South Australia Wine: Grapes, Style and Bottles

Signature grapes

Producers listed

Sub-regions

Bottles to find

South Australia is a wine region of Australia.

The signature grape is Shiraz, backed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Riesling and Chardonnay.

Vines root into sand and terra rossa.

The climate is mediterranean, running continental and maritime.

The vineyards themselves read as valley floor.

The region is known for red wine, dry white wine and sweet white wine, plus two more.

The named areas within are Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Clare Valley and Eden Valley.

Producers worth knowing include D’Arenberg, Henschke, Penfolds and Rockford.

Pour them alongside grilled meats, pasta with rich sauces, seafood and spicy dishes.

Serve at 16 to 18°C.

Keeps for 5 to 15 years.

Soil

SandTerra rossa

Climate

MediterraneanContinentalMaritime

Terrain

Valley floor

Styles

reddry whitesweet whiterosésparkling

Grapes planted here.

01 ShirazDominant Read → 02 Cabernet SauvignonSignificant Read → 03 GrenacheBlending Read → 04 RieslingNotable Read → 05 ChardonnayCommon Read → 06 Mourvèdre Read → 07 GSM Read → 08 Semillon Read → 09 Roussanne Read → 10 Viognier Read → 11 Verdelho Read →

Producers worth knowing.

01 D'Arenberg

02 Henschke

03 Penfolds

04 Rockford

05 Wolf Blass

Bottles to look for.

Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia
d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia
Glaetzer 'Amon-Ra' Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia
Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia
Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley, Australia
Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley, Australia
Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz, South Australia
Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz, Coonawarra, Australia

At the table.

Grilled meats
Pasta with rich sauces
Seafood
Spicy dishes

Serving and cellaring.

Serve at 16 to 18°C.
Keeps for 5 to 15 years.

Inside the region.

01 Barossa ValleyAustralia Read → 02 McLaren ValeAustralia Read → 03 CoonawarraAustralia Read → 04 Clare ValleyAustralia Read → 05 Eden ValleyAustralia Read →

Nearby regions.

01 Barossa ValleyAustralia Read → 02 Adelaide HillsAustralia Read → 03 McLaren ValeAustralia Read → 04 CoonawarraAustralia Read → 05 South Eastern AustraliaAustralia Read → 06 BarossaAustralia Read → 07 RiverlandAustralia Read → 08 Eden ValleyAustralia Read →

South Australia: common questions

01.

What grapes is South Australia known for?

Shiraz is the signature grape of South Australia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Riesling and Chardonnay are also planted here.

02.

What kind of wine does South Australia make?

South Australia produces red wine, dry white wine, sweet white wine and rosé wine, plus one more.

03.

Where is South Australia?

South Australia is a wine region in Australia.

04.

What food goes with South Australia wine?

Try grilled meats, pasta with rich sauces, seafood and spicy dishes.

05.

How long does South Australia wine age?

Keeps for 5 to 15 years, though it varies by producer and vintage.

More from here: every wine region in Australia.