Location and boundaries
McLaren Vale is a protected Australian Geographical Indication within the Fleurieu wine region in Australia. The region lies south of Adelaide along the coast, on Gulf St Vincent and in the Mount Lofty Ranges. The area extends from the coast at Hallett Cove in the south to Sellicks Beach and covers about 433 square kilometres with around 7,438 hectares of vineyard area.
Climate, landscape and soils
The Mediterranean climate is characterised by warm summers, moderate winters and predominantly winter rainfall. The coastal location leads to different mesoclimates, which are influenced by proximity to the sea or shelter, altitude, aspect and winds. For the growing season, 226 millimetres of rainfall and a mean January temperature of 21.3 °C have been documented; the vineyard areas are situated at elevations of 0 to 417 metres.
The landscape includes coastal plains, foothills and valleys. Geologically, McLaren Vale lies in the bays of Willunga and Noarlunga in the St Vincent Basin. The soils range from reddish-brown sandy loams and grey-brown loamy sands to calcareous, sandy and red or black, loose loams.
Viticulture and history
The commercial wine-growing history of the region began in the late 1830s. In 1839, John Reynell planted South Australia’s first commercial vineyard; later, Thomas Hardy established his own estate. The McLaren Vale GI was added to the Australian register of protected names on 2 September 1997.
In the vineyards, increasingly processed recycled water from municipal wastewater treatment facilities is being used. In addition, involvement in Sustainable Winegrowing Australia has been documented.
Grape varieties and wine styles
The most important grape varieties include Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Chardonnay. The five most widely grown varieties are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Chardonnay and Merlot. Other varieties grown include, among others, Fiano, Vermentino, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Picpoul, Nero d’Avola, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Tempranillo and Mencía.
McLaren Vale produces red wines from Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, including varietal wines and traditional GSM cuvées. Shiraz ranges from fresh and fruit-driven to structured and full-bodied; Grenache is developed from light and fragrant to complex and suitable for ageing. Fiano and Vermentino produce white wines with vibrant acidity and citrus-accented profiles.
