South Australia

Question 1

Zone: Mount Lofty Ranges

Answer 1

Clare Valley - Classic Riesling, plummy reds included Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. Polish Hills - Slate soils, Watervale - Terra rossa over limestone. Key producers: Grosset, Kilikanoon, Jim Barry.

Adelaide Hills - Coolest rainiest GI. Pinot Noir, Merlot. Over 60% planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris. Key producers: Petaluma, Shaw + Smith, BK Wines.

Adelaide Plains - Warmest and driest GI. Home of Maghill Estate, the start of Penfolds.

Question 2

Zone: Barossa

Answer 2

Barossa Valley - Oldest Shiraz. Typical vinification is in American Hogshead (300L) co fermentation with Viognier. Grange was invented by Max Schubert in 1951.

Barossa Old Vine Charter formed in 2009:

Barossa Old Vine: Min 35 year old vines
Barossa Survivor Vine: Min 70 year old vines
Barossa Centenarian Vine: Min 100 year old vines
Barossa Ancestor Vine: Min 125 year old vines

Eden Valley - Leading grape is Shiraz, Riesling an important varietal. High altitude, cool climate. Key producers: Henschke, Pewsey Vale, Yalumba

Question 3

Zone: Lower Murray

Answer 3

Riverland - 60% red grapes. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. The river valley soils (sandy loam over clay) and Malee soils on higher ground. Key producers: Oxford Landing, Banrock Station, Kingston Estate.

Question 4

Zone: Fleurieu

Answer 4

McLaren Vale - 1/2 of all vines are Shiraz. Also focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Rhône varieties. Mediterranean climate. Stays cool with natural features of Gulf of Saint Vincent and Adelaide Hills. Key producers: d’Arenberg (“The Dead Arm”) Shiraz, Clarendon Hills Shiraz, Drew Noon’s Grenache based “Eclipse”.

Langhorne Creek - First plantings in 1860. Top source of Jacob‘s Creeks wine. Lake Alexandrina directly south.

Currency Creek - Newer region, 1/2 planted to Shiraz

Kangaroo Island- Smallest GI. Key producers: Islander Estate and Cape d’Estaing

Southern Fleurieu - 1/2 planted to Shiraz. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay important white varietals. Key producer: Parri Estate

Question 5

Zone: Limestone Coast

Answer 5

Coonawarra - 90% red grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon leading varietal. Cool climate. terra rossa, black and brown rendzina soil. The first vines were planted at the Penola Fruit Colony under the direction of John Riddoch.

Padthaway - Red varietals lead, Shiraz. Terra rossa and red-brown sandy loam soils. Key producers: Padthaway Estate, Stonehaven, Browns of Padthaway.

Mount Benson - Shiraz leads. Terra rossa soil. First plantings in 1989.

Robe - Over 70% red varietals, Shiraz leads. First Plantings in 1994 (Penfolds)

Wrattonbully - 85% red varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon leads. Terra Rossa soil. First plantings in 1969. Key producer: Tapanappa

Mount Gambier - Largest GI but only 250ha planted here. Dedicated to Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc just like Henty next door in Victoria.