Eden Valley Wine Region

Though it's a rocky, rough terrain, the Eden Valley wine region in South Australia produces some of the best white wines in the country. Among these are Riesling and Chardonnay, as well as some fine, smooth-drinking red wines like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Eden Valley, not really a valley but named for the town, is part of the Mount Lofty mountain range and also forms part of the Barossa Range. The first vines in the region were planted in the middle of the 19th century by Joseph Gilbert and since then, the area has flourished and developed an excellent reputation for its refined, elegant wines.

Soil and Climate

The soil types in the Eden Valley are varied because of the different types of terrain that prevail in the area. There are many rolling hills, most of which are quite exposed and wouldn't ordinarily bode well for vineyard cultivation. Different areas in the region are suited to different grape types, so it's important that estate owners choose their sites accordingly. The temperatures in the Eden Valley are cooler than in the Barossa Valley, which means that the higher sites are much better suited to white wine production than red. This also means that the last stages of grape maturation on the vines and the harvesting take place in cooler conditions. Winds on exposed territory don't make a good combination either, and it tends to stunt the growth of the grapes on the starker areas on hillsides where the soil isn't as fertile. Eden Valley is also notorious as an area where water isn't as readily available as in others.

Wines

Despite the adverse conditions, Eden Valley wines are among some of the best in South Australia, and in the rest of the country. The Riesling is considered the most important grape type in the area, rivalling even that of the famed Clare Valley. The wines are flavourful and strong, best enjoyed after about ten years in the cellar. Chardonnay is relatively new to the wine region, but the hardy grape, first planted here in 1973 at Mountadam Vineyards, does well here too.

Caberbet Sauvignon is produced in both the low-lying and high-lying areas of the region. From the vineyards around the town of Eden Valley, the Cabernets are rich and darkly flavoured, and those from the higher-lying vineyards are smoother and slightly more refined. Shiraz is the more prominent red wine in Eden Valley and showcases the delicate characteristics common to the other grape varieties.

Wineries

You should try the wines produced by Eden Springs.

You’ll find more wineries from Eden Valley wine region by clicking here:  Wineries from Eden Valley