Overview

Where the vines meet the sea you will find the beautiful wine mecca that is McLaren Vale. With an idyllic location, a Mediterranean climate with cool maritime influences, and passionate winemakers and grapegrowers, it is no wonder McLaren Vale continues to punch above its weight. The region produces award winning wines and is enjoying a steady increase in visitor numbers, year in year out.

The Big Picture

Enthusiastic, energetic and passionate are words often used to describe people who live and work in McLaren Vale. The unique marriage of a wine region and beach lifestyle has created a melting pot for all things culinary, vinous and artistic.

McLaren Vale has a rich history of success and is widely recognised as one of Australia’s greenest wine regions because of its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability. This was evident in the launch of its region-wide environmental management plan in 2007. Minimal chemical pest and disease management is the norm in the Vale, and efficient water use is a major part of the region’s environmental focus. 

McLaren Vale Wine Region

Climate

There is substantial meso-climatic variation throughout McLaren Vale, due to varying exposure to the cooling influence of the nearby ocean (or conversely to protection from it). There are also significant changes in altitude as the region merges with the Adelaide Hills.  Summer rainfall is low, and supplementary irrigation is considered essential. Site selection and the marriage of site to variety are all-important; Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay all do very well in the appropriate location.

Soil

There is a wide variety of soil types, a reflection of the varied terrain; red-brown sandy loams, grey-brown loamy sands with yellow clay subsoils interspersed with lime, distinctly sandy soils and patches of red or black friable loams are all to be found. As the long-standing and intensive viticulture attests, most soils in the region are well suited to grape growing.

Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon: McLaren Vale’s signature variety that continues to win awards locally and internationally. The wines are full bodied and rich, often with a touch of dark chocolate intermixed with black currant, but they avoid overripe, jam-like characteristics. The tannins are plentiful but soft, and the wines have the structure for long aging.

Grenache: This variety has enjoyed a spirited renaissance during the last decade. The older plantings produce incredibly richly flavoured wines, with an almost juicy sweetness.

Shiraz: For much of the 20th century, as in so many of the premium wine growing districts of Australia, Shiraz was the backbone of the industry. It produces a densely coloured, richly flavoured wine that quickly develops a velvety texture and carries high alcohol levels with ease.

Chardonnay: Since its introduction a little over 15 years ago, Chardonnay has, not surprisingly, established a stranglehold on white grape plantings in the region. The style varies according to site, winemaker input and vintage conditions, ranging from elegant, citrus-tinged wines through to richer, fleshier, peachy and buttery versions.

Sauvignon Blanc: The cooler sites in McLaren Vale are well suited to Sauvignon Blanc. While vintage variation does play a role, in most years the wines have excellent varietal character, tending to gooseberry and tropical fruit rather than more weedy, grassy flavours without becoming coarse or heavy. Semillon is often incorporated to very good effect as a blend component.

Other Varities: The climatic diversity has helped McLaren Vale producers to successfully embrace varieties such as Barbera, Fiano, Tempranillo, Mourvedre and Moscato, and explore re-emerging varieties like Viognier, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Verdelho.

Vital Statistics

A Case In Point: Mike Brown, Winemaker, Gemtree Vineyards, McLaren Vale, South Australia

The Gemtree Philosophy revolves around three words: quality, integrity and sustainability.  Mike and Melissa have always believed in the maxim that great wines are made in the vineyard. Melissa is a third generation grapegrower and the family were principally grapegrowers until 1998 when Mike joined the team. Gemtree has 340 acres from which to source its fruit, selecting only the finest parcels for its own brand.

Gemtree has demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability with the establishment of a 10-hectare area dedicated to native flora and fauna in the heart of its vineyards, known as Gemtree Wetlands. The vineyards are currently in conversion to biodynamic viticulture as Mike and Melissa believe this brings out the individuality in each parcel of grapes and leads to wines with greater flavour and structure.

Gemtree is innovative in its practices and is not afraid to take the lead with alternative varieties such as Albarino, Tempranillo and Petit Verdot. Gemtree is a family run business that aims to continue to produce world-class wines while sustaining the integrity of the land for future generations.

Mike & Melissa Brown, Gemtree Vineyards

Summary

McLaren Vale’s mixture of international wine brands, family-owned wineries and artisan winemakers delivers a complete offering of premium red and white wines.  Varying exposure and changes in altitude and soil types throughout the region ensure an inspiring mix of food, wine and lifestyle.

Enthusiastic, energetic and passionate are often the words used to describe people who live and work in the region. The unique marriage of a wine region and beach lifestyle has created a melting pot for all things culinary, vinous and artistic.

McLaren Vale is widely recognised as one of Australia’s greenest wine regions because of its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability.

With a mixture of wine brands of international significance, the Vale has a complete offering of premium red and white wines.

Acknowledgements

South Australian Wine Industry Association

Wineries, Cellar Doors & Vineyards

Aldinga Bay Winery, Andrew Garrett & Ingoldby Wines, Andrew S Murray Wines, Arakoon Wines, Battle of Bosworth, Beresford Wines, Birchwood Lane, Blewitt Valley Wines, Blown Away, Boar's Rock, Cascabel, Chalk Hill Wines, Chapel Hill Winery, Clarence Hill Wines, Clarendon Hills, Classic McLaren Wines, Coriole Vineyards, d’Arenberg, Dennis of McLaren Vale, Di Fabio Estate, Dogridge Vineyard, Dowie Doole, Dyson Wines, Edwards & Chaffey Winery, Elliot Lynbrook Vineyard, Fern Hill Estate, Foggo Wines, Fonthill Wines, Fox Creek Wines, Gemtree Vineyards, Genders McLaren Park Wines, Geoff Merrill Wines, Grancari Estate, Hamilton Wines, Hardys Reynella Winery, Hardys Tintara Winery, Haselgrove Wines, Hastwell & Lightfoot, Hawker’s Gate, Hoffmann’s, Horndale Winery, Hugh Hamilton Wines, Hugo Winery, Kangarilla Road Vineyard & Winery, Kay’s Amery Winery, Kendall Jackson Australia, Kimber Wines, Koltz, Leconfield Wines, Longwood Winery, Maglieri Wines, Marienberg Wines, Marius Wines, Maxwell Wines, Middlebrook Estate, Mitolo Wines, Morgan Simpson, Mr Riggs Wine Company, Needham Estate, Nick Haselgrove Wines, Noon Winery, Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards, Oliverhill Winery, Patritti & Co, Parri Estate, Paxton Wines, Pennys Hill, Pertaringa Wines, Pirramimma, Possums Vineyard, Potters Clay Vineyards, Rockbare, Rogue’s Gallery, Rosemount Estate (McLaren Vale), Scarpantoni Estate Wines, Serafino Wines- McLarens on the Lake, Shingleback, Shottesbrooke Vineyards, Simon Hackett Wines, Sylvan Springs, III Associates, Tapestry Wines Tatachilla Winery, Tinlins, Torresan Estate, Twelve Staves, Tyrrells Vineyards, Ulithorne, Wayne Thomas Wines, Wirilda Creek Winery, Wirra Wirra Vineyards and Woodstock Winery, Yangarra Estate Winesand Coterie.

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