Overview

This is a region of rapidly growing importance for the production of super-premium table and sparkling wines. The only limitation on its potential growth is that imposed by water conservation and alternative land-use requirements.

The Big Picture

The Adelaide Hills area is very beautiful, particularly in autumn, and is still a largely undiscovered treasure. Twisting and turning, rising and falling, the roads offer cameo vistas with bewildering frequency.  But no one should venture into this region without a detailed road map, for it is impossible to navigate by simply using one's sense of direction. 

The Adelaide Hills has two registered subregions, Lenswood and Piccadilly Valley.

Adelaide Hills Wine Region

Climate

Altitude is the key to the climate. Mount Lofty and the Piccadilly Valley are a bare 25 minutes' drive from the centre of Adelaide, but the contrast in climate throughout much of summer has to be experienced to be believed.  The veritable maze of valleys and sub-valleys, with slopes offering every conceivable aspect, means there is as much mesoclimatic variation as one can find anywhere in Australia, making generalisations very hazardous.

However, most of the Adelaide Hills has an unequivocally cool climate, with heat summations ranging from less than 1,300 at Stirling to 1,398 at Lenswood.  It is not until one reaches the northern extremity of the region, and the west-facing slopes, that one moves out of a climate suited principally to the early-ripening varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, and into terrain which satisfactorily ripens Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.  Rainfall varies throughout the region, increasing at higher elevations, but is strongly winter and spring dominant. Irrigation is considered necessary.  The main viticultural hazard is the misty, wet weather which often prevails during flowering and results in poor fruit set. 

Soil

The soils are predominantly grey to grey-brown loamy sands of low to moderate fertility.  Most fall into the common south-east Australian family, and are well suited to viticulture.

Wines

Sauvignon Blanc: The Adelaide Hills region is winning accolades for its Sauvignon Blanc, producing some of the best examples of the variety in Australia.  Typically the wines are fresh, fragrant and aromatic, yet crisp and food friendly with the distinctive acidity and fine structure that typifies many wine styles – both white and red – from the Hills.

Sauvignon Blanc is one of Australia's most significant contemporary wine styles.  Those from the Adelaide Hills seem to echo the fresh, cool, crisp, bright climate of the region.

Chardonnay: Complex but elegant wines may be expected. The variety flourishes and the resulting wines are invariably full of character, responding in marked fashion to the winemaking philosophies and practices of the numerous distinguished producers in the region. As one would expect, natural levels of acidity are good, allowing makers to use malolactic fermentation to increase complexity without threatening the longevity of the wines or permitting them to become soft and flabby.

Riesling: Riesling is grown across the span of climatic sites within the Adelaide Hills, producing razor-sharp, fine and delicate wines in the cooler locations and richer, more conventional wine styles on the warmer sites. For early consumption, the latter wines may well be favoured. For those prepared to wait five to ten years, the cooler sites provide the answer.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot: Although not widely grown, several producers have managed to make outstanding wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Quite apart from any other consideration, success with these varieties is a testament to the importance of site selection.

Pinot Noir: After a slow and at times uncertain start, Pinot Noir is now asserting itself in the manner long suggested by the climate, and the arrival of new Burgundian clones should ensure continued impetus and interest. There is no doubt that the Adelaide Hills is, and will remain, South Australia's leading producer of Pinot Noir.

Sparkling Wine: Substantial quantities of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the Adelaide Hills are used in the making of sparkling wine. As one might expect, the style is extremely refined, the flavour long and lingering.

Vital Statistics

A Case in Point: John & Helen Edwards, The Lane Vineyard, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

The Lane's vineyards grows along picturesque Ravenswood Lane, near the village of Hahndorf, in the heart of the Adelaide Hills. At 450m above sea level, this undulating vineyard is a patchwork of microclimates. 52 hectares of vines are home to nine different varieties.

The first planting in 1993 of Shiraz, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were followed by further plantings in 1997, 1998 and 2001. All plantings reflect careful consideration of aspect, variety, soil and clone. The soils in this vineyard are ancient; research estimates soils from the Adelaide Hills are 1800 million years old. The soil is mostly gravel with limestone/calcium silicates and ferrous pebbles spread throughout.

The vineyard is monitored daily for pests and disease and only sprayed on an as-needs basis. This minimal intervention practice is combined with sound canopy and yield management. Efficient drip irrigation uses water from a pristine underground aquifer.

Daytime temperatures are often 5°C cooler than the capital. During summer, night temperatures on the vineyard floor are significantly lower with a diurnal difference as great as 24°C. These climatic conditions, soils and vineyard practices create distinctive conditions for grape growing.

In 2007 the Edwards family completed a state-of-the-art small batch winery fulfilling a dream to grow, make and sell their wine. The winery building includes a cellar door and bistro.  The wines from this estate have wonderful natural acidity, structure, elegance and a true sense of place.

The Lane Vineyard

Summary

The Adelaide Hills region is rapidly growing in importance for the production of super-premium table and sparkling wine.  Rainfall varies throughout the region, increasing at higher elevations, but is mainly dominant during winter and spring. The region produces a great variety of wine, with the main styles including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.

Wineries, Cellar Doors & Vineyards

Arranmore, Ashton Hills Vineyard, Argyle Estate Vineyards, Barratt Wines, Basket Range Wine, Battunga Vineyards, Bird in Hand, Birdwood Estate Wines Brand New Vintage- One Planet, Chain of Ponds, Christmas Hill, Cobb’s Hill Vineyard, Coobara Wines, Fluerieu Vintners, Geoff Hardy Wines, Geoff Weaver, Grove Hill Vineyards, Golding Wines, Hahndorf Hill Winery, Howard Vineyard, Harris Estate, Henschke-Lenswood, Hillstowe Wines, Honey Moon Vineyard, Johnston Wines, Jupiter Creek Winery, Knappstein Lenswood Vineyards, The Lane Vineyards, Leabrook Estate, Leland Estate, Llangibby Estate, Longview Vineyard, Magdalene Wines, Malcolm Creek Vineyard, Mawson Ridge, Maximilian’s Adelaide Hills, Morialta Vineyard, Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard, Mount Torrens Vineyard, Murdoch Hill, Nepenthe Vineyards, Nova Vita Wines, Paracombe Wines, Parish Hill Wines, Perrini Estate Winery, Petaluma, Petaluma’s Bridgewater Mill, Pfitzner - Eric's Vineyard, Pike & Joyce Wines, Roger's Hahndorf Hill, Salem Bridge Wines, Samphire Wines and Pottery, Setanta, Shaw & Smith, Spoehr Creek Wines, Talunga, Teakles Hill Wines, Tapanappa Wines, Tilbrook Estate, Tomich Wines, Totino Estate Wines, Uleybury Wines and Whisson Lake.

If you would like to have your winery included in this list, please email awbc@awbc.com.au.