South Australia
South Australia
With household names such as the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and Coonawarra, it should come as no surprise that the state of South Australia is responsible for half of the total national production. For all its size this is no bulk region, with many of Australia's finest wines produced in the state and most of the scientific research and development facilities located in and around Adelaide, the state capital. Bordered by the Great Australian Bight to the south, production is limited to the south-east corner of the state - it is simply too hot further north to produce wine capable grapes. There is a vast range of soils and growing conditions, thanks to topography and climate changes, and the state is capable of producing a broad spectrum of wines. Full-blooded Shiraz, bone-dry cool-climate Riesling, deep-fruited Cabernet Sauvignon, lusty Grenache, and brisk, elegant Adelaide Hills Chardonnay are just the tip of the iceberg.
