Wine Producing Regions - Langhome Creek
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
Langhome Creek, South Australia
Australia’s larger winemakers are well-represented in this region, for Langhorne Creek Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon is a valued contributor to many South Eastern Australian red blends by such winemakers as Beringer Blass, Hardy, Orlando and Southcorp. The extent of the area under vine tends to be on a larger scale, and several holdings are in excess of 300 hectares (740 acres) in size. Such multi-million dollar investments emphasise what many wine producers have known for decades; this is a remarkably good area for soft, fruity, medium bodied red wines.
The flat, river delta landscape is ideally suited for large scale, relatively low cost vineyard developments where a high degree of mechanisation is commonplace. However, there are an increasing number of smaller wineries now based in the region, which are changing preconceived perceptions by producing regional red wines that retain the element of softness while at the same time adding richness and a remarkable concentration of colour and flavour.
There are no subregions.
The growing season climate is predominantly shaped by the on-shore southerly winds blowing directly from the Southern Ocean across Lake Alexandrina. While intermittently broken by periods of the very hot weather associated with northerly winds emanating from central Australia, the prevailing southerlies normally reduce daytime temperature fluctuations. These southerlies also decrease sunshine hours and overall summer temperatures while increasing the relative humidity. The winter-spring rainfall pattern persists. Irrigation is universally practised and in part, by the unique method of diverting the Bremer River and deliberately flooding the land in late winter. Newer vineyards also use, in the main, conventional drip irrigation.
Langhorne Creek’s fertile soils are predominantly deep, alluvial sandy loams that vary in colour from red-brown to dark grey, with patches of black, self-mulching clays. All soil types promote vine vigour, generous canopies and cropping levels.
Wine Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends
While less than a quarter of the wine currently made from grapes grown in Langhorne Creek is sold as a single-region wine, the style is relatively easy to define. Generally the wines are immediately accessible, soft and fragrant. Flavours are in the red berry spectrum, often with some gentle minty and chocolate overtones though seldom herbaceous or tannic. As in the Clare Valley, here Malbec adds a particular dimension when added to the blend, providing an almost riotously juicy wine with more cassis evident.
Shiraz and Blends
Often released as a single varietal but also blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Malbec, Shiraz produces strikingly fruity wines with flavours and aromas of cherry and mint. Its hallmark regional softness finishes with that hint of spice still remaining.
Verdelho
Although produced in relatively small quantities, a regional specialty, particularly as a fortified wine in the style of Madeira, Verdelho is increasingly handled as a soft, early maturing table wine.
