The Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the finest cool climate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio growing areas in Australia. Although the region was producing commercial quantities by the turn of the last century, by 1910 virtually all viticultural activity had ceased, with the region remaining unheard of until the 1970s.

The region is now home to a growing group of highly respected winemakers and many new wines are also being established in the area, as growers, makers and consumers alike recognise the quality attainable. With land prices much more reasonable than other emerging boutique wine regions, wine prices can be kept down meaning more can be invested in quality in the vineyard and the winery.

The climate here is remarkably stable: misty, wet spring days, long dry days during the critical ripening period, and a long, cool ripening season (harvest is not until late April). Most of the best vineyards are at high altitudes (300 to 500 metres) where it is very cool, encouraging a long slow ripening. The soils are exceptionally well drained, being sand over base rock, meaning that the vines do not receive too much water and so increase fruit flavour concentration. All of this helps deliver low yields of grapes with highly concentrated, cool climate flavour: perfect for full bodied whites that will age elegantly over time.

The Edwards Family Paul and Michele Edwards are second generation grape growers. Paul’s parents first planted vines in the Clare Valley during the 1960s and Paul and Michele planted 10 hectares of their own on their  Barton Springs estate in 1997 and 34 hectares on their Serendipity estate in 2000. The Barton Springs vineyard at the base of Mount Torrens is planted to Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. The vines were planted in an east west orientation on gravelly loam over scree soils and are 480 metres above sea level.

The Serendipity vineyard near Birdwood is planted to Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo and Viognier. The vines were planted in a north south orientation on loam over podzol soils and are 380 metres above sea level.