Wine Producing Regions - Adelaide Plains

You can click the dots on the map or alternatively click the licks on the left to find out more information about that region of South Australia.

• Overview
• Adelaide Hills
• Adelaide Plains
• Barossa Valley
• Clare Valley
• Coonawarra
• Currency Creek
• Eden Valley
• Kangaroo Island
• Langhome Creek
• McLaren Vale
• Mount Benson
• Padthaway
• Riverland
• Southern Fleurieu
• Southern Flinders
• Wrattonbully

Adelaide Plains, South Australia

The Adelaide Plains run due north of the city of Adelaide, north-west of the Adelaide Hills and west-south-west of the Barossa Valley. It is a dry yet maritime climate with a very low incidence of disease. While much of the production is processed in the Barossa Valley, a number of small producers have shown just what can be achieved with the fruit of the region.

There are no subregions.

The climate is hot and in an arid region of such extremely low rainfall during the growing season, viticulture would be virtually impossible were it not for irrigation and the occurrence of south-westerly sea breezes during summer. Indeed, its latitude and altitude are not dissimilar to those of the Riverland region to the east. The growing season rainfall of only 192 mm (7.56 inches) is slightly less than that of the Swan Valley and is as low as any Australian region, making the Adelaide Plains heavily dependent on irrigation. The compensation is a climate in which it is very easy to ripen large crops of grapes in a virtually disease-free environment.

The laser flat topography of the sprawling Adelaide Plains is yet another factor assisting grape production in the region, facilitating broad acre planting and a high degree of mechanisation.

There are two soil types; the most common is the ubiquitous red-brown loamy sands found through so much of south-eastern Australia, with alkaline subsoils and free limestone at deeper levels. These are excellent viticultural soils that readily support the typically high yields of the region. There are also smaller patches of heavier loam and cracking clay soils which are very different in structure but, once again, tending to alkalinity rather than acidicty, promoting vigorous vine growth.

Wine Notes

Chardonnay

Most of the Chardonnay produces wine of a medium to full bodied style with tropical fruit and ripe peach flavours.

Colombard

It is true the variety is particularly well suited to hot climates thanks to its ability to retain relatively high levels of natural acidity. For this reason it is much prized as a blend component in the casks and generic white wines to which it is usually directed. Here, however, Colombard can produce a wine with an appearance disconcertingly similar to that of Sauvignon Blanc.

Cabernet Sauvignon

A medium to full-bodied, forward, ripe style Cabernet Sauvignon has long been a mainstay of the Adelaide Plains and is often blended with Shiraz and or Merlot.

Shiraz

In the hands of the region’s small producers, this wine can have remarkable quality, showing a totally unexpected touch of spice that is normally reserved for cooler climates and fine-grained tannins. Winemaking skills have no doubt played a part but it demonstrates what can be achieved with grapes grown on mature vines and with controlled yields.