McLaren Vale Wine Region

If you head south for about half an hour from Adelaide, you’ll find yourself in one of Australia’s most famous regions. Not only is the wine of exceptional international standard, it’s also the place for lovers of good food to indulge in the best the country has to offer.

Namesake

Named after Colonial official David McLaren, the wine industry started under colonial rule when Englishmen John Reynell and Thomas Hardy planted the first vines. The area was being tended to yield other crops like cereal, and the vineyards did well. By the end of the 1800s, there were a fair number of wine estates flourishing in the area, among those the Seaview and Hardy wineries built by those first estate owners.

Climate and geography

McLaren Vale climate is influenced by the Gulf of Saint Vincent close by. This translates into a Mediterranean type conditions with hot summer days kept cool with breezes coming in from the gulf. The evenings are cool in the shade of the Mount Lofty mountain ranges and grapes retain its crisp freshness and acidity despite the warm days.

The McLaren Vale geography is characterised by many rises and dips, and this results in many different types of soil from loamy to quite sandy and dry. The region is divided into five sub-regions: McLaren Flat, Willunga, Seaview, Blewitt Springs and Sellicks Foothills.

Wines of the region

The Shiraz produced in the McLaren Vale region is said to be among the best in the world. Other red varieties like Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also do well in the region. Prominent whites include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Other varieties grown in the region include the lesser Sangiovese, Zinfadel, Rousanne and Viognier.

Wineries

Some of the McLaren Vale region’s wineries include Grancari Estate Wines, Foggo Wines and McLaren Ridge.

You’ll find more wineries from McLaren Vale wine region by clicking here:  Wineries from McLaren Vale