Mount Lofty Ranges Zone (Regions: Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Clare Valley)

1. Adelaide Hills

• Varieties:  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier and Pinot gris in cooler regions; northern extremity of the region, where it is a bit warmer, we see Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
• One of the coolest regions in South Australia
• Cool climate of this region encourages winemakers to use malolactic fermentation to help tame some of the wines naturally high acidity
• Growing importance for the production of super-premium table and sparkling wine

2. Adelaide Plains

• Varieties: Chardonnay, Colombard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot , Shiraz and with the strong Italian migrant population: Sangiovese, Moscato and Pinot Grigio
• One of the hottest and flattest wine regions in South Australia
• Run due north of the city of Adelaide, north-west of the Adelaide Hills and west-south-west of the Barossa Valley
• Extremely low rainfall during the growing season and irrigation a necessity
• Much of the fruit grown in this district is sent into other regions to top up better-known wines

3. Clare Valley

• Varieties: Chardonnays, Semillons, but Riesling is king; also some elegant Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
• The climate is moderately continental, with cool to cold nights and warm to hot summer days
• Rainfall is winter-spring dominant, making irrigation essential
• Many of the vineyards in this area are not irrigated (helps to reduce yields and concentrate the flavors)