Clare Valley in Australia’s southern states is known for both classic producers and groundbreaking winemakers. Riesling from this region is typically dry with intense citrus notes when young, developing more complex aromas over time.
We admire the region’s crystalline wines that embrace delicacy and fragility with grace, creating wines which reward patience when released or stored away for later enjoyment.
The Clare Valley
Clare Valley is one of South Australia’s oldest wine regions and offers picturesque charm, tantalizing food, and plenty of vino making it the ideal weekend getaway destination.
Clare Valley has something to please every palate, whether that means looking for exquisite Rieslings or robust Shiraz. Their world-class wines have earned them global renown, with many cellar doors becoming legendary over time. Exploring this wine region should not be missed when visiting; especially if you consider yourself an enthusiast.
Visit any one of Sevenhill, Watervale, Mintaro or Auburn and you’ll be sure to find plenty of cellar doors tucked into this region – it is only two hours’ drive from Adelaide! Sevenhill Watervale Mintaro Auburn all boast their own selections of wine cellar doors.
Bungaree Station stands out as a place that successfully marries historic charm with modern comforts for an immersive guest experience, evident through its selection of cottages and on-site facilities.
Clare Valley’s climate is continental, featuring mild winters and hot, dry summers. However, due to altitude variances within the region generalisations are ineffective: vineyards at lower elevations benefit from cooling afternoon breezes while those on higher slopes experience hotter and drier conditions; this combination allows vineyards to maintain acidity for higher-quality winemaking.
Riesling is unquestionably one of the region’s premier wines, known for its delicate perfumed lime aromas and high acidity that delights with each sip. Though delicious when young, Riesling becomes even more complex as time goes on – its honeyed characters deepening over time into honey and toast characteristics with ageing in bottle. Other wines produced here also show great depth and power such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia or Victoria.
Clare Valley winemakers produce Riesling, Chardonnay and sparkling wines among many other varietals. Additionally, many producers have found success experimenting with alternative grape varieties like Chenin Blanc, Petit Manseng, Vermentino Malbec and Sangiovese. Due to its small size, producers share knowledge and expertise among themselves – especially true in Polish Hill where Jeffery Grosset and Stephanie Toole have perfected Riesling from its unique terroir for Riesling production.
The grape
Riesling is an aromatic wine known for its floral fragrance and delicate flavor profile. With fresh, zingy acidity that gives a refreshing citrus taste with rose and light fruit notes. Over time it develops steely characteristics which may include toast, honey or even kerosene tones in older wines – making Riesling one of the most versatile grapes that can be made either dry or sweet depending on personal style preferences.
Riesling thrives best in cool climates where it can ripen slowly and develop intense flavours with high acidity levels, making Clare Valley the ideal environment to grow this variety. High altitudes, cool nights, and an extended ripening season create ideal conditions for this variety. Furthermore, Clare Valley’s climate enables long aging potential and wine of great complexity and finesse production.
Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc are other white wines produced in Clare Valley. Pinot Grigio and Shiraz are popular red varieties produced here; producers often craft elegant styles with fruit-forward characteristics. Tempranillo also finds itself at home here and produces juicy wines with ample tannins.
Attracting visitors with its Riesling wines, the region also offers a diverse array of quality wine varieties. Winemakers here are open to exploring new grape varieties due to climate and soil factors in the area; Jim Barry Wines was an example of such experimentation when they released Australia’s inaugural commercial bottles of Assyrtiko grape – similar in taste and aroma profiles to Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc wines – back in 2013.
Clare Valley is home to some of Australia’s finest Rieslings – but producers there are also exploring other varieties and creating exciting blends. Some of Clare Valley’s premier producers have joined Wine Australia’s Connect platform throughout July in order to highlight their wines; six boutique Clare Valley wineries will showcase their wines via short videos produced specifically for Connect.
The wine
Riesling is an exquisitely versatile wine, from its youthful lemon and lime characteristics to ageing to honeyed styles. Additionally, Riesling stands out among white wines as one of the few that can pair perfectly with spicy foods, cleansing your palate between bites!
Clare Valley is home to some exceptional producers who share an avid passion for Riesling grapes, adopting innovative methods and technologies in both vineyards and cellars. One such producer is Jeffrey Grosset – known as “the uncrowned King of Clare Valley Riesling”. With Watervale single vineyard and Polish Hill single vineyard wines setting high standards he remains at the top of Clare Valley Riesling production.
Clare Valley had an exceptional vintage this year, thanks to warm winter temperatures which encouraged vines to thrive and produce high quality fruit. Supplementary rainfall provided balance during a wet summer and ensured optimal ripening conditions.
Clare Valley wines are known for their dry styles, featuring delicate palates with distinctive citrus blossom and juicy lime aromas balanced by crisp green apple. This wine offers intense structure and real depth of flavour with its mouthwatering natural acidity and minerality supporting it for added depth and length in its finish.
Rieslings from Clare Valley are well known for their distinctive fine bead and vibrant clarity, and this wine is no different. Fermented in stainless steel tanks then cold stabilized, filtered and then bottled after several months to produce an elegant dry riesling with minerally citrus notes and zesty notes that was cold stabilized, cold stabilized filtered before bottling.
The high acidity in this wine is perfectly balanced, and will go with many dishes such as kingfish ceviche, lemonprawn pasta or even just salty chips in front of the TV.
Riesling can be found across a range of climates, but is most frequently grown in regions like Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Victoria’s Henty and Tasmania. This wine showcases this style with a zesty and floral nose featuring lavender, citrus pith, bath salts and even some subtle notes of talc on the palate.
The region
Clare Valley is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions and one of its premier Riesling regions. Comprised of small vineyards and cellar doors with an emphasis on quality wines made by family businesses who take an hands-on approach when crafting them, this idyllic climate produces wines with perfumed lime notes which taste wonderful young as well as maturing beautifully over time.
Vineyards here specialize in Riesling production, while also creating world-class red wines and Semillon. With its Mediterranean climate featuring cooling breezes from Spencer Gulf that help balance out daytime temperatures for optimal natural acidity retention.
Riesling reigns supreme in this region, though other impressive wines include Chardonnay, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz also produced here. All produce wines with vibrant, vibrant characteristics that pair perfectly with local seafood dishes or South Australian cuisine.
Even though Clare Valley may seem small, its history of innovation and tourism are impressive. Home to some of the pioneers of early 20th-century wine production such as Jim Barry, Leo Buring, and John Vickery; once vine pest phylloxera had devastated European vineyards in mid 1900s it quickly established itself as a top producer of New World wines to meet global demand.
Modern winemaking in the Valley has been taken over by small, quality-focused wine families that uphold its traditions while adapting new technologies and approaches to winemaking. In 2000, these vintners united under their commitment to quality – driving unprecedented industry collaboration – by choosing screw caps on all Rieslings produced here; an initiative which has proved unqualifiedly successful, earning this region its global recognition for high-quality wines.
The region is well-known for its Riesling Trail, an array of cellar doors offering tastings and tours of some of the best wine producers. There is also a selection of food to pair with the wines, such as green curry, Korean pancakes, and salted peanuts – some of the top offerings being green curry, Korean pancakes and salted peanuts.
