History
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The free colony’s first Surveyor General, Colonel William Light names the fertile valley after the Barrosa Ridge in the Spanish region of Andalusia where he fought a famous battle in the Peninsula Wars of 1811. However, there is an error in the registration process and a new Australian name is born, Barossa.
Back in London, Angas welcomes a proposition by a dissenting Lutheran leader, Pastor August Kavel, who wants to re-settle his flock of Silesian peasant farmers and tradesmen to the New World and they arrive in 1842 in Bethany. The Silesian settlers find fruit growing -– especially grapes -– ideally suited to the Mediterranean climate and by the 1890s dozens of wineries have been established. Geographical DescriptionThe region has a Mediterranean climate ideal for full-bodied red wines, excellent fortified wines and generally robust white wines. The climate ranges from warm on the valley floor to cool at the higher altitudes in the hills surrounding the Valley. The region has a large diurnal temperature range, high maximum temperatures, high sunshine days and low humidity and rainfall.
The complex system of valleys and twisting hills results in a variety of slopes, aspects and sites. The soils vary widely, but fall in a family of relatively low-fertility clay loam through to more sandy soils, ranging through grey to brown to red. Premium Grape Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Grenache |
Total Vineyard Size 11221ha Elevation 112-596m Harvest Season Late February – April Winkler Index IV Temperature 23.5˚C Climate Warm and Dry Season Rainfall 550mm |
