Riverland Wine region 

A traditional wine region shrugging off its reputation for cheapies  to produce some stunning new wines 

The Riverland Wine Region of South Australia is an irrigated region along the Murray River from the border with Victoria downstream to Blanchetown. Renmark is the major city in the region. It was established when the surrounding districts were developed for irrigation by the Chaffey Brothers.

Other towns along the Murray in this region include Berri, Loxton, Barmera, Waikerie, Morgan and Blanchetown.

Vermentino fermenting at 919 Wines in the Riverland. This variety from Southern Italy is quite suitable to the warm conditions in the Riverland.

The climate is hot and continental. Evaporation rates are very high and viticulture in this region is impossible without irrigation. Although the region is not well known it produces almost 25% of Australia's wine grapes.

It is fair to say that until recently the Riverland Region was seen mainly as emphasising quantity over quality, but recent changes in technology and attitude have lead to some interest in producing quality wines.

Since the turn of the century the varietal profile of the region has changed markedly. Although the mainstream varieties Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay still dominate the acreage statistics, newer varieties more suited to hot summers are increasingly important.

A quick glance at the list of producers and varieties will show the rich diversity of varieties here.

Cirami Estate Verdejo

The Riverland Wine Improvement Committee is a non-profit group which has done much to introduce and test new varieties and clones into the region.  

They sell propagating material to other growers and sell wines under the Cirami label.

Whistling Kite Wines are among the Innovative winemakers transforming the Riverland Wine Region

Alternative varieties in the Riverland Wine region

The wineries listed below are located in the Riverland and are using the alternative varieties listed.  However a large proportion of the vintage, especially of the mainstream varieties is taken for vinification elsewhere.

A quick glance at the list of producers and varieties will show the rich diversity of varieties here.

• 919 Wines Durif, Graciano, Lagrein, Muscadelle, Palomino, Petit Manseng, Sangiovese, Savagnin, Tempranillo, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Vermentino
• Alejandro Alicante Bouschet, Arinto, Arneis, Bianco d'Alessano, Carmenere, Durif, Fiano, Graciano, Lagrein, Montepulciano, Saperavi, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Angoves Winery Bianco d'Alessano, Carignan, Colombard, Doradillo, Fiano, Gewurztraminer, Lexia, Mencia, Moscato, Palomino, Petit Verdot, Rubired, Ruby Cabernet, Sylvaner, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Banrock Station Colombard, Fiano, Montepulciano, Moscato, Petit Verdot, Savagnin, Tempranillo
• Bassham Wines Albarino, Alfrocheiro, Arinto, Fernao Pires, Fiano, Graciano, Lagrein, Macabao, Mencia, Montepulciano, Moscato Giallo, Nero d'Avola, Petit Manseng, Pecorino, Picpoul, Prieto Picudo, Saperavi, Tannat, Tinta Barroca, Verdejo, Vermentino
• Cantina Abbatiello Aglianico, Fiano, Greco
• Caudo Vineyard Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Cirami Estate Albarino, Durif, Fiano, Lagrein, Macabao, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Saperavi, Savagnin, Verdejo, Vermentino
• Delinquente Wine Arinto, Bianco d'Alessano, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Vermentino
• Dominic Tempranillo
• Grand Casino Fiano, Montepulciano
• Mallee Estate Assyrtico, Tempranillo
• Oak Works Chambourcin, Durif, Graciano, Lagrein, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Negramoll, Petit Manseng, Pinotage, Saperavi, Tannat, Vermentino, Zinfandel
• Omersown Wines Savagnin
• Paper Mache Fiano, Vermentino
• Prometheus Aglianico, Barbera, Montepulciano, Tinta Barroca, Vermentino
• Ricca Terra Albarino, Arinto, Fiano, Greco, Grenache Blanc, Lagrein, Sangiovese, Savagnin, Souzao, Tempranillo, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Trebbiano, Vermentino
• Salena Estate Bianco d'Alessano, Colombard, Fiano, Graciano, Lagrein, Montepulciano, Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Prosecco, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Touriga, Vermentino
• SAMU Fiano, Lagrein, Nero d’Avola
• Sevens Select Tempranillo
• Sixty Eight Roses Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Spook Hill Wines Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Durif, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Ruby Cabernet, Saperavi, Tempranillo
• Starrs Reach Durif, Fiano
• Torambre Wines Ruby Cabernet
• Whistling Kite Wines Mencia, Montepulciano, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Piedrosso, Vermentino

Bassham Nero d'Avola - another alternative variety in the Riverland Wine Region

Subscribers to Vinodiversity Community get invites to Darby's Special Taste and Talk Sessions. 

Pictures from South Australian WIneries

Scroll through these images and click for details

Visiting the riverland region

The Riverland region has a wealth of tourism infrastructure and attractions.  Many of the wineries in this region have cellar doors.  you can quickly explore the accommodation options using the search box below.