The 18 wine regions are found in some of the most picturesque parts of South Australia, from the southern Flinders Ranges (where the great Australian outback begins) and the banks of the mighty Murray River to picturesque Kangaroo Island (KI to the locals), where you can combine wine tasting with spotting wildlife and walking among sea lions.
Premium wine experiences are on offer in every region. The state of South Australia boasts more than 3,250 vineyard owners, 680 wineries and 340 cellar doors. An incredible 200 cellar doors are located within just an hour’s drive of Adelaide city.
In fact, you could wake up in Adelaide, enjoy wine tasting in McLaren Vale, a long lunch in the Adelaide Hills and finish with a delicious dinner paired with wines in the Barossa. A wine lover’s dream day out.
Get to know Adelaide’s spectacular wine regions:
- Adelaide Hills – the wine industry’s German heritage can be seen in the pretty town of Hahndorf, which is surrounded by welcoming cellar doors.
- Barossa – boasts the longest unbroken lineage of winemaking and grape growing families in the country, some entering their seventh generation.
- Clare Valley – the region has earned its reputation as the heart of Australian Riesling, a tradition that continues to flourish alongside the creation of exceptional red wines.
- McLaren Vale – lays claim to being Australia’s ‘greenest’ wine region, with the highest number of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards.
- Coonawarra – famous for its vivid red soil called Terra Rossa, and home to 25+ cellar doors, scattered along one stretch of road.
- Southern Flinders Ranges – the red dirt of the outback starts here, creating a spectacular backdrop for sharing a bottle of wine at sunset.
- Currency Creek – close to the large freshwater Lake Alexandrina, this small region punches above its weight in wine and wildlife.
- Southern Fleurieu – calling all seafood lovers: this region’s proximity to the ocean makes this a perfect spot to pair a glass of wine with fresh seafood.
- Eden Valley – often referred to as the ‘Barossa’s Beautiful High Country’, it is a picturesque region with a cooler climate, nestled within the elevated ranges of the Barossa.
- Adelaide Plains – the Italian community who helped pioneer the region brought a passion for produce – olive oil is a specialty – along with Italian grape varieties like Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese and Moscato.
- Padthaway – what started out as a grape-growing region has now expanded to a small and close-knit community of winemakers ready to wow you with their wines.
- Mt Benson – the peak of Mount Benson overlooks a rugged landscape, where young trailblazers lead the local industry.
- Wrattonbully – a young wine region with all the makings of one that’s world-class, not far from the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves.
- Robe – a popular holiday destination, this region begs you to savour a local wine paired with the local seafood speciality, lobster.
- Mt Gambier – located on the gentle slopes of a dormant volcano, this region offers cooler-climate wines set among lake-filled craters.
- Langhorne Creek – the region’s hero varieties have long been the classic reds, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, both as soloists and in the famous Australian red blend of the two.
- Kangaroo Island – only a short ferry ride away from the mainland, the island is home to some of Australia’s best beaches and remote cellar doors.
- Riverland – on the banks of the Murray River, it is Australia’s greatest wine region by volume produced by area and provides a lot of wine that goes on to be enjoyed by people all around the world.
We can’t wait for you to visit! Plan your trip today.
Photo: Banrock Station, Riverland, South Australian Tourism Commission