Clare Valley wine region

Australian wine region

This article is about the wine region in South Australia. For the valley in South Australia, see Clare Valley. For other uses, see Clare Valley (disambiguation).

Clare ValleyWine region

Vineyards in Clare Valley

Type| Australian Geographical Indication
Year established| 1999[1]
Country| Australia
Part of| Mount Lofty Ranges zone
Sub-regions| Informal:[2]

* Auburn
* Clare
* Polish Hill River[3]
* Sevenhill
* Watervale

Climate region| ’I’
Heat units| 1770[4]
Precipitation (annual average)| 200 mm (7.9 in)[4]
Size of planted vineyards| 5,339 ha (13,190 acres)[5]
No. of vineyards| at least 200 growers[6]
Grapes produced| 19,796 tonnes (19,483 long tons; 21,821 short tons)[7]
Varietals produced| Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Merlot[5]
No. of wineries| at least 48[8]
Comments| 2012 & 2014

The Clare Valley wine region is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 142 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Horrocks Highway as the main thoroughfare.

## Extent and appellation

[edit]

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 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the Adelaide city centre.[1][9][10] The Clare Valley wine region was registered as an Australian Geographical Indication on 25 March 1999.[1]

## Soil and climate

[edit]

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The wines are planted from 400 to 500 metres (1,300 to 1,600 ft).[11] 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.

## Grape varieties

[edit]

The most important white variety is Riesling, with the Clare Valley regarded as its Australian home.[citation needed] Principal red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.[citation needed] 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] Many other lesser varieties are also grown, including Chardonnay, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Grenache.[citation needed] 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]

As of 2014, the most common plantings in the Clare Valley wine region within a total planted area of 5,339 ha (13,190 acres) was reported as being Shiraz (34.9%) followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (22.3%), Riesling (21.8%) and Merlot (5.4%). Alternatively, red wine varietals account for 68.2% of plantings while white wines varietals account for 31.4% of plantings.[5] The 2014 vintage is reported as consisting of 11,921 tonnes (11,733 long tons; 13,141 short tons) of red grapes crushed valued at A$14,235,653 and 7,875 tonnes (7,751 long tons; 8,681 short tons) of white grapes crushed valued at $7,451,398.[7]

## Regional facts

[edit]

The region has more than 48 wineries,[8] most of which are small and produce only bottled wine.[citation needed]

* Area planted: 5,339 ha (13,190 acres)[5]
* Annual production: 2014: 19,796 tonnes (19,483 long tons; 21,821 short tons)[7]

The Clare Valley Wine Region does not have any legally-defined subregions.[12] It is sometimes informally divided into five subregions named for the towns in those growing areas: Auburn, Clare, Polish Hill River, Sevenhill and Watervale.[2]

## Population

[edit]

Town Populations:

Rank | Urban Centre | 2016 Census | Reference

|
|
|

1  | Clare | 3,327  | [13]
2  | Auburn | 661  | [14]
3  | Stanley Flat | 421  | [15]
4  | Armagh | 362  | [16]
5  | Watervale | 326  | [17]
6  | Mintaro | 188  | [18]
7  | Penwortham | 147  | [19]
8  | Sevenhill | 120  | [20]
9  | Leasingham | 119  | [21]
10  | Polish Hill River | 36  | [22]
11  | Undalya | 29  | [23]

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

## See also

[edit]

* Wine portal
* South Australia portal

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

## Citations and references

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### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Clare Valley". Australian Grape and Wine Authority. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
2. ^ a b "Australia's Clare Valley Brilliance and beauty". Wine Australia. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
3. ^ Halliday, 2012, pages 52-53
4. ^ a b Halliday, James. "Clare Valley Wine Region". Wine Companion. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
5. ^ a b c d PGIBSA, 2014, page 43
6. ^ "Home page". Clare Region Winegrape Growers Association. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
7. ^ a b c PGIBSA, 2014, page 41
8. ^ a b Halliday, 2012, page 753
9. ^ "Clare Valley Wine Region (map)" (PDF). Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
10. ^ PGIBSA, 2014, page 7
11. ^ Oz, Clark. Australian Wine Companion. Time Warner Books. pp. 54–57.54-57&rft.pub=Time+Warner+Books&rft.aulast=Oz&rft.aufirst=Clark&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Clare+Valley+wine+region" class="Z3988">
12. ^ "Geographical indications". Wine Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2019. "This list includes all Australian Geographical Indications protected in the Register."
13. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Clare. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
14. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Auburn. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
15. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Stanley Flat. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
16. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Armagh. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
17. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Watervale. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
18. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Mintaro. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
19. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Penwortham. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
20. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Sevenhill. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
21. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Leasingham. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
22. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Polish Hill River. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
23. ^ 2016 Census QuickStats: Undalya. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 25 June 2018.

### References

[edit]

* Halliday, James (23 October 2012), James Halliday Australian wine companion : the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wine (2013 ed.), Richmond, Vic. Hardie Grant Books (published 2012), ISBN 978-1-74270-306-0
* Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA (PGIBSA) (2014), Australian regional winegrape crush survey online (PDF), Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA, ISSN 1442-6048, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2014, retrieved 6 November 2014

## External links

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* 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

33°53′S 138°36′E﻿ / ﻿33.883°S 138.600°E﻿ / -33.883; 138.600

* v
* t
* e

Wine regions of South Australia

Barossa zone|

* Barossa Valley
* Eden Valley
* High Eden

Fleurieu zone|

* Currency Creek
* Kangaroo Island
* Langhorne Creek
* McLaren Vale
* Southern Fleurieu

Mount Lofty Ranges zone|

* Adelaide Hills
* Lenswood
* Piccadilly Valley
* Adelaide Plains
* Clare Valley

Far North zone|

* Southern Flinders Ranges

Limestone Coast zone|

* Mount Benson
* Mount Gambier
* Padthaway
* Coonawarra
* Robe
* Wrattonbully

Lower Murray zone|

* Riverland

The Peninsulas zone|

* The Peninsulas

Other|

* South Eastern Australia

* v
* t
* e

Clare Valley, South Australia

Main towns|

* Armagh
* Auburn
* Clare
* Leasingham
* Mintaro
* Penwortham
* Polish Hill River
* Sevenhill
* Stanley Flat
* Watervale

Rivers and hills|

* Hill River
* Hutt River
* Wakefield River
* Skilly Hills

Protected areas|

* Martindale Hall
* Spring Gully Conservation Park

Places of interest|

* Clare Valley wine region
* Clare Valley Racecourse
* Horrocks Highway

Governance and people|

* Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council (local)
* Electoral district of Frome (state)
* Division of Grey (Commonwealth)
* Ngadjuri

Walking and cycling|

* Rattler Rail Trail
* Riesling Trail
* Lavender Federation Trail
* Mawson Trail
* Heysen Trail

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