South Australia Wine Zones – Click to Enlarge
All Australian wine-making states boast about one particular attribute unique to them. Victoria has the most wineries and regions, New South Wales has the most wine zones, and Western Australia has the largest single zone. But South Australia still rightly calls itself the wine state. And you can understand why, when it is responsible for around 55% of the entire national crush, according to Wine Australia National Vintage Report 2023, It also boasts the largest vine area, with approximately 74,521 hectares, over double that of New South Wales.
South Australia has 18 official GI (Geographic Indication) wine regions spread across seven wine zones. The most famous is the Barossa Valley, in the Barossa wine zone. Known for its big, bold, beautiful reds and is home to some of the biggest names in wine, including the famous Penfolds. The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s most historic wine-producing regions, with heritage and vines dating back to 1842.
This wine zone is shared with Eden Valley, which has a history as long as the Barossa Valley. Equally as old and covers an equal area, but is much less known. The region sits just east of Barossa Valley and offers highly acclaimed cool climate Shiraz and Riesling.
Surrounding the Barossa to the north, south and west, you will find the Mount Lofty Ranges wine zone, home to Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains and Clare Valley. The proximity to the state’s capital makes this area perfect for a long weekend break, with so much to see and do right on your doorstep.
Travelling further south, you are greeted by the Fleurieu wine zone. This zone may be small, but it has a whopping five wine regions, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Currency Creek, Kangaroo Island and Southern Fleurieu. This zone supports various grape types due to the variable microclimate dictated by the elevation and proximity to the coast.
Moving east from the coast, you will find the Lower Murray wine zone, and despite having only one wine region, Riverland, it grows the largest area of vine of any zone or region in South Australia with a vast 21,492 hectares under planting and produces one-third of the entire crush for Australia. The region hugs the Murray River all the way to the New South Wales/Victorian border and is home to some of the biggest labels in the country.
South from here, you arrive at the Limestone Coast wine zone that contains the most regions of all zones, Coonawarra, Padthaway, Mount Benson, Mount Gambier, Wrattonbully and Robe. This zone produces the second largest volume of crush in the state, and if the rows of vines were laid end to end, they would span 52,000km, according to the National Scan of Vineyards report by GAIA 2018.
Regarding grape quantity, The Peninsulas is the smallest of the wine zones, which lies to the north-west of Adelaide. This zone works just 57 hectares of vine and has no official wine region.
Lastly, our furthest north zone is aptly named the Far North, and is home to the Southern Flinders Ranges wine region. This is South Australia’s largest wine zone by area, reaching all the way to the New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia borders, yet only grows 175 hectares of vines.
South Australia is certainly home to some diverse and intriguing regions, and has to be on any wine-lover’s bucket list to explore as much of it as possible.
Adelaide Hills wine region is just 20 minutes from Adelaide and is acclaimed for cool-climate classics like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir and distinctive Gewurztraminer
Adelaide Plains is just 30 minutes north of the states capital and west of the Barossa Valley. The region forms part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, which it shares with Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley
Just a 50-minute drive northeast of Adelaide, the Barossa is an internationally-acclaimed wine region encompassing the towns of Tanunda, Angaston, and Nuriootpa.
Less than a two-hour drive from Adelaide, the Clare Valley is considered one of the most picturesque wine regions in South Australia, with its ample vineyards and cozy cellar doors.
Coonawarra wine region is nestled between Wrattonbully and Mount Gambier, 4 hour drive from Adelaide or 5 hour drive from Melbourne, and forms part of the Limestone Coast wine zone.
The Currency Creek wine region is one of five wine zones forming the Fleurieu zone which is located to the immediate south of Adelaide city centre in South Australia.
Eden Valley region covers an area in the Mount Lofty Ranges bordering the Barossa Valley, 1 hour and 20 drive northeast of Adelaide, extending from Truro in the north to Springton in the south.
Kangaroo Island is a picturesque spot of the Southern Fleurieu, known for its landscapes and wildlife, but with many wineries, this is also a fabulous destination for wine lovers.
One of the best-kept secrets in Australian viticulture, Langhorne Creek is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, and less than an hours drive from Adelaide,
Only 45 minutes south of Adelaide, McLaren Vale is home to sustainable wine growing, world-class wines, and culinary experiences, as well as pristine natural attractions and unparalleled views.
Mount Benson is a small wine region located on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, strongly influenced by the Southern Ocean, and features a cool, maritime climate.
Located midway between Melbourne and Adelaide, Mount Gambier wine region occupies the southernmost area of South Australia and has been established as a wine region since 1982.
The Padthaway Wine Region is quite distinct, being some 62 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide with the Riddoch Highway running through the middle and covering 345 square kilometres.
Riverland is a long-established, warm-climate wine-producing region located east of the Barossa Valley. It extends for 330 km along the Murray River from Paringa to Blanchetown.
Robe is nestled between lakes and the Southern Ocean and is part of the Limestone Coast wine zone. It is situated around the townships of Robe and Beachport and is south of the Mount Benson wine region.
Southern Fleurieu is one of South Australia’s most popular holiday destinations offering beautiful landscapes, sandy beaches, wineries, and cellar doors and forms part of the Fleurieu wine zone.
Neighbouring the Clare Valley, the Southern Flinders Ranges region is home to small wineries and a handful of cellar doors. The region is part of the Far North wine zone, South Australia’s largest wine zone.
Wrattonbully lies between Padthaway and Coonawarra in the Limestone Coast wine zone, 4 hours southeast of Adelaide on the South Australia and Victorian border, renowned for its rich soils.
