THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO M c LAREN VALE WINE

Learn all about this world-famous wine region, including its history, viticulture and winemaking trends, plus notable varieties and flavour profiles. CONTENTS

– The history of McLaren Vale – Climate and soil – Viticulture – Winemaking – Notable varieties – Characteristics and flavour profiles

Cover: Corrina Wright, Oliver’s Taranga, McLaren Vale AUSTRALIA

NORTHERN TERRITORY

QUEENSLAND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES

VICTORIA McLAREN VALE 0 500

Kilometres TASMANIA NEW SOUTH WALES

ADELAIDE

McLAREN VALE VICTORIA SOUTH AUSTRALIAThe ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine McLaren Vale is one of the oldest and most historically significant wine regions in Australia. It’s also one of the most innovative and exciting.

- Diversity - Innovation - Sustainability - Natural beauty M c LAREN VALE: AN ANCIENT REGION WITH A PROGRESSIVE OUTLOOK

McLAREN VALE: – Innovation: The region boasts many AN ANCIENT REGION WITH creative, boutique wineries that are willing A PROGRESSIVE OUTLOOK to push the boundaries and experiment in The birthplace of wine in South Australia, continual pursuit of perfection. McLaren Vale lies just south of the capital – Sustainability: McLaren Vale is also one city of and offers a variety of soils of the more environmentally conscious that bask in a Mediterranean climate. regions in Australia, with a number Layered over this history is a commitment to of producers farming organically and innovation and change. The McLaren Vale biodynamically or employing sustainable wine community is known for being one of farming methods. the most progressive and environmentally – Natural beauty: McLaren Vale is an sustainable in the country, producing incredibly picturesque region, nestled quality, contemporary styles crafted out of between the and the traditional and emerging grape varieties. white, sandy beaches of Gulf St Vincent. – Diversity: For decades McLaren Vale has It offers exceptional wines and regional been lauded for its ability to produce produce all set among rolling hills, brilliance from an array of noble varieties vineyard vistas, charming villages and a – from restrained yet generous Cabernet rugged coastline. Sauvignon and rich and refined Shiraz, to an exciting range of emerging varieties like Fiano and . Its current star performer, however, is .

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine THE HISTORY OF EARLY McLAREN VALE 1840s John Reynell establishes South Australia’s first commercial vineyard.

1838 1850s McLaren Vale is founded, The now-legendary winemaker two years after the state Thomas Hardy establishes of South Australia is his own property and delivers established. the largest bulk wine export to England.

MID-1920s – LATE 1960s 2010s Production is focused on fortified Legislation passed to wine and business booms. protect the character Immigrants from post-war Italy of McLaren Vale from bring fresh vitality and add to the urban sprawl. region’s reputation as a centre of gastronomy.

1970s TO DAY & 1980s 1999 With so much to offer McLaren Vale’s table wines Australia's first winemakers, and a propensity take their place on the world reclaimed water for experimentation, McLaren stage. The number of wineries network is built in Vale is increasingly known as grows along with the region’s McLaren Vale. one of Australia’s most exciting reputation for fine wine. wine regions.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine THE HISTORY OF McLAREN VALE: Mid-1920s to late 1960s 180 YEARS OF WINE EXCELLENCE By the turn of the century, in keeping with In the beginning the Victorian age’s yearning for all things McLaren Vale’s heritage spans thousands sweet, production turned to . of years of traditional ownership by the Business boomed and with money in the Indigenous Kaurna people. More recently, it bank some wineries began investing in has been shaped by European colonisation. bottling lines. 1838 This marked a quality watershed for The region came into being two years after McLaren Vale, coinciding with newly arrived the state of South Australia was established. immigrants, this time from post-war Italy. It takes its name from either – depending on With them came olives and a food culture who you believe – John McLaren or David that has added so much to the region’s McLaren (not related) of the South Australia reputation as a centre of gastronomy. These Company, which was founded to build a have subsequently become woven into the new Australian colony. fabric of the area and are now adding fresh vitality into this classic region. As with so much of history, the region’s founders were recent 1970s and 1980s immigrants: two English farmers from Along with so many other Australian regions, Devon, William Colton and Charles Thomas it was the 1970s and ’80s that saw McLaren Hewett. Drawn to the area by its fertile soils Vale’s wines hit the world stage. On the and fresh water, the two men established back of traditional classics such as Shiraz, adjoining farms – then for cereals and cattle Cabernet and Grenache, the region saw the – that would become the Oxenberry Farm, number of wineries rise and its reputation which today produces award-winning wines. for fine wine start to take root. Early 1840s 1999 Another young Devon farmer, John Reynell, McLaren Vale built the first and largest established South Australia’s first commercial reclaimed-water network in Australia, vineyard. While records differ, it’s believed he allowing irrigation to come from sustainable planted vines as early as 1838 or 1839 with the resources other than river water. first vintage occuring in the early 1840s. *See Advanced Notes 1850s 2010s Reynell was joined in this endeavour in 1850 Legislation to protect McLaren Vale by a young man whose name has become from urban sprawl – a risk given its close legendary in Australian wine circles, Thomas proximity to Adelaide – was passed by the Hardy. Hardy learnt a huge amount from South Australian Parliament in 2012, and his time working for Reynell, and used this came into force in January 2013. knowledge when establishing his own Today property, Bankside, in 1853. Shiraz and While McLaren Vale accounts for only Grenache produced around 600 litres of a small percentage of Australia’s total wine in 1857, which was exported to England wine production and exports, it is known accompanied by Hardy. At the time, it was domestically – and increasingly overseas – the largest bulk-wine export to England, and as one of the country’s most exciting wine its successful sale inspired Hardy to plant regions. McLaren Vale continues to draw more vines, the humble beginnings of one forward-thinking winemakers committed of the world’s great wine names. to producing creative wines that are an Like any emerging region, McLaren Vale authentic expression of the region. had to produce what the market wanted, so most of the early production was given over to copies of European classics.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine ANCIENT - Just 40km south of Adelaide - One of the most ancient and geologically diverse regions in the world LANDS - 19 distinct areas based on climate and geology AND DIVERSE SOILS

ANCIENT LANDS AND DID YOU KNOW DIVERSE SOILS The McLaren Vale Geographical Located on the , 40 Indication (GI) declaration was kilometres south of the state capital of officially recognised in 1997. The Adelaide, McLaren Vale lies between two GI covers an area from Hallett Cove fault lines in rocks older than 500 million to Clarendon and then roughly years and has 19 distinct areas. south-west along the Willunga foothills, meeting at the coastline of Sellicks Beach.

DID YOU KNOW McLaren Vale is a foodie hotspot, with an abundance of good restaurants and locally grown produce. It’s known for its premium olive oil and related products, thanks to the Mediterranean climate and Italian immigrants who arrived in the 1950s and ‘60s. Some wineries grow olives and produce oil as a side business.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine VERY HIGH >1000M CLIMATE >3280FT

HIGH 750–999M 2460–3279FT

MEDITERRANEAN WITH A RANGE OF MESOCLIMATES AND MICROCLIMATES MEDIUM 500–749M 1640–2459FT ALTITUDE M c LAREN VALE LOW 10–350M (33–1148FT) 0–499M 0–1639FT

McLAREN VALE Mean January temperature (MJT) Climate – 21.3°C McLaren Vale has a Mediterranean MJT refers to the mean temperature of the climate, characterised by warm summers, warmest month. mild winters, winter-dominated rainfall, Growing season rainfall (GSR) low relative humidity and relatively high – 226mm (8.9in) evaporation. Calculated from October to April in However, the proximity of Mount Lofty and Australia, GSR is a good indication of how Gulf St Vincent play an important role in much water is available to the vine. moderating the climate and are largely responsible for many meso- and micro- climatic differences. Local winds blow down Please check the Wine Australia website for up-to-date information. Altitude refers to the highest and lowest from both the slopes and in from the Gulf to vineyard in the GI region, not necessarily the highest or cool and dry the vines. This climatic variation lowest point within the region and is calculated using the throughout the region means there are small National Vineyard Scan and state contour datasets. Latitude is taken at the central point of the GI region. Meteorological parcels of land each making distinct wines. data is taken from the national climate data bank of the Latitude Bureau of Meteorology: the Australian Data Archive for – 35° 19'S Meteorology (ADAM). Climate indices have been calculated across the whole GI region by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem CRC as part of a research project co-funded by Wine Australia. Growing season rainfall (GSR) and mean January temperature (MJT) based on 1991–2017 averages from the Bureau of Meteorology (2018). GSR is calculated from October to April.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine SOIL McLaren Vale has over 40 unique geologies that vary in age from 15,000 years to more than 550 million years. Its wide variety of soil types reflect its varied terrain: - Red-brown sandy loams - Grey-brown loamy sands - Distinctly sandy soils - Patches of red or black friable loams - Yellow clay subsoils interspersed with lime

SOIL McLaren Vale is one of the most geologically diverse regions in the world, with its wide variety of soil types reflecting its varied terrain. The one thing these soils have in common is that they are fairly free draining, which makes them perfectly suited to the production of top-quality grapes. While the direct impact on wine of the region’s varied soils is still being explored, together with climate, old vines and innovative winemaking, they lay the foundations for outstanding viticulture.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine GRAPE GROWING IN M VITICULTURE: –flourish onmany sites. as , Fiano, , and suited to aMediterranean climate –such different varieties isamajorfocus. Vines region’s andexperimentation soils, with However, allmannerof vines thrive inthe Shiraz, Cabernet SauvignonandGrenache. grown here are red varieties, withafocus on of land under vine. Around 90% of grapes viticulture andtoday hasover 7,300 hectares McLaren Vale hasaproud history of IN Mc IN VITICULTURE: GRAPE GROWING LAREN VALE

c helps to define theregion. practices required to managethem–that many old vines –andthecareful viticulture contemporary approach combined with innovative viticulture practices, anditisthis Many of McLaren Vale’s wineries employ LAREN VALE

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine THE RE on BI'S GI G THREE SHIRAZ Grenache Shiraz CABERNET SAUVIGNON

GRENACHE

M SHIRAZ 58 c % SHIRAZ LAREN VALE

SAUVIGNON CABERNET Source: Wine Australia NationalVintage Survey. Variety share based onaverage tonnage from 2015–2019. 19 TOP 5VARIETIES

% CABERNET SAUVIGNON

GRENACHE 5 %

GRENACHE The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine 5

% CHARDONNAY

MERLOT 3 %

MERLOT PROUD HISTORY AND PROGRESSIVE THINKING

- Mediterranean varieties - Many old vines - Innovative viticulture practices - Phylloxera-free - Commitment to experimentation

Phylloxera HARVEST Phylloxera is a small aphid-like insect that Harvest starts in February for varieties feeds on grapevine roots and can devastate like Chardonnay and ends in April, in line whole vineyards. Unlike many international with harvest times in most Australian wine wine regions, McLaren Vale – along with regions. South Australia’s other wine regions – avoids The warm Mediterranean climate reliably phylloxera thanks to strict quarantine ripens all varieties in almost all areas of regulations. the region. Generally, grapes grown in the southernmost point of the region ripen first, with harvest dates occurring later as you travel north-east. The two main climatic factors that can impact harvest in McLaren Vale are rainfall and heat.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine - One of Australia’s ‘greenest’ wine regions - Organic products and biodynamic practices - Minimal chemical intervention - Climate-appropriate varieties - World-leading water management SUSTAINABILITY

DID YOU KNOW? McLaren Vale has the highest number of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards in Australia, and one of the lowest usage rates of sprays and agro-chemicals.

SUSTAINABILITY McLaren Vale is known for being one of the ‘greenest’ wine regions, with many growers using eco-friendly, organic products and biodynamic practices. Minimal chemical pest and disease management is increasing, and the region’s water-management strategies are world-leading. McLaren Vale’s varietal diversity also reflects its focus on sustainability. Some grapegrowers take an adaptable approach, adjusting what they plant according to environmental factors such as climate change and the specific requirements of McLaren Vale’s climate.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine ADVANCED COMPLEMENTARY NOTES READING WORLD-LEADING WATER A LOCAL PROGRAM IMPROVES MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS When it comes to water conservation AUSTRALIA and re-use, McLaren Vale is ahead of In 2009, McLaren Vale Grape Wine the curve. & Tourism Association launched the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia – In 1991, McLaren Vale was the (SWA) program (initially called first region in Australia to declare Generational Farming). This online and manage its underground program assesses the environmental, water resource so that it is self- economic and social sustainability replenishing. of vineyards and drives continuous – McLaren Vale built the first and improvement of growers and the largest reclaimed-water network region overall. in Australia in 1999, including a Growers are assessed percentage of recycled “grey in seven areas: water” from Adelaide. All of the – Soil health, nutrition and fertiliser region’s irrigation now comes from management. a sustainable resource, other than river water. – Pest and disease management. – Some grapegrowers use cutting- – Biodiversity management. edge moisture-monitoring – Water management. technology to make informed – Waste management. irrigation-management decisions. – Social relations Since summer rainfall is low, (workers, community and wineries). supplementary irrigation is considered essential for many vineyards, and – Economic sustainability. today there are two main sources of The program accounts for more water in McLaren Vale important to than 40% of McLaren Vale’s total irrigated grape production: vineyard area and more than 65% of – Groundwater aquifers, where water the annual crush. SWA has proven is collected and stored from natural very successful and is now open to run-off. Aquifer levels are carefully growers nationally, helping to drive monitored to ensure they don’t get more sustainable practices across too low. This helps mitigate salinity Australia’s wine community. issues. – Treated reclaimed water that is piped into the region from nearby water-treatment plants. Sprinkler and flood irrigation hasn’t been used in McLaren Vale for decades. The use of recycled water takes significant pressure off the natural groundwater and is vital to the sustainability of the region’s natural water resources.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine WINEMAKING IN McLAREN VALE

- Collaboration - Experimentation - Adaptability

KEY TRENDS - Minimal intervention - Reviving ancient techniques - Showcasing varietal characters and influences of - Picking grapes earlier and using less new oak to produce fresher, lighter wines

WINEMAKING IN McLAREN VALE it’s a philosophy that has led to many McLaren Vale is home to more than 110 successes. New winemaking techniques are wineries, many of which are known for their frequently introduced while ancient ones, innovative winemaking techniques. The such as amphora fermentation, are revived. three key factors that define the region’s Many winemakers are exploring minimal- approach to winemaking are collaboration, intervention approaches and other practices experimentation and adaptability. that allow wines to express McLaren Vale’s distinctive terroir. Collaboration Names that built the region’s reputation, Adaptability such as Hardys, d’Arenberg, Chapel Hill and An agile approach allows the region’s Wirra Wirra, have been joined in more recent vintners to adjust their wines as consumer times by winemakers challenging the status tastes change. As a warm-climate region, quo. From the outside it would be easy to McLaren Vale inherently produces wines of see tension between the old and the new, ample concentration and flavour. In recent the classic and the innovative. But McLaren years, however, the focus has shifted from Vale has risen above this and is a tight-knit, big, powerful styles to showcasing varietal collaborative community of winemakers characters and influences of terroir. sharing knowledge and collectively lifting the As a result, current winemaking practices region’s capabilities – and its wines, tend towards greater restraint. Winemakers as a result. are generally picking grapes earlier and using Experimentation less new oak to produce fresher, lighter wines Innovation and experimentation have that have traditionally only come from cooler long been at the heart of the region, and climates.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine ADVANCED NOTES AMPHORA FERMENTATION An ancient method of making and storing wine – practised by winemakers millennia ago – amphora is gaining popularity as a unique fermentation method. Made of clay and coming in a range of sizes, the ‘amphora’ earthenware pots are used for fermentation and ageing purposes, for both red and white wines. Interestingly, there is no set rule around their storage, with some winemakers burying – or half-burying – the pots, while others leave them unburied.

COMPLEMENTARY READING GROWING GRAPES FOR AUSTRALIA’S MOST FAMOUS WINE For an Australian grapegrower, farming the grapes used to make Grange – arguably Australia’s most famous wine – is one of the highest honours. Some growers will cherish making the grade and having their Shiraz grapes included in the iconic wine just once in their lives. But in McLaren Vale, the growers at Oliver’s Taranga have had grapes from their vineyards included in Penfolds Grange 14 times since 1996! In 2015, the winery received the Penfolds Triple Crown Grange Growers perpetual trophy, awarded to wineries that have had their grapes used in Grange for three years in a row. Oliver’s Taranga was the first McLaren Vale winery to receive the award. Strict standards are set for the grapes and wine used in Grange, and the grapes are sampled and rated in the lead-up to harvest. Every year, the vineyards selected are invited to a celebratory lunch and receive a magnum (1.5L) bottle of the wine.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine TASTE OF McLAREN VALE: NOTEWORTHY VARIETIES

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine SHIRAZ RAE LONGEVITY GREATER SMALLER GRAPES – – – – Notable producers include: complexity. from avariety of sub-regions to add Some winemakers blend Shiraz theirfinal and full-bodied. nuanced withraspberries to dark fruit, spicy It can range from medium-bodied and to thewildly varying geology types. andsoil thing asa‘typical’ McLaren Vale Shiraz due complex palate, butthere’s really nosuch It’s renowned for itsvelvety texture and Shiraz istheregion’s signature variety. SHIRAZ SHIRAZ

d’Arenberg Hardys Kay Brothers Wirra Wirra and intense wines ageing potential = more complex for Shiraz with

M SI gnatuRE vaRI ety

c

LaRE n Vale’s

M c LAREN VALE SWEETNESS ALCOHOL CDTY ACIDIT TANNIN COLOUR SHIRAZ The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine BODY OAK FLAVOURS NO TYPICAL O VARYINGTO SYE DUE STYLE GEOLOGY AND SOIL 8% Light Low Dry TYPES Medium dry Medium Medium ------

Spice Dark chocolate Black olive Liquorice Blueberry Blackcurrant 13.5–15.5% Shiraz Sweet High Full 17% SAUVIGNON CABERNET – – – – – – – Notable producers include: in theregion’s cooler sites andvintages. internationally. Cabernet Sauvignonshines continued popularity both domestically and for ageing. These characteristics ensure its rich, with structure that makes them suitable flavour. The wines are often full-bodied and for itsvarietal character andlayers of McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignonisknown CABERNET SAUVIGNON SAUVIGNON CABERNET

d’Arenberg Hickinbotham Wirra Wirra Brash Higgins Leconfield Wines Battle of Bosworth Chapel Hill

BESTEXAMPLES TEND TO BE FROMCOOLER VINEYARD SITES AND MILDER VINTAGES WNS WITH WINES LYR OF LAYERS OPULENT FLAVOUR

M c LAREN VALE

SWEETNESS CABERNET ALCOHOL CDTY ACIDIT TANNIN COLOUR BODY The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine SAUVIGNON OAK FLAVOURS 8% FULL-BODIED Light Low Dry structure for ageing and rich, with ------

Green capsicum Liquorice Chocolate Blackberry Black cherry Blackcurrant Medium dry Medium Medium Cabernet Sauvignon 13.5–15.5% Sweet High Full 17% GRENACHE – – – – Notable producers include: variety isperfectly suited to theregion. juiciness andspice. Regardless of style, the producing richly flavoured wines with styles of Grenache, withtheolder plantings McLaren Vale winemakers produce varying Grenache isnow astar performer. spirited renaissance duringthe last decade. long timeoverlooked –have experienced a blends, butsingle-varietal wines –for a (Grenache Shiraz Mataro/Mourvèdre) The variety isstill used inclassic GSM vines dating back asfar asthelate 1800s. McLaren Vale hasmany old Grenache GRENACHE GRENACHE

Yangarra Estate Vineyards S.C. Pannell Bekkers Samuel’s Gorge

ONCE OVERL OOKED, OOKED, OVERL ONCE OLDEST VINES planted inlate 1800s

NOW A STAR

PERFORMER

M c LAREN VALE SWEETNESS ALCOHOL CDTY ACIDIT TANNIN COLOUR GRENACHE FLAVOURS The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine BODY OAK 8% Light Low Dry AND PRODUCES TOREGION THE A VARIETY OF WELL SUITED Grenache STYLES Medium dry ------Medium Medium

Spice Earth White pepper Strawberry Dark raspberry Cherry 13.5–15.5% Sweet High Full 17% CHARDONNAY the Mediterranean climate. Spanish andItalian varieties better suited to years winemakers have shifted theirfocus to easy-drinking styles. However, inrecent planted intheregion, delivering affordable, Chardonnay isthemajorwhite grape CHARDONNAY WIDELY GROWN The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine easy-drinking styles WHITE GRAPE for affordable, PLANTED MAJOR

M c LAREN VALE

CHARDONNAY RE-EMERGING VARIETIES EMERGING AND of McLaren Vale today. the region, isoneof themost exciting parts techniques thatmake themwell-suited to styles, usingviticulture andwinemaking varieties. This exploration of international embrace emerging andre-emerging McLaren Vale producers successfully The climatic diversity andsoil hashelped VARIETIES EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING VERMENTINO medium-bodied white VERMENTINO MONTEPULCIANO full-bodied red medium to

MONTEPULCIANO medium-bodied FIANO white FIANO ulbde red full-bodied BARBERA medium to

BARBERA medium-bodied red SANGIOVESE

– – – Notable producers include: SANGIOVESE

Primo Estate: Vermentino Coriole: Sangiovese Oliver’s Taranga:Fiano NERO D’AVOLA ulbde red full-bodied The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine

NERO D’AVOLA medium-bodied red TEMPRANILLO

TEMPRANILLO (MOURVÈDRE) ulbde red full-bodied MATARO MATARO full-bodied red

MATARO ZINFANDEL

ZINFANDEL M c LAREN VALE: A FUTURE OF INNOVATION BUILT ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS

A FUTURE OF INNOVATION BUILT ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS McLaren Vale is a picturesque region known in Australia – and increasingly internationally – as a progressive community of winemakers producing high-quality, exciting and environmentally sustainable wines. Shiraz remains the firm favourite, but in recent years lesser-known Italian and Spanish varieties have taken centre stage. As such, McLaren Vale is set for a very bright future as a unique region that’s always looking forward while staying true to its ancient soils.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER – Winemaking in McLaren Vale is defined – McLaren Vale is the birthplace of wine by three key factors: collaboration, in South Australia, and one of Australia’s experimentation and adaptability. oldest and most historically significant – In recent years, the focus has shifted from wine regions. big, powerful styles to showcasing varietal – It’s best known for its trio of reds: Shiraz, characters and influences of terroir. Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. – The most widely planted grape is still – McLaren Vale is a warm-climate region Shiraz, but the varieties generating the classified as Mediterranean. most buzz right now include Grenache and a line-up of Italian and Spanish styles – It’s one of the most geologically diverse such as Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo regions in the world. and Barbera. – As one of Australia’s most environmentally sustainable wine regions, it’s leading the way in organic practices, water management and climate-appropriate plantings.

The ultimate guide to McLaren Vale wine Australia’s unique climate and landscape have fostered a fiercely independent wine scene, home to a vibrant community of growers, winemakers, viticulturists, and vignerons. With more than 100 grape varieties grown across 65 distinct wine regions, we have the freedom to make exceptional wine, and to do it our way. We’re not beholden to tradition, but continue to push the boundaries in the pursuit of the most diverse, thrilling wines in the world. That’s just our way.

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