McLaren Vale Located 45 km south of Adelaide, facing west to the Gulf of St Vincent, this region enjoys a unique set of climatic attributes within which there is significant diversity. The differences are astonishing given that the shoe-horse shaped valley is only 30 km from west (coast) to east (Adelaide Hills) and 25 km from north (Onkaparinga Gorge) to south (Willunga Hills).
Geology - Bounded to the north by the Onkaparinga Gorge and surrounded by the Adelaide Hill, the soils on the ridges are shallow, harsh and ideally suited to grape varieties such as shiraz. The soils in the valley and near the coast perch over clay and limestone. There are a plethora of different soils ideally suited to the cultivation of vines, each imparting its own stamp on the fruit produced. Ironstone boulders sit in deep sand and are considered to be one of the most important indicators of high quality red wine producing soil. Formed from ancient water-logged soils, it now contributes to quality by aiding drainage and limiting soil fertility. Its presence in the soil profile identifies the soils which will produce wines of greatest richness and depth of colour.
Climate - Mc Laren Vale has a classical Mediterranean climate. Winter rainfall delivers 450mm at the coast and up to 850 mm in the eastern foothills of the Adelaide Hills. The summer is characterised by warm, cloudless days. High UV levels produce intensely coloured wines with very high anthocyanins levels. Temperatures are moderated by the nearness of the Gulf. On the coastal flats, winter temperatures are mild, vines flower early in July and ripening occurs in February/ March. Further to the east and in the higher altitudes, higher rainfall and the lower temperatures delay flowering to September/ October so that ripening occurs in March/ April.
