photo by badjonni

A Vineyard on the Vale

Principal grapes: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay
Style: Silky, rich, full bodied
Noteworthy: Some of the best Shiraz in the world is produced here.
Best Vintages: Consistently good little year variation. But 2003, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1996, 1994 are notable.

Desert Vines

Australia, the driest inhabited country on earth with the oldest, least fertile soils and vast deserts may not sound like a good place to plant vineyards, but within its 7,686,850 sq kilometers, there are stretches of land far down south where the temperatures are sufficiently cool for vines. One such strip is Australia's famed McLaren vale, where vines were first planted in 1838, and the climate could not be any more ideal for vines. The sea ensures moderate temperatures, the sandy, loamy soil drains quickly and there is little chance of frost to damage the buds. Even Australia's dryness works to the benefit of the wine maker as the barely adequate rainfall dries out the grapes, concentrating the flavors.

The Wines

Australian Shiraz can reach a dense sublime richness that is almost supernatural. Vines planted in the McLaren vale pick up concentrated additional notes of raspberry, pepper, dark chocolate and black olives in their reds, and a peachy, ripe crispness in the whites, particularly in the Chardonnay. Some of the best and most noted Australian wineries use grapes from the Vale, most notably many of the Penfolds Bin numbered labels, Rosemount, Eileen Hardy and d'Arenburg. The latter brands producing the most highly regarded reds of the Vale, Eileen Hardy Shiraz and d'Arenburg Dead Arm Shiraz.