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McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale's maritime Mediterranean setting and varied soils give Shiraz and Grenache room to vary. Its Shiraz often combines fruit with spice and, sometimes, an earthy note.

Place
McLaren Vale, South Australia
Look for
Mclaren Vale · Langhorne Creek · Currency Creek · Southern Fleurieu
Producer profiles
10
Atlas locationMcLaren Vale · South Australia35.82° S · 137.16° EOpen in Atlas

McLaren Vale has a maritime Mediterranean setting and a notably varied set of soils: red-brown sandy loams, grey-brown loamy sands, clay subsoils, lime, sands and friable loams. Shiraz and Grenache vary in style across these different growing conditions. McLaren Vale Shiraz often combines fruit with spice and, sometimes, earthy notes.

Continue through the region

Elsewhere in South Australia

  1. Adelaide Hills7 producersHigh, cool and wet by Australian standards, Adelaide Hills has varied altitudes and aspects. Its Sauvignon Blanc often shows grapefruit and tropical notes, with crisp acidity.
  2. Barossa Valley13 producersWarm, dry Barossa Valley in South Australia is known for full-bodied Shiraz and old vineyards, some dating to the nineteenth century. Cooler Eden Valley rises beside it within the wider Barossa zone.
  3. Clare Valley1 producerClare Valley Riesling is restrained when young, with lime and mineral notes, and can develop over decades. Its Shiraz is fuller, with ripe blackberry, spice and mint.
  4. Coonawarra2 producersCoonawarra's narrow strip of terra rossa over limestone is closely associated with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are medium to full-bodied, with cassis and dark fruit, firm plush tannins, and ageing potential.

Producers in McLaren Vale

Producer profiles

  • d'ArenbergFourth-generation family winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia, farming Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and white Rhône varieties through pre-industrial cellar methods: foot-treading, basket pressing, and concrete open fermenters built in 1927.
  • Dandelion VineyardsSouth Australian producer drawing old-vine Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Eden Valley, built on a founding philosophy of acidity and tannin over ripeness and alcohol weight.
  • Gemtree VineyardsCertified biodynamic McLaren Vale estate farming 93 hectares of Shiraz, with two distinct cuvees and a bulk-supply arm that dwarfs its own-label production.
  • HardysThomas Hardy's South Australian wine brand, now within Vinarchy, with red, white and rosé wines including HRB Chardonnay.
  • Ministry of CloudsFood-minded South Australian wines built around McLaren Vale Grenache, Mataro, Shiraz and Tempranillo, with estate fruit from Seaview and older regional vineyard sources.
Browse 5 more
  • Paxton VineyardsMcLaren Vale family producer with six vineyards, Shiraz led wines, and organic and biodynamic certification.
  • Penny's Hill EstateMcLaren Vale Grenache and Shiraz rooted in old vines, named vineyard ground and an 1855 homestead.
  • S.C. PannellA South Australian producer matching Nebbiolo, Aglianico, Grenache and Shiraz to four named vineyards.
  • Wirra Wirra VineyardsMcLaren Vale estate rebuilt from two walls in 1969, farming biodynamically and sourcing cool-climate Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills.
  • Yangarra Estate VineyardA single-vineyard McLaren Vale estate centred on old-vine Grenache, named blocks and ceramic-egg winemaking.
Sources for this guide1 source

Sources for this guide are listed below. Featured producers are a selection, not a ranking.

  • World of Wine Atlas and learning records

Where to go next

placeReturn to South AustraliaSee how McLaren Vale fits within the wider South Australia region.mapSee McLaren Vale in the AtlasSee the area and nearby producers on the map.producerMeet d'ArenbergRead about d'Arenberg and its wines.