McLAREN VALE: AN ANCIENT REGION WITH A PROGRESSIVE OUTLOOK
McLaren Vale is one of the oldest and most historically significant wine regions in Australia. It’s also one of the most innovative and exciting.
The birthplace of wine in South Australia, McLaren Vale lies just south of the capital city of Adelaide and offers a variety of soils that bask in a Mediterranean climate. Layered over this history is a commitment to innovation and change. The McLaren Vale wine community is known for being one of the most progressive and environmentally sustainable in the country, producing quality, contemporary styles crafted out of traditional and emerging grape varieties.
Climate and Terroir
The Mediterranean-like climate ensures warm, sun-drenched days tempered by cooling sea breezes from the nearby Gulf of St. Vincent. This unique microclimate cultivates grapes with optimal ripeness, while maintaining the acidity crucial for balanced wines. The region's moderate temperatures and consistent sunshine provide an ideal environment for a diverse range of grape varieties, from classic Shiraz to elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, and everything in between.
But McLaren Vale is more than just its climate; its terroir is the soul of its wines. Rich soils, ranging from ancient terra rossa to sandy loam, imbue the grapes with distinctive flavors and textures. The region's topography, with its rolling hills and valleys, offers a mosaic of unique vineyard sites, each contributing its own nuance to the final wine.
SHIRAZ
is the region’s signature variety. It’s renowned for its velvety texture and complex palate, but there’s really no such thing as a ‘typical’ McLaren Vale Shiraz due to the wildly varying geology and soil types. It can range from medium-bodied and nuanced with raspberries to dark fruit, spicy and full-bodied. Some winemakers blend their final Shiraz from a variety of sub-regions to add complexity
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its varietal character and layers of flavour. The wines are often full-bodied and rich, with structure that makes them suitable for ageing. These characteristics ensure its continued popularity both domestically and internationally. Cabernet Sauvignon shines in the region’s cooler sites and vintages.
GRENACHE
McLaren Vale has many old Grenache vines dating back as far as the late 1800s. The variety is still used in classic GSM (Grenache Shiraz Mataro/Mourvèdre) blends, but single-varietal wines – for a long time overlooked – have experienced a spirited renaissance during the last decade. Grenache is now a star performer. McLaren Vale winemakers produce varying styles of Grenache, with the older plantings producing richly flavoured wines with juiciness and spice. Regardless of style, the variety is perfectly suited to the region
CHARDONNAY
is the major white grape planted in the region, delivering affordable, easy-drinking styles. However, in recent years winemakers have shifted their focus to Spanish and Italian varieties better suited to the Mediterranean climate.
