McLaren Vale Wine Region

The McLaren Vale Wine Region, just south of Adelaide in South Australia is part of the Fleurieu Zone along with the Langhorne Creek, Kangaroo Island and Southern Fleurieu wine regions.

It is blessed with a wonderful climate for viticulture.

See what a couple of local winemakers have to say about the 2008 vintage in the McLaren Vale region

Vineyards and Almond Trees in the McLaren Vale Region Buy this stunning photographic print from Art.com

Situated on rolling plains between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the sea, the area is warm enough to ripen almost all varieties, but the maritime influence tempers the worst of the summer heat. No wonder there are about a hundred wineries operating in the region, and most are producing excellent wine.

Unfortunately the McLaren Vale Wine Region is being encroached on by suburban development from nearby Adelaide.

McLaren Vale is now regarded mainly as a red table wine area, but has made very good Riesling and other white wines in the past. Marketing difficulties, rather than wine quality have meant that white wines are no longer grown so commonly in the region.

McLaren Vale is the Grenache stronghold of Australia. Quite a few of the older plantings of this fine variety survived the vine pull schemes of the 1980s and are now regarded as living treasures.

An interesting project taken up by a number of winemakers in the region is the production of 'Cadenzia wines.' These are blends which must contain Grenache as the major variety. Shiraz and Mourvedre are the most common blending partners, but Petit Verdot, Tempranillo are also used. The word cadenzia was inspired by the musical term cadenza, defined as 'an elaborate, ornamental melodic flourish interpolated into an aria or other vocal piece'.

While GSM blends of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre are becoming the signature wine of the region, Other varieties of note are emerging including the Rhone white varieites Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, Petit verdot, pioneered in Australia by Pirramirra, and the Italian varieties Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera.

The region has some large wine companies, but there are plenty of medium and boutique cellars to visit.

Day trips from Adelaide are quite feasible, but there are plenty of reasons to stay for a few days. You can use this excellent map to visit the region.

The list of wineries and the varieties they are using indicate that this region has plenty to offer those winelovers who want extend their enjoyment beyond the mainstream varieties. By all means enjoy some classic reds, but don't overlook the other riches that this superb region has to offer.

These McLaren Vale wineries are using alternative varieties: