Clare Valley Wine Region
Clare Valley – Click to Enlarge
The Clare Valley wine region is less than a two-hour drive from the state’s capital Adelaide and is considered one of the most picturesque wine regions in South Australia. The region forms part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, which it shares with Adelaide Hills and Adelaide Plains.
The region is home to five districts – Auburn, Watervale, Sevenhill, Polish Hill River and Clare – each producing distinct wine styles, from the light and elegant to the rich and robust.
Clare Valley was settled in the late 1830’s, with the first vineyards planted by John Horrocks, establishing Hope Farm, in the early 1840’s. Sevenhill was later planted in 1852 followed by Springvale in 1853. By 1890, the region boasted 100 hectares of vineyards, which would eventually grow to the over 5,000 hectares it is today.
The summers in the region are warm to hot and the winters are cool, which is also when most rain falls. 60% of the annual rain falls outside of the growing season, meaning irrigation is highly beneficial in the region. Cold nights and afternoon breezes mean that even though it’s a warm-climate region it doesn’t always feel that way.
