Explore our famous wine regions
South Australia is as diverse as it is beautiful. Each region tells a tale (all 18 of them), and the world is listening.
Words: Katie Spain
Look down next time you’re in an aeroplane as it approaches Adelaide from the east for a bird’s eye view of the Adelaide Hills. The biodiverse mix of vineyards, orchards, vegetable patches, forests and dense scrubland dot the voluptuous 70-kilometre stretch of landscape spanning areas such as Kuitpo, Carey Gully, Basket Range, Summertown, Lenswood and Piccadilly. The likes of Brian and Ann Croser (formerly Petaluma) helped establish the Adelaide Hills as a cool-climate wine region when they planted The Tiers Vineyard in 1979, pioneering premium chardonnay, pinot noir and some of Australia’s best sparkling wine in the process. Now, the diverse topography and medley of microclimates provides a veritable palette of flavour and style profiles spanning classic varieties through to exciting examples of Gamay, Grüner Veltliner, Tempranillo, and Dolcetto. The list goes on.
Meanwhile, an hour’s drive from the city, McLaren Vale boasts an enviable Gulf St Vincent view and Mediterranean climate. The region’s warm, dry summers, mild winters and the 30 kilometres of sea-kissed coastline provide stellar growing conditions for some of the oldest vines in Australia. It is also one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world thanks to more than 55 unique geologies and soils ranging from 15,000 years to 550 million years old. Producers are a creative, happy bunch (maybe it’s got something to do with the sea air). In addition to celebrated traditional varieties like shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and grenache, climate-appropriate Mediterranean varieties thrive, among them Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Fiano.
Want highly regarded Riesling? Clare Valley produces some world’s best thanks to warm to hot summers and cooling afternoon breezes. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and increasingly exciting Grenache (here’s looking at you Skillogalee), Fiano (Pikes) and Pinot Gris from several producers add to the pulse-quickening inland offering. The close-knit local farming community and evocative landscape make Clare Valley’s cellar doors charming places to visit.
Speaking of which, many Barossa Valley wine families have six (sometimes seven) generations of memories and storytelling behind them. Barossa’s rich tapestry of tradition, architecture, culture, creativity, food and wine is all found 70 kilometres north-east of Adelaide. The names of the English and Silesian families who first arrived in the 1840s are as familiar to locals as the sight of steepled churches, the taste of dill pickles, and Maggie Beer’s familiar smile. Expect exceptional Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Riesling, Chardonnay (the whites are nearby Eden Valley beauties) and stunning Semillon.
While it’s further to drive (approximately four hours from Adelaide) Coonawarra and surrounding Limestone Coast locations are worth the effort. Famed for its Terra Rossa (a strip of rich red soil over limestone), Coonawarra is revered for savoury, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that captures place and purity. A new generational wave of talent emerging among the region’s family-run brands also champions Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Nearby, Wrattonbully, Mount Gambier, Mount Benson and Padthaway make this south east destination ripe for exploration.
Closer to Adelaide, Langhorne Creek is a small but endearing wine region 65km from the city centre. A down-to-earth farming community surrounds the smattering of cellar doors and family-run vineyards that have long harboured some of the best fruit in the state, much of which makes its way into highly-awarded drops. Keep your eyes peeled for Langhorne Creek Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and a progressive offering of Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Fiano, Vermentino and Pecorino.
Last but by no means least, the Riverland is unforgettable largely thanks to the beautiful River Murray which runs through its vast, red landscape. Volume-wise, it is the largest wine grape region in the country but dig below the surface and you’ll unearth delightful pockets of producers growing and making everything from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to Arneis, Zinfandel, Montepulciano, and Vermentino.
A deep connection to earth.
Words: Ali Clarke
There is much to celebrate about the richness of South Australia’s wine regions – from Tarntanya, Adelaide, and the cool slopes of Peramangk Country, Adelaide Hills, to the red soils of Ngadjuri Country, Clare Valley and Barossa, the coastal beauty of Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri lands , McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, the fertile banks of Moorundie Ruwe, Riverland, and the limestone spine of Bunganditj Country, Coonawarra.
These vineyards grow on ancient country. On this land, long before vines were planted and wines were poured, our First Nations people cultivated knowledge, language and ceremony. Their relationship with the earth was – and remains – one of reciprocity, reverence and resilience.
When we raise a glass or share stories over wine, may we remember that every grape grown here draws from soil enriched by thousands of years of indigenous stewardship. May our gatherings be grounded in respect, and may our future be shaped by truth, listening, and shared legacy.