McLaren Vale is home to the oldest Australian vineyard, with grapes planted in 1838. It's a coastal area, the Indian Ocean bordering the west, which leads to a cooling factor that prevents the grapes from getting too hot. In all, the climate is a perfect one for the vines.
Notable Facts
In McLaren Vale, there are vines as far as the eye can see. As in other parts of Australia,
Shiraz and
Grenache are the top grapes of the region, with some Cabernet Sauvignon planted as well. While red rules, whites are able to hold their own here too. With the warm yet reasonable Mediterranean climate, white grapes like
Chardonnay,
Semillon and even some
Sauvignon Blanc grow well. The wines are round and smooth and the producers in the regions are excellent.
