Region

Lining the banks of the Murray River, the Riverland is defined as the region running from Blanchetown (about an 80km drive northeast of Adelaide) through Renmark to the Victorian border. Being inland and warm, this large stretch of farmable land has an abundance of sunshine and low humidity in summer, and produces a large crop of grapes, primarily Chardonnay. How large? About half of South Australia's total grape crop, and a quarter of Australia's. It's a big region.

HIstory

The climate classified as continental, translating into warm days and cool nights. Grapes don't do well when mould gets to them, so the low humidity with long, sunny days in the Riverland are the reason this region produces such a quantity of fruit. Soils vary, but break into two basic types: sandy over clay, and sandy over limestone. That means it drains the annual rainfalls without leaving a lot of mud behind (which average less than 300mm across the region). Drought has hit the area hard in the

Like neighbours Coonawarra and Padthaway, Wrattonbully is a cool-climate region with superb terra-rossa soil. If complex, elegant wine is what you're after, you'll find some stellar examples from here.

History

The first vines for winegrapes were planted in the late 1960s; however it was in the 1990s that the excellent soils and elevated sites attracted many winemakers from surrounding areas. The region now draws winemakers and the attention of wine connoisseurs from around the world. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are the two main varieties grown, and Wrattonbully wines of these varieties are highly regarded for their complexity and elegance. Merlot and Chardonnay are also widely grown with great success - in fact the cool climate of the Wrattonbully wine region is proving suitable for many varieties.

The Wrattonbully wine region lies over several ranges in the area surrounding Naracoorte, including the Naracoorte Range (also known as the Kanawinka escarpment –

A trot down the road from McLaren Vale, the Southern Fleurieu is a relative newcomer as a wine region. Keep in mind we're comparing to some of the old regions in South Australia – vines were planted here as early as 1853, and it wasn't until bushfires in the late 19th century that most were wiped out. it is re-emerging as a great region, with a fantastic Mediterranean climate and great soil. Like The Vale, complexity and elegance feature in its wines.

History

Buxton Laurie is the first bloke on record for planting vines in the region (1853, Port Elliot). 4000 vines were producing 1,500 gallons of wine every year until the bushfires hit and destroyed the vines. Today, wineries and vineyards are active in several areas – Currency Creek, Kangaroo Island and the notable Langhorne Creek. Grenache, Viognier and Pinot Gris are starting to pop up amongst the familiar Aussie reds and whites grown in the region, showcasing the wide variety of climates and excellent

Snuggled in amongst the mountains of nothern New South Whales is Mudgee. It may be "just down the road a stretch" from the Hunter, but the climate is far from similar. Lower humidity and cooler summer nights encourage a slower, gentler growing season. Compared to it's eastern neighbour, Mudgee wines tend towards softer flavour and complexity. Good Chardy's and Cab Sav's feature.

History

Vines were planted as far back as 1858, and most folks agree there's a very good run of Chardonnay vines in the region. Was it a from a James Busby clone? (He who travelled the world collecting vine cuttings from Europe and South Africa in 1832.) Possibly, but with lashings of peach and fig, a good Mudgee chardy needs no heritage to be enjoyed.

Visiting

With it's own wine festival and a habit of treating tourists well, it's a great region to visit. Over 40 cellar doors are on offer, and the active local food industry will keep you filled up between tastings. A treat.

Tucked on the border of the ACT and NSW, this is small region but notable for good cool-weather whites. Chilly temps in winter and soil that drains the winter rains suit good Chardy's and Riesling, and the local producers run with it. Closer to Canberra Shiraz loves the warm days and cool nights in this part of the area – the result is complexity over punch.

Visiting

Worth a drive up if one is hitting the Wine and Roses Festival in the city. There are over 30 cellar doors to visit, and the scenery is speccy.

Heading south from the well-known Margaret River area (and you should – it's a lovely drive), you'll come across Pemberton tucked into the towering trees of the neighbouring forests. Things grow well here, so why not grape vines?

History

The soil is so good, in fact, local vignerons use a lot of tough love on the vines to keep them producing. Keeping them pruned back and dry is the trick. Chardonnay is the top drop in this climate, but those cool nights and warm days are beneficial to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Keep an eye on reds from this region.

Visting

Visitors should be ready to get outdoors and enjoy the landscape and coasts. It's not every day you can climb an 80 metre tree, after all.

In terms of production, the Margaret River is a small player in the Australian wine world. Under 5% of Aussie wine comes from here, but over 20% of it is premium stuff. We're happy to see David beat Goliath in the award show if we keep getting those dry, fruity whites and supple reds. Go west, young man, and taste!

History

Much of the regions success dates back to the late 1800's when Italian immigrants Albert Credaro, Jimmy Meleri and Domenic Garuccio planted vines to make some of the good old table wines from the Old Country. Some learned gents took a punt on commercial production in the late 1960's, with the recommendation of the very learned Dr. John Gladstone in mind. The Doc pointed out the Margaret River region cool climate would give growers a fine yield of fruit to work with. Too right he was!

Visiting

Today the area attracts millions of visitors, with the wine being the bog drawcard to a stunning landscape of remarkable biodiversity and pristine

A sub-region of the Margaret River, this notable spot is cool and has the kind of soil Riesling thrives in. Complex reds like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and that brooding Pinot Noir are also happy here. It's a world-class spot in the region.

History

It was back in 1955, when Professor Harold Olmo (on leave from his post as Prof of Viticulture at the University of California) spent eight months in the area studying the problems growing grapes in the Swan Valley. He tipped Mount Barker as the perfect spot for making wines in a light European style. The idea was endorsed years later, with plantings at the Department of Agriculture's experimental vineyard at Foresthill in 1965.

As you'd expect from a peninsula, Mornington is cool and maritime, with vines getting a good blasting of cold in winter. Folks who know about climate and wine would know that would rule out your classic big, bold Aussie reds. Maybe, but good producers and a focus on medium-bodied wines and sparklings have put this area on the map.

History

Like those nice folks in NZ, Mornington winemakers let the weather work wonders with Pinot Noir, Riesling and Viognier. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are worth mentioning, and as is typical of cool weather regions, the wines are soft, complex and elegant.

Often a well-kept secret amongst lovers of classic Australian Shiraz, Heathcote is hallowed ground for a group of smaller red wine producers. Ancient red soil dating back 500,000 million years seems to lend unique presence and depth to the flavour of reds made there. When James Parker scored Wild Duck Creek's Duck Muck at 99 in the late 90's, the word was out. Heathcote Shiraz was world-class in the right hands.

History

Other reds do very well here, and vines had been around as far back as the 1860's, but the emergance of boutique wineries in the 1960's is when the region really took shape, growing by small, clever steps throughout the 70's to today.

Visiting

Now, Heathcote is reknowned, and the grapes sought after by a number of neighbouring wineries. Some larger producers now grow there as well.

Yarra Valley, just an hours drive east from Melbourne, is one of Australia's great cool-weather regions. Chardonnay lives happily here, granting the wines notes of peach and fig. The real standout is Pinot Noir, that fickle red that challenges winemakers everywhere. The Yarra terroir is very suitable, producing complex wines with deep notes of berry and plum.

History

In many ways, the Yarra is one of the real survivors in the Australina wine industry. Vines and wineries were around as early as the 1830's, with names like St Huberts and Yeringberg garnering praise and getting attention overseas. Sadly, the economic downturn in the late 1800's hit the region's wineries hard, and by the 1930's vines were replaced by pasture. It was in the 1960's, as was the case elsewhere in Australia, that local Doc's got into the Yarra wine trade. This fostered a revival of plantings and winemaking in the region, with quality table wines popping up. St Huberts and Yeringberg re-opened,