Barossa Valley - Located approximately 80 km to the North East of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is Australia's best known wine region. The Barossa Valley in fact comprises two regions, the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley.
The Barossa Valley is generally less than 400 metres above sea-level and stretches from Williamstown in the south to Kapunda and Truro in the north. Eden Valley includes the country from Truro in the north through to Mount Pleasant in the south. It ranges between 400 metres and 600 metres above sea-level with most of the winegrowing country located in the higher, cooler, wetter sections of the region.
Geology - There are two basic soil types: brown, loamy sand to clay loam, and more sandy light brownish grey to dark grey brown soils. Both are relatively low in fertility. Traditional viticulture on some vineyards with bush pruning and no irrigation, results in low yields of high quality grapes. The red-brown soils of the Barossa Valley are more fertile than those of the Eden Valley. Eden Valley soils are rocky and acidic and winter rainfall is plentiful, averaging 255mm per annum more than the Barossa Valley. Climate The climate has a wide diurnal temperature range with a high maximum, up to 44C, a high average of sunshine, and low humidity and rainfall. The rainfall in the Barossa can be up to 50% less than that of Eden Valley and temperatures are generally about 2ºC warmer. The cooler average temperatures means the growing season is longer, with the result adding up to a climate ideal for full bodied red wines, excellent fortified wines and generally robust white wines.
