Head south from Adelaide for 45 minutes along the coastline and you’ll hit the McLaren Vale wine region, which boasts stunning natural beauty, a Mediterranean climate, and some incredibly talented winemakers. Given that the region accounts for a small percentage of Australia’s total wine production and exports, it certainly punches above its weight in terms of quality, and we reckon the wines coming out of this region are some of the best in the country.

McLaren Vale is where South Australian wine was born, and it has a rich and respected history of producing world-class Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. But it’s also one of Australia’s most exciting regions, with innovation, sustainability and diversity being driven by the producers and winemakers of McLaren Vale. Many Mediterranean varietals, ideal for McLaren Vale’s climate, have been planted in recent years. So alongside the big three just mentioned, expect to find exceptional Fiano, Tempranillo, Montepulciano, Mataro (Mourvèdre) and more from this region, too.

Home to over 110 wineries, the McLaren Vale region produces a variety of wines, from traditional to experimental, but with a thread of quality and distinctive terroir underpinning them all.

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