McLaren Vale

This article is about the wine region. For other uses, see McLaren Vale (disambiguation).

McLaren Vale
Wine region
TypeAustralian Geographical Indication
Year established1997[1]
CountryAustralia
Part ofFleurieu zone
Heat units1525[2]
Precipitation (annual average)180 mm (7.1 in)[2]
Soil conditionsWide range of soils but red/brown loamy sand quite common. Sandy soils on hillsides around Blewitt Springs. Some areas with terra rossa
No. of vineyards7,438 Hectares
Grapes producedCabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Shiraz
No. of wineriesat least 120[3]

McLaren Vale is a wine region in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Adelaide metropolitan area[4] and centred on the town of McLaren Vale about 38 kilometres (24 mi) south of the Adelaide city centre. It is internationally renowned for the wines it produces and is included within the Great Wine Capitals of the World.[5] The region was named after either David McLaren, the Colonial Manager of the South Australia Company or John McLaren (unrelated) who surveyed the area in 1839. Among the first settlers to the region in late 1839, were two English farmers from Devon, William Colton and Charles Thomas Hewett. William Colton established the Daringa Farm and Charles Thomas Hewett established Oxenberry Farm. Both men would be prominent in the early days of McLaren Vale. Although initially the region's main economic activity was the growing of cereal crops, John Reynell and Thomas Hardy planted grape vines in 1838 and the present-day Seaview and Hardy wineries were in operation as early as 1850. Grapes were first planted in the region in 1838 and some vines more than 100 years old are still producing.[6]

  1. ^ "McLaren Vale Geographical Indication". Wine Australia. Retrieved 15 December 2018. entered in the Register of Protected Names on 2 September 1997
  2. ^ a b "McLaren Vale Wine Region". James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Wineries in the McLaren Vale". James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference LMV-Character was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Great Wine Capitals Of The World". Great Wine Capitals. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  6. ^ "McLaren Vale: History & (R)Evolution". www.wineaustralia.com. Retrieved 28 August 2023.