McLaren Vale, Australia
In the land down under you can find all sorts of fascinating things. Amazing weather, unique animals, endless white sand beaches, and a very happy laid back people are just some. But, the real question going in to this adventure was: can they make good wine? The answer is yes. Outstanding wine actually. During the very sunny months of January to April we had the joy of making wine during the day, finishing off with a swim in the ocean and trying all sorts of different wine varietals that McLaren Vale had to offer.
McLaren Vale is a region blessed with perfect conditions to grow grapes. Its warm mediterranean climate allows for the proper maturation of basically all kinds of grapes. It is highlighted by the presence of really old Grenache vines (a very hard grape to ripen fully) and the countries staple, Shiraz. These are arguably the ones that produce the best wines, but McLaren Vale is also known for producing top tier wines from almost every black grape variety you can imagine. Also they grow some whites as well, although these don’t seem to be as popular. It is definitely a region for experimentation, where winemakers are challenged to create new styles or replicate successful old world styles. Bold Sangiovese, slick Shiraz, flavourful Cabernet Sauvignons and other more unconventional grapes like Mourvédre, Primitivo, Gamay and Montepulciano are some of the examples you can find here.
The soil in McLaren Vale is a puzzle, where soils of vineyards located right next to each other can differ greatly. Sandy soils, terra rossa or heavy clay are just a few examples of what you can find. This is mostly due to the Adelaide Geosyncline, a phenomenon that sank the McLaren ground, leaving room for sediments to settle and creating multiple terroirs. This is good for winemakers that can experiment with different combinations of soil and grape, without drifting far away from their territory.
The climate is usually ideal: rainy and cold winters with dry springs and hot summers, with the occasional rain to give the vines a little boost. In the last few years however, the rain has been lacking and very dry seasons have left producers having to innovate to meet customers demands on wine supply. This issue is balanced in a way with the use of irrigation or experiencing with more drought resistant varieties.
Great wines come from this region that struggles to find adversity. The biggest one is probably trying to keep Kangaroos from indulging in some very yummy sweet grapes!
