South Australia is one of the six states and two mainland territories of Australia. The state is home to the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, and McLaren Vale wine regions, as well as Adelaide Hills. At 984,377 square miles (2.5 million square kilometers), South Australia is the fifth largest state in Australia. It’s also home to about 1.7 million people; 95% live in the capital city of Adelaide and its surrounding area. Founded by Colonel William Light in 1836, Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide of England.
In addition to its acclaimed wines, South Australia produces a variety of other goods including copper, uranium, lead and zinc ores; industrial diamonds; wool; wheat; barley; grapes (for table consumption and wine); fruit (including citrus fruits); vegetables; dairy products; beef cattle and sheep meat; mutton hams , bacon and lamb chops; poultry meat (including chicken) ; eggs ; wool ; oils ; fats ; hides , skins & leathers .
South Australia is the fourth-largest of Australia’s states, with a population of about 1.7 million, and is situated at the southern end of the country. It is home to its largest city, Adelaide, with a population of around 1.3 million and other big cities like Mount Gambier (26,000), Port Lincoln (17,000) and Whyalla (23,000). The capital city is Adelaide. The state is bordered by Victoria to the east, New South Wales to the north, the Northern Territory to the north-west and Western Australia to the west.
Well known for its wine production
South Australia is the driest state in Australia. Most of the people live and work in Adelaide, the capital, but wine production makes up a significant portion of the economy and is spread throughout South Australia. The most famous wine region is Barossa Valley, which produces premium Shiraz.
The total area of South Australia is 984,377 sq km (380,688 square miles) with a population density of 1.9 per square km (5 per square mile).
South Australia contains the following regions
- Adelaide Hills
- Barossa Valley
- Clare Valley
- Coonawarra
- Eden Valley
Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley is a South Australian wine region located in the rural area northeast of Adelaide. Farmers in the Barossa Valley have long used the natural water sources and semi-arid climate to grow grapes that produce some of Australia’s most famous wines. The Barossa Valley has good sunshine, warm days, and cool nights; these conditions are very suitable for grape growing. The most popular grape varieties grown in Barossa Valley are Shiraz (or Syrah), Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, among others.
The Barossa valley produces some of Australia’s best red wines which you can find from many well-known wineries such as Wolf Blass, Penfolds, Yalumba, Jacob’s Creek and Rockford.
The famous Barossa Valley wine region lies to the north-east of Adelaide by about 60km (36 miles). It is located in the Mount Lofty Ranges east of Adelaide. This region has a Mediterranean climate, making it well known for its wine production and is one of Australia’s top tourist attractions.
A Mediterranean climate
The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s most important wine regions, covering 1,700 sq km (656 sq miles) and located 60km (36 miles) northeast of Adelaide. It has a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Shiraz is the main grape grown here, producing powerful red wines that made the area famous. The big names include Penfolds Grange Hermitage, Henschke Hill of Grace and Torbreck The Laird.
You can visit the famous Chateau Yaldara in the Barossa Valley; it was founded by German immigrants in 1847. This historic winery also converted part of its premises into a motor museum, with 100 classic vehicles on show. Other attractions include Peter Lehmann Wines and Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre.
Both McLaren Vale and Clare Valley are also close to Adelaide; McLaren Vale is known for its medium-bodied shiraz wines while Clare produces some fine rieslings and cabernet sauvignons. Further south along South Australia’s coastline is Coonawarra, famous for its cabernet sauvignon wines made from grapes grown on terra rossa soil that contain high amounts of limestone – there are around 50 wineries dotted around this small town, including Wynns Coonawarra Estate which was founded in 1896.
Shiraz, riesling, grenache and mourvedre
Shiraz is the main grape grown here but there are also notable plantings of riesling, grenache and mourvedre. The Barossa Valley is by far the best known wine region in South Australia – in fact it’s probably the most recognisable wine region on the planet.
A great many of Australia’s best-known brands come from this area, which lies just north-east of Adelaide. It has a Mediterranean climate (hot summers/cool winters), aided by reliable rainfall as well as irrigation, and a tremendous reputation for shiraz (or syrah) wines that typically show great depth of colour and full-bodied character.
Coonawarra
Located in the Limestone Coast zone, this region is known for producing some of Australia’s best Cabernet Sauvignon. A unique geology produces what is called Terra Rossa soil — a deep, red soil rich in clay over limestone that provides an ideal environment for vines. The climate is continental with hot summers and cold winters.
Coonawarra lies in the south of South Australia on the border with Victoria and is best known as a place where cabernet sauvignon thrives. The unique terra rossa soil has a high iron content, which gives the wines from this region their characteristically rich flavor.
The area is also easy to reach on a road trip; it’s close to the Great Ocean Road and the capital of South Australia, Adelaide.
Deep red terra rossa soils
This region is known for its deep red terra rossa soils which are rich in clay over limestone. The terra rossa means “red earth” in Italian and this soil type is well suited for growing cabernet sauvignon. There are over 100 wineries in this region, all of which produce high quality wines.