ADELAIDE HILLS WINE REGION PROFILE prepared by Davidson Viticultural Consulting Services A division of Kirklinton Pty Ltd as trustee for Davidson Viticultural Consulting Trust DECEMBER 2004 ADELAIDE HILLS WINE REGION PROFILE TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................4 2.0 SCOPE OF THE ADELAIDE HILLS REGIONAL PROFILE STUDY..................................5 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF WINE GRAPE PLANTINGS.................................................................6 3.1 Location and Approximate Age................................................................................6 3.2 Varieties.....................................................................................................................9 3.3 Clones......................................................................................................................10 3.4 Rootstocks...............................................................................................................14 3.4.1 Current Plantings.........................................................................................14 3.4.2 Reasons given for use of rootstocks.........................................................15 3.4.3 Reasons given for not using rootstocks....................................................15 3.4.4 Future use....................................................................................................15 3.5 Yields........................................................................................................................17 4.0 CLIMATIC PROFILE.........................................................................................................18 4.1 Weather Station Data..............................................................................................18 4.2 Some indices used for climate descriptions.........................................................21 4.2.1 Elevation......................................................................................................21 4.2.2 Aspect...........................................................................................................22 4.2.3 Temperature and Degree Days (DD)...........................................................23 4.2.3.1 Standard Base 10 Calculation.............................................................23 4.2.3.2 19/10 Calculation..................................................................................23 4.2.3.3 Biologically Effective Day Degrees Calcualtion.................................24 4.2.4 Mean January Temperature (MJT...............................................................24 4.2.5 Mean Daily Range........................................................................................25 4.2.6 Mean Ripening Month Temperature...........................................................25 4.2.8 Sunshine Hours...........................................................................................25 4.2.9 Relative Humidity (%RH).............................................................................26 4.2.10 Spring Frost Index.......................................................................................26 4.2.11 Rainfall..........................................................................................................27 4.2.11.1 Annual Rainfall...................................................................................27 4.4.11.2 Growing Season Rainfall...................................................................27 4.4.11.3 Ripening Month Rainfall....................................................................27 4.4.11.4 Number of Rain days (October – April)............................................27 4.3 Ripening Issues – Biologically Effective Day Degrees (BEDD............................28 4.3.1 Lenswood.....................................................................................................30 4.3.2 Mt Barker......................................................................................................32 4.3.3 Stirling..........................................................................................................34 4.3.4 Stirling Post Office.......................................................................................36 4.3.5 Belair (Kalyra)..............................................................................................38 4.3.6 Kuitpo Forest...............................................................................................40 4.3.7 Mt Crawford..................................................................................................42 ADELAIDE HILLS WINE REGION PROFILE TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd) 4.4 Flowering and Fruit Set Issues due to Climate......................................................44 4.4.1 Phenological Data........................................................................................44 4.4.2 Floral Initiation.............................................................................................47 4.4.3 Flowering......................................................................................................47 4.4.4 Fruit Set........................................................................................................47 4.4.5 Comparison of climatic conditions during the flowering period..............47 4.5 Climatic Risks..........................................................................................................50 4.5.1 Climate change............................................................................................50 4.5.2 Frost Risk.....................................................................................................51 5.0 SOILS...............................................................................................................................52 5.1 Vine Response to Soil Type....................................................................................52 5.2 Detailed Description of Soil Types.........................................................................53 5.2.1 Birdwood......................................................................................................54 5.2.2 Charleston....................................................................................................56 5.2.3 Echunga.......................................................................................................59 5.2.4 Hahndorf.......................................................................................................62 5.2.5 Kuitpo...........................................................................................................65 5.2.6 Lenswood.....................................................................................................69 5.2.7 Macclesfield.................................................................................................72 5.2.8 Mount Barker................................................................................................76 5.2.9 Paracombe...................................................................................................79 5.2.10 Piccadilly......................................................................................................81 5.3 Detailed Description of Soil Types.........................................................................84 6.0 WATER RESOURCES.....................................................................................................85 6.1 Water Usage.............................................................................................................85 6.2 Water Quality...........................................................................................................85 6.3 Limitations on Water Usage....................................................................................85 7.0 Sub-Catchments of the AHWR.......................................................................................86 7.1 Land Use..................................................................................................................86 7.2 Rainfall.....................................................................................................................86 7.3 Topographical Relief...............................................................................................86 7.4 Soil Erosion Potential.............................................................................................86 8.0 KEY VITICULTURAL CHALLENGES..............................................................................88 8.1 Climatic Issues........................................................................................................88 8.2 Vine Balance / Fruit Quality Issues........................................................................88 8.3 Water Resources.....................................................................................................88 8.4 Industry Issues........................................................................................................89 ADELAIDE HILLS WINE REGION PROFILE LIST OF FIGURES Page No. Figure 1 Adelaide Hills Wine Region 5 Figure 2 Hectares of Red and White varieties planted in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region 6 Figure 3 Location of wine grape plantings in the Adelaide