History
The earliest recorded evidence of vine planting was in 1836 by a settler named John Barton in Chichester Gardens, North Adelaide. In 1836 George Stevenson planted a vineyard in Adelaide and was producing wine as early as 1841.
Following the spread of urban development, Hack's vines were pulled up and replanted in a new vineyard at Echunga Springs near Mount Baker. In 1843, he sent a case of wine made from the vineyard to Queen Victoria, famously being the first Australian wine to reach the Queen. Geographical DescriptionThe home of Australian wine is South Australia, where unique combinations of soil, rainfall and temperature have created some of the world's best reds and stunning Rieslings. South Australian wine is fruity, rich and interesting. Scattered across a the state, are a number of wine growing regions from the best known Coonawarra Region through to the Riverland’s, Limestone Coast, Fleurieu Peninsula and the Barossa Valley. Each region has unique regional variations in taste and quality.
Fleurieu Peninsula The Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia is half an hour's drive from Adelaide. The McLaren Vale wineries are the largest vineyards producing inky Shiraz and deep Cabernet Sauvignon. Barossa Region The Barossa Valley Wine Region is the birthplace of Australian wine. Its Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignons are world class. Riverland The Riverland is South Australia's fruit bowl. This region produces a large majority of South Australia's wine. The Murray River forms the heart of the Riverland. Limestone Coast The best red wines in the world - that perfectly describes the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignons from the Coonawarra wineries on the Limestone Coast in South Australia Premium Grape Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot |
Total Vineyard Size 48,055ha Elevation 62-632m Harvest Season February – April Winkler Index IV Temperature 23.3˚C Climate Warm Dry - Cool Season Rainfall 450-1200mm |