The Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s most famous wine regions only two hours north of Sydney. It comprised the Lower and Upper Hunter areas which are linked by the Hunter River. Both areas have a similar climate of high temperatures over summer and rainfall occurring between January and April. The Hunter is well-known for its award winning semillons and chardonnays and has truly become one of New South Wales finest holiday destinations.
Coonawarra
Coonawarra, with a heat degree summation of 1430, was the first cool-climate viticultural region to gain national prominence. Due to the limited maritime influence, the wineries are cold, wet and windy and throughout much of the growing season and the night-time temperatures are likewise low. Coonawarra boasts the most celebrated vineyard soil in Australia, commonly known as terra rossa a distinctive, albeit thin, band of at times vivid red soil overlying a bed of soft limestone. The colour comes from iron impurities in the limestone which have oxidised and become red-brown.
Griffith
This region is known variously as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Griffith and the Riverina. Growing 55 percent of varietal grapes in New South Wales and 15 percent of the total grape production within Australia, the Riverina is a very important region. As a producer of specialist wine grapes, its wine style of international importance is Botrytised Semillon. The climate is hot and dry with winter dominant rainfall, although slightly cooler than the South Australian Riverland and Victorian Murray Darling regions. Deriving in part from ancient streambeds, the sandy loam soils are variable in colour and structure, ranging from red sandy earths to brown clay loams.
Barossa Valley
Located only one hour north of Adelaide the Barossa Valley is one of Australia's most famous and well-known wine regions. With rolling hills and beautiful valleys the climate makes perfect big soulful reds. Age-old eucalyptus cover hillsides, occasionally standing sentry in the middle of a vineyard. Gnarled old vines run in erratic rows, younger plantings more military in their precision. In winter, yellow soursobs carpet the rows between the bare vines; in summer the vines provide a verdant green contrast to golden paddocks; sunset suffuses the valley in a warm glow, turning to purple as the sun sets.
McLaren Vale
On the beautiful Fleurieu peninsula, McLaren Vale is a region nestled between stunning beaches and rolling hills. It has been producing wine since 1841 and many of the wines today come from 100-year old vines. The region has a Mediterranean climate with warm sunny days and fresh seas breezes. It has good winter rainfall to ensure consistency of ripening and premium quality fruit.
Limestone Coast
The Limestone Coast region stretches in the northwest from the intersection of the coastline of the south east of South Australia and a point in the northwest corner of the County of Caldwell. The region’s wine areas consist of Pathaway to the north, Robe and Mount Benson on the north west coast, Coonawarra and Wrattonbully in the centre and Mount Gambier to the South. The Limestone Coast wine zone is the largest producer of the premium wine in Australia.
Adelaide Hills
A beautiful region with a rolling tapestry of green hills, gumtrees, vineyards and orchards. The Adelaide Hills combines cool climate, high altitude, clean air and ancient soils to produce grapes of pure, unforgettable flavour and fresh, natural acidity. Renowned as the best region in Australia to produce sauvignon blanc.