide Plains Chardonnnay ranges from medium to full-bodied styles sometimes 13.5% Alcohol often described as fresh, buttery, golden, with tropical fruit, dried fig, rockmelon and peach flavours.
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Vital Statistics
Heat Degree Days 2046
Sunshine Hours per day Oct-Mar 9 hours
Annual Rainfall 460mm (18 inches)
Growing Season Rainfall 153mm (6 inches)
Mean Jan Temperature 22.6 C
Harvest Mid Feb - Late March
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The Adelaide Hills
Mount Lofty Ranges Zone, South Australia
Altitude: 400m above sea level
Our Home Estate is nestled amidst our cherry orchards and chestnut grove in the Adelaide Hills.
Adelaide Hills grapes were planted as early as 1839, but it was not until the early 1980's that there was a renaissance for vineyards and winemaking in this region. Grape varieties well suited to the Adelaide Hills are sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot grigio and pinot noir.
The Adelaide Hills region is very beautiful, with a patchwork of forests, farms, orchards and vineyards, scattered amidst picturesque hill settings with spectacular views across lush valleys.
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The region has a cooler Mediterranean climate with variations in some microclimates, due to altitude. As a result of its distinctive cool climate, the grapes grown in the Hills have wonderful fruit composition, particularly in depth and spectrum of flavour, natural acid balance and overall finesse.
This cooler climate region is better known for its white and sparkling wines.
Early ripening grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio do well. Grapes tend towards higher acidity levels, producing elegant wines with subtle, but flavoursome characteristics with excellent fruit and acid balances..
Location: 35?7S, 138?36E
Annual rainfall: 1120 mm
Mean January temp: 19.1?C
Sunshine hours per day: 8.5
Harvest : Late March - early May, occasionally earlier
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The Best of Both Worlds ...
New World Wine
Old World Tradition
The Adelaide Plains, near the 35 S parallel, are similar to the Mediterranean wine regions of France, Italy and Spain.
ADELAIDE - SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Our wines celebrate the
wonderful synergy between
South Australia's soil and climate.
The sunny maritime warmth of
The Adelaide Plains
The cooler climes of
The Adelaide Hills
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