With a strong South Australian approach to winemaking, we have sourced fruit from all of South Australia’s premium grape growing regions for a number of years including McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and the Limestone Coast sub regions of Mt Benson, Wrattonbully and Padthaway.
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is the gateway to the Fleurieu Peninsula and a series of unspoilt beaches and bushland. The region is situated on a narrow strip of land 40km south of Adelaide. Here the Mt Lofty ranges roll gently to the sea to create a unique microclimate. The town of McLaren Vale lies at the centre of the region and is only 12km from the coast. With warm days and cool nights, this moderate maritime climate has proven ideal for the growing Shiraz grapes, along with a host of other varieties.
Dr WT Angove established Angove Family Winemaking in 1886 however his first significant grape harvest was in 1893. The grapes for this harvest came from his un-named home block and contracted fruit from Brightlands and Warboys Vineyard a few hundred metres down the road from his own residence. The production from these vineyards was the beginning of the first commercial harvest of the Angove Wine business after seven years of experimentation and hobby winemaking. To bring some of the history of the original Angove wine business and the Tea Tree Gully wine region to the new McLaren Vale vineyard on Chalk Hill Road the vineyard has been re-named Warboys Vineyard. The Warboys Vineyard surrounds the new Angove McLaren Vale Cellar Door and is planted with Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vines range in age from 15 years old to over 80 years old and in the best vintages the Angove Team will make three single vineyard wines from the vineyard.
Coonawarra
Coonawarra is is an Aboriginal word meaning “Honeysuckle” and is located 380km southeast of Adelaide, and regarded by many as Australia’s quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon region.
Coonawarra is famous for its terra rossa soil, covering an area just 15 km long and 2 km wide north of Penola consisting of a layer of mineral-rich red clay overlaying a limestone base. This soil combination nourishes the vines and provides good water drainage, promoting modest vine canopies and tiny berry size . It lies on a shallow limestone ridge, raising it above the swampy land either side. To the west of the ridge lies black rendzina soil which are poorly drained less favourable for vines. There is also a ‘transitional’, or brown rendzina, soil which grows vines quite successfully.
Being just 60 km from the sea, Coonawarra has a somewhat maritime climate not dissimilar to Bordeaux and is relativley cool and mild. During the growing season, there is just 219mm rainfall (Oct-Apr), out of 585mm annually. Extensive cloud cover keeps the temperature down to 19.1°C in January.
The Angove Family have long standing agreements with a number of Coonawarra’s best growers.
Clare Valley
Clare Valley, a beautiful region located 135km north of Adelaide, was settled in the 1840’s. The first winery was Sevenhills, founded in 1851 by the Jesuit order to produce sacramental wine. One of the entertaining features of Clare Valley is the Riesling Trail, a 24km trek that follows an old abandoned railway line past three-dozen wineries. Due to its moderately continental climate, Clare Valley specializes in sensational Rieslings, many of which are sealed under screwcap to better preserve their fresh fruit characters.
Limestone Coast
With some 25,000 acres of vines, this larger region encompasses Padthaway, Coonawarra, Bordertown, Wrattonbully and Mount Gambier, and two newer areas, Mount Benson and Robe. The Limestone Coast region is blessed with a moderate maritime climate so well suited for grape growing. The vineyards are fanned by westerly winds all summer, and the cool, slow ripening conditions produce intensely flavoured grapes with unique and complex qualities. The well draining limestone and rich, nutritious soil, along with positive climatic influences, play an important role in producing the special wines that come from the Limestone Coast.
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills region is regarded as one of Australia’s most pre-eminent areas for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Less than 30km from the centre of Adelaide, this region with it’s gently undulating hills and cool climate is filled with narrow, twisting roads, wild forests and deep gullies that hide some of the country’s best vineyards. Other stars of the region are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both of which make fine, elegant and age-worthy wines.