Clare Valley wine region

Clare Valley wine region covers an area adjoining the both sides of the Horrocks Highway as it passes through the town of Clare near its northern extent and the town of Auburn near its southern extent. The region is located at the northern end of the Mount Lofty Ranges zone with its southern extent being about {{convert|100|km|abbr=off}} north of the Adelaide city centre.{{cite web|title= Clare Valley Wine Region (map)|url= http://www.vinehealth.com.au/media/clare_vinehealth.pdf|publisher= Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA |accessdate=17 February 2016|date=26 July 2013}}PGIBSA, 2014, page 7 The Clare Valley wine region was registered as an Australian Geographical Indication on 25 March 1999.

{{more citations needed section|date=March 2013}}

The wines are planted from {{convert|400|to|500|m|ft}}.{{cite book|last=Oz|first=Clark|title=Australian Wine Companion|publisher=Time Warner Books|pages=54–57}} The climate is moderately continental, with cool to cold nights and warm to hot summer days. The higher altitude, compared to other wine regions in South Australia, ensures cool nights even during the heat of summer allowing the fruit to ripen more evenly and slowly. Rainfall is predominantly in winter – spring (June – September) with an annual average of around 630 mm. Summers are dry and make irrigation desirable but also ensure a minimum of fungal diseases. Varied soil types throughout the valleys are another feature, ranging from red to brown grey over basement rock.

The most important white variety is Riesling, with the Clare Valley regarded as its Australian home.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Principal red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} They make a range of styles of varietal wines, reflecting different approaches to winemaking as well as the influences of the various sub-regions and micro-climates in the valleys.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Many other lesser varieties are also grown, including Chardonnay, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Grenache.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} The Clare Valley Region contributes around 2% of the Australian national grape crush, but wins over 7% of all medals awarded for Australian wine.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

As of 2014, the most common plantings in the Clare Valley wine region within a total planted area of {{convert|5339|ha|abbr=on}} was reported as being Shiraz ({{percentage | 1865| 5339| 1 }}) followed by Cabernet Sauvignon ({{percentage | 1193 | 5339| 1 }}), Riesling ({{percentage | 1164| 5339| 1 }}) and Merlot ({{percentage | 288 | 5339| 1 }}). Alternatively, red wine varietals account for {{percentage | 3640| 5339| 1 }} of plantings while white wines varietals account for {{percentage | 1677 | 5339| 1 }} of plantings. The 2014 vintage is reported as consisting of {{convert|11921|t|abbr=off}} of red grapes crushed valued at A$14,235,653 and {{convert|7875|t|abbr=off}} of white grapes crushed valued at $7,451,398.

The region has more than 48 wineries, most of which are small and produce only bottled wine.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

• Area planted: {{convert|5339|ha|abbr=on}}
• Annual production: 2014: {{convert| 19796|t|abbr=off}}

The Clare Valley Wine Region does not have any legally-defined subregions.{{cite web |url=https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/register-of-protected-gis-and-other-terms/geographical-indications |title=Geographical indications |accessdate=8 October 2019 |publisher=Wine Australia |quote=This list includes all Australian Geographical Indications protected in the Register.}} It is sometimes informally divided into five subregions named for the towns in those growing areas: Auburn, Clare, Polish Hill River, Sevenhill and Watervale.

Town Populations:

As a rural region, there are also population pockets outside of the town centres (not shown here).

{{portal|Wine|South Australia}}

• Australian wine
• South Australian wine
• List of wineries in the Clare Valley

{{reflist|2}}

• {{Citation | author1=Halliday, James | title=James Halliday Australian wine companion : the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wine | date=23 October 2012 | publication-date=2012 | publisher=Richmond, Vic. Hardie Grant Books | edition=2013 | isbn=978-1-74270-306-0 }}
• {{Citation | author1= Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA (PGIBSA) | title= Australian regional winegrape crush survey online | publication-date= 2014 | publisher= Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA | url= http://www.phylloxera.com.au/media/WGCS-SA-Final-Report-20141.pdf | issn= 1442-6048 | accessdate= 6 November 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141106233327/http://www.phylloxera.com.au/media/WGCS-SA-Final-Report-20141.pdf | archive-date= 6 November 2014 | url-status= dead }}

• http://clarevalleywine.com.au } Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association
• http://www.claremuseum.com/1-early-wine-making | Clare Museum of the National Trust
• http://www.clarevalley.com.au/drink | Clare Valley Tourism - Cellar Doors

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{{Wine regions of South Australia}}

{{Clare Valley wine region}}

Category:Wine regions of South Australia

Category:Mid North (South Australia)