Adelaide Hills Wineries to Check Out On Your Australian Travels
Discover three stellar wineries delivering exceptional wine tasting experiences in a premier South Australian wine region.
Adelaide Hills is a stunning cool climate region a short 20 minute drive east from Adelaide CBD located amidst the Mount Lofty Ranges. Surrounded by warmer climates both to the north and south, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale respectively, this region offers distinctively different wines than its neighbors. Plus, Adelaide Hill’s vicinity to the city makes for the perfect location for a long lunch or easy afternoon of wine tasting.
The history of the Adelaide Hills region has a similar beginning to the other wine regions of South Australia – settlers from the U.K. Adelaide Hill’s highest point, Mount Lofty, was named in 1802 by Matthew Flinders. Years later in 1831, Collet Barker climbed Mount Lofty and at such high elevation was able to spot the Port River. Later in 1836, this sighting helped Colonel William Light determine the settlement location for Adelaide.
The first South Australian vineyard was also planted in 1836 in North Adelaide by a settler named John Barton Hack. He supposedly planted European cuttings of Syrah and Grenache. A few years later in an effort to escape the urban sprawl of Adelaide, Hack pulled his vineyard and transplanted it near Mount Barker. Once production ramped up, Hack decided to send a case of wine produced from the Mount Barker vineyards to Queen Victoria. This was the first gift of Australian wine to be sent to an English monarch.
Many other grape growers and wineries followed suit and relocated further east, establishing wine production in the region known today as Adelaide Hills. In total, from 1840 to 1900 around 225 grape growers practiced viticulture and enology here. Unfortunately, due to the end of Imperial Preference, which had favored Australian produce exports to the U.K., many of these early wineries went bankrupt and closed. Thankfully, many pioneering producers in the 1970s and 1980s recognized the potential of the cool climate characteristics and diverse topography of the region. Vineyards were replanted, wineries opened, and over time Adelaide Hills became the beautiful premium wine producing region it is today.
Climate
Adelaide Hills is one of South Australia’s cool climate regions and one of the largest geographical wine regions in all of Australia. The region itself is a narrow 70km stretch of land along the Mount Lofty Ranges. All areas with an elevation of 300m or more qualify as part of the Adelaide Hills wine region, which also has two registered sub-regions – Lenswood and Picadilly Valley. Within that 70 kilometers, vineyard elevations range from 300m-650m. The highest vineyards are sited from Picadilly, Crafers, Summertown, and Carey Gully at around 600m-650m.
As elevation increases temperature decreases, dropping 0.5°C with roughly every 100m increase. These cooler climates at high elevations are especially important as grapes are ripening. The cooler nighttime temperatures help to enhance and preserve the color and flavor compounds in the fruit.
The average temperature during the growing season in Adelaide Hills is around 18.2°C compared to Adelaide CBD’s 23.3°C. Higher elevations in the Hills also means more rainfall averaging about 550mm per year and 270mm during the growing season.
Soil
Generally speaking, the most common soil types in Adelaide Hills are sandy loams, clay loams, and clay subsoil. In many areas of the region, the loams are also combined with shale or ironstone. The soil is typically acidic and occasionally can have a neutral pH. Due to the nature of the undulating hills and steep slopes in different areas of the region, soils at the top of the hill can be more stoney compared to the bottom where more peat, clay soil is found. This diversity in topography and soil allows viticulturists to make interesting decisions when planting vineyards. For example, vines can be more vigorous at the bottom of the hill in deeper, heavier soils while yields can be controlled in more stone based soils at the top.
Varieties
Adelaide Hills is home to wonderful cool climate expressions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz. The region boasts phenomenal sparkling wines and is also home to emerging varieties relatively new to the Australian wine scene. Varieties like Cabernet Franc and Grüner Veltliner are being increasingly planted throughout the region.
Adelaide Hills Wineries
Penfold’s Magill Estate – Innovation Since 1844
Why Visit Penfold’s Magill Estate?
You’re in Adelaide and want to go wine tasting, but don’t want to trek too far from the city
You want to experience a part of Australian winemaking history
You’re looking for an incredible dining experience to go along with your tasting
You truly appreciate wine and want to try the best wine Australia has to offer
The History of Penfold’s
If there is one winery synonymous with Australian wine the world over, that winery is Penfold’s. Since 1844, Penfold’s Magill Estate has utilized art, science, and innovation to continually produce outstanding wines, making Penfold’s the most renowned wine producer in Australia.
Penfold’s was born from “a soil that had never grown grapes and winemakers who had never made wine.” Dr. Christopher Penfold and his wife, Mary, first arrived in Australia in 1844 with a vision for medicinal winemaking. The family bought 500 acres in early colonial South Australia and planted vineyards from vine cuttings they carried with them on the ship from the U.K. Dr. Penfold began concocting tonics, brandies, and fortified wines for medical purposes from the vineyards planted where Penfold’s Magill Estate sits just outside of Adelaide today.
As the saying goes, behind every great man is a great woman. That was definitely the case with Penfold’s. Mary Penfold was the driving force behind the winery’s experimentations and innovative winemaking philosophies. She was completely self-taught when it came to wine and insisted all of the wines be blended to her taste. Crazy to think how the success of what is one of the biggest names in Australian wine today began with the exceptional palate of this woman. Especially considering in the 1800s, a woman at the helm of a successful business was completely out of the question. Go girl!
Dr. Penfold’s reputation grew along with the popularity of the winery. New varieties such as Riesling and Claret were planted with the wineries growing success. When Dr. Penfold died in 1870, Mary obtained complete control of the winery continuing to lead with innovation and determination. In 1884, Mary retired and passed the management torch on to her daughter, Georgina. By this time, Penfold’s was producing 1/3 of all South Australian wine. Georgina continued to lead Penfold’s with the same ethos of innovation and determination as her mother. In 1907, Penfold’s was able to stake claim as South Australia’s largest winery.
The winery hired Max Schubert as Penfold’s first Chief Winemaker in 1948. A decision which would prove to be instrumental to the global success of the winery. Schubert wanted to experiment with long-lasting wines inspired by the ageworthy wines of Bordeaux. This passion for experimentation led to the production of Penfold’s Grange – a wine that propelled Penfold’s onto the global stage. The release of Penfold’s Grange eventually garnered Max Schubert the title of Decanter’s Man of the Year in 1988. Penfold’s Grange has since received perfect 100 scores in some of the world’s most influential wine magazine. You can read more about this revered wine and its creator here.
If you are going to visit Penfold’s while in South Australia, I definitely recommend visiting Penfold’s Magill Estate Cellar Door as opposed to the Barossa Valley location. Though the same wines are on offer at each location, the Magill Estate is a better experience for the ambience alone. Not to mention the Magill Estate is the location of the original winery and the spiritual birthplace of Penfold’s wine. Plus, Penfold’s Magill Estate is a short 8km from the Adelaide city center. The cellar door is absolutely gorgeous with friendly, knowledgeable staff behind the bar. Guests can even book in for a fine dining experience at the Magill Estate Restaurant or opt for more casual dining at the Magill Estate Kitchen.
Tasting Notes:
2018 Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling – 6% Gewürztraminer. Touch of sweetness with incredible aromatics. The crisp acidity balanced with the fruity aromatics will perfectly compliment spicy Asian food.
2018 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling – Super bright acidity. Bone dry. Tart and crisp. Green apple malic acid. Long, lingering finish.
2018 Cellar Reserve Traminer – Fruit from Tasmania. Bright acidity. Rose water and Turkish delight on the nose. A bit of sugar to balance the acidity. Green grass or herbs. Grapefruit quality. Wow.
2017 Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro – Chocolate covered cherries. Light refined tannins. Long finish. Medium bodied.
2017 Bin 8 Shiraz Cabernet – Ripe red fruits. Chewy green tannins. Balsamic. Sweet spices on the nose.
2016 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz – Heavy oak aromas on the nose.. Light pepper. “Cool climate” Syrah. A bit hot alcohol wise.
2016 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz – Fruit comes from the hottest part of Barossa Valley. A lot of the ripe blue and red fruits. More full bodied. Rich. Luxurious tannins. Velvety mouthfeel. Sweet spices on the nose. Long finish.
2016 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz – 51% Cabernet 49 %Shiraz. Goes into Grange barrels when Grange is removed and sits/ferments on the lees of grange. “Baby grange” or “poor mans grange”. Black currant. Oak. Super smooth structured tannins. A wine for aging.
Deviation Road – A Taste of Champagne in Adelaide Hills
Why Visit Deviation Road?
You love Champagne and sparkling wine in general
You like to support women winemakers (go girls!) and family businesses, too
You want to enjoy wine outside with a stunning view and maybe a regional cheese or charcuterie board
The Story of Deviation Road
If you’re looking for premium bubbles while wine tasting in South Australia, look no further than Deviation Road. The winery produces exceptional cool climate wines from well-developed vineyards in the Adelaide Hills regions. Owners Hamish and Kate Laurie were destined to find success in the wine industry continuing a five generation winemaking tradition between them.
For Hamish, winemaking goes way back in the family. His grandmother was actually the very first female winemaker in South Australia. Hamish’s vineyard, which produces most of Deviation Road’s wonderful wines today, is one of the oldest vineyards in the region. In 1991, Hamish and his dad created Hillstowe Wines which went on to become an international brand. Then in 2001, he had the opportunity to open his own winery and he took it! Deviation Road was born and his partner, Kate, joined Hamish at the winery later that first year.
Kate knew she wanted to work in wine when she was only 19. She took the opportunity to pursue wine and her love of all things French by enrolling in Lycée Viticole d’Avize in Champagne. She actually learned how to make Champagne in Champagne!! What a dream. After 3 years of study in France, Kate returned to work at her family’s winery in Western Australia before joining Hamish at Deviation Road.
Today, Kate handles most of the winemaking aspects while Hamish manages the winery and vineyards, the resident disgorger, and Kate’s partner in blending. And in life, apparently. While most of the fruit for Deviation Road wines comes from Hamish’s vineyard on Deviation Road in Carey Gully, Hamish and Kate also source some fruit from other premium, cool climate sites in Adelaide Hills. The microclimates of Adelaide Hills are able to provide fruit with a variety of flavor profiles and dimensions, making for more interesting wines.
All Deviation Road sparkling wines are made in the traditional method, hand bottled and disgorged by hand, too. The winery seeks to produce wines that demonstrate the fruit purity of the region while showcasing the best Adelaide Hills has to offer. In my opinion, Deviation Road has definitely accomplished just that.
The Deviation Road cellar door is located at the gateway to Hamish and Kate’s 50-hectare property. The cellar door is charming and the deck offers a perfect place to taste wine outdoors with an incredible view of the Deviation Road vineyards. If you’re planning to visit the winery, I recommend giving yourself enough time to sit back, relax, and enjoy both the spectacular wines and the charming setting. The cellar door also offers regional cheese and charcuterie boards to enjoy with your wine flight, too.
Howard Vineyard – Showcasing Adelaide Hill’s Cool Climate Varieties
Why Visit Howard Vineyard?
You are looking for diversity in your tasting lineup
You love a laid back tasting experience with friendly staff
You’re in the mood for a bite to eat while out tasting in Adelaide Hills
You’re in search of a wedding or event venue
If you’re looking for a laid-back, relaxed tasting highlighting the fantastic cool climate varieties grown in Adelaide Hills, then look no further than Howard Vineyards. The cellar door sits on a piece of land discovered by Amos Howard in 1890 in a gorgeous valley of the Adelaide Hills region. Amos was originally attracted to the land by subterranean clover peeking up from the ground, leading Mr. Howard to believe he found exceptional soil to start his farm. Today, that subterranean clover continues to grow at the site, helping to replenish Nitrogen levels in the soil, thus ensuring higher quality soil for the vineyards.
Tom Northcott is the winemaker at Howard Vineyards. He actually grew up working the vineyards and in the cellar door. After obtaining a Bachelor Degree in Viticulture and Oenology, Tom ventured off to work vintages in Tasmania, Barossa Valley, Western Australia and the South of France.
In 2013, he returned to Howard Vineyard as Executive Winemaker. With Tom at helm, Howard Vineyard aims to produce textural, elegant, cool climate wines that showcase the unique terroir of the Adelaide Hills region. In my opinion, Tom has definitely achieved this with an array of varieties on offer including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon. They make sparkling wines, too! Honestly, I enjoyed every single wine we tasted there which anyone who regularly goes wine tasting knows is not an easy feat for a winery to accomplish.
Not only are the wines exceptional, but Howard Vineyard also has a restaurant called Clover for anyone needing to grub while out in the Hills. I didn’t eat there on my visit as we visited mid-vintage when all we really wanted was to drink. But the menu looks amazing! The winery also serves as a venue for weddings and functions. Plus, they have live music from time to time and you can play croquet while sipping on vino on their beautiful estate. Two thumbs up – would recommend. Definitely give Howard Vineyard a visit when you’re in Adelaide Hills!
My favorite wines – 2018 Cabernet Franc (served chilled) & 2018 Grüner Veltliner.
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