A deep dive into wine from South Australia: Clare Valley
Picturesque Clare Valley, situated 80 miles north of Adelaide, is one of South Australia’s most exciting wine regions. The first vines were planted in 1840 by John Horrocks. Sevenhill winery – the first Clare Valley winery – was founded by the Society of Jesus who planted vines for sacramental wine in 1952. In the 1890s the wine industry in Australia boomed, and late in the 1900s after the war a bottle of Clare Valley wine was not a rare sight at the dinner table.
There was a mass emergence of significant wineries. Today, residents and tourists converge at the cellar door on weekends. Above all, what sets the district apart is the sheer volume of exceptional wine. The Clare Valley wine region is particularly famous for its Riesling – which can stand its ground against Alsace. Intensely aromatic and fruit-driven, it is one of the few wine styles that tastes delicious young and at 15 years.
Nevertheless, Clare Valley offers a diverse portfolio, including rich Cabernet Sauvignon, spicy Malbec, and gamey Shiraz. However, there is plenty of experimentation with some Italian varieties.
Click on a link to jump to that section:
Climate, geography and terroir
The valley is located within the spectacular Mount Lofty Ranges, in the Adelaide Hills southeast of the city. Clare Valley has a wine history dating back to the 1940s, winemakers tricked into the region until the 1900s when the industry boomed. A vine pest – Phylloxera – destroyed European viticulture in the mid-1800s so the responsibility of meeting global wine demands fell to the new world wines, including South Australia.
The climate is continental, with cold winters and warm summers. However, altitude variances (due to the undulating landscape) mean generalisations for the Clare Valley wine district are unhelpful. The valley’s southern section enjoys cooling breezes from the Gulf St. Vincent. Meanwhile, vineyards planted on the slopes of the Skilly Hills rise to 500 metres in some places. These factors create favourable mesoclimates: warm summer days and cool nights help to preserve acidity in the grapes. It’s one of the reasons why Clare Valley Riesling is so uniquely refreshing to drink.
Yet growing conditions are decidedly warmer elsewhere: the northern part of Clare Valley is exposed to warm westerly winds from the Spencer Gulf. Thus, vineyards planted at lower elevations in this part of the valley yield a more robust style of Australian wine; think plum-flavoured Shiraz and cassis-infused Cabernet Sauvignon.
The soil composition in the region is also far from homogenous. The region comprises a series of north-south valleys on an elevated plateau; terroir varies significantly, depending on the subzone. In the southern portion of the valley between Watervale and Auburn, you’ll find the celebrated terra Rossa: crumbly red topsoil over free-draining limestone. It produces a very fruity style of Riesling, with beautiful aromatics; a world apart from the slate-rich soils of Polish Hill River Valley, which is associated with a distinct minerality in the final wine.
Key grape varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon – the iconic grape of Bordeaux and Napa Valley, thrives on the terra Rossa of Clare Valley, yielding concentrated red wine while still maintaining excellent acidity and structure. The Cabernet Sauvignon offers a trademark bouquet of cassis, mocha, and raspberry.
- Grenache – Clare Valley Grenache is usually upfront and expressive, with notes of red fruit, black pepper and mint.
- Malbec – often used as part of a blend, Clare Valley Malbec is quite distinct from the Argentinian flag-bearer, with higher acidity and floral notes on the mid-palate.
- Riesling – this grape competes with Shiraz for the title of South Australia’s greatest wine style. In Clare Valley, the grape yields an aromatic wine style, boasting a rich citrus undertow that matures into a flavour of buttered toast and kerosene.
- Shiraz – Clare Valley Shiraz perfectly balances depth and finesse into one harmonious package. The best examples offer aromas of crunchy red berries and liquorice supported by ripe tannins.
- Sangiovese – Italian varieties have adapted well to Clare Valley conditions, particularly Sangiovese. The best Clare Valley wines offer gentle but firm tannins with bouquets of bright red fruits and generous aromas of sour cherry roses.
- Tempranillo – Rioja’s star grape has made a very comfortable home for itself in Clare Valley. In warmer sites, it delivers full-bodied and concentrated reds, with generous flavours of damson, strawberry and vanilla.
Key wine labels
Farmers in the rural Clare Valley have embraced a collegiate approach to winegrowing – producers happily share expertise with their neighbours. With a few exceptions, this region is dominated by family-run vineyards and boutique wineries.
Polish Hill is considered superlative terroir for Riesling vines. Winemaker Grosset pioneered the zone to create bone dry, Clare Riesling. Stephanie Toole’s Mount Horrocks, is another winery in a cool southern corner of the valley; imbuing the Riesling with fruit and acidity. Jim Barry wines is also similar master of its craft.
Heartwarmingly, Jeffery Grosset and Stephanie Toole connected over their love for South Australian Riesling. They are two sides of the same grape, demonstrating the versatility and depth of Riesling wines in the Clare Valley, much like the couple’s fairytale pairing.
What does the Clare Valley have to offer?
Clare Valley champions the esoteric after years of justifiable excitement about the quality of local Riesling. Its alternative grape varieties receive endless praise from critics as winemakers experiment with Chenin Blanc, Petit Manseng and Vermentino for white wine, Malbec, Sangiovese and Tempranillo for reds. The rarer styles from Clare Valley – Aglianico, Fiano and Petit Verdot – are also well worth trying.
As mentioned, sweet Clare Valley Riesling has an idyllic wine companion in summer fruit desserts; however, aged sweet Riesling may offer a better wine tasting match for liver paté. Try a drier style with Thai food. When it comes to red wine, give Clare Valley Shiraz the opportunity to shine with aged cheeses, anchovies, or South Asian cuisine. Barbecued meats, steak, or stews pair perfectly with Cabernet Sauvignon. Clare Valley generates wines of precision and balance, ensuring that there is a South Australian wine for every possible culinary niche and occasion.
Explore our South Australian wine selection today!
What to read next
A deep dive into South Australia wine: Barossa Valley
A deep dive into South Australia wine: Eden Valley
A deep dive into South Australia wine: McLaren Vale