South Australia
South Australia is one of the six states of the continent located, as the name suggests, in the southernmost part of the island. Considered the production engine of the Australian wine industry, it is responsible for about half of the continent's total production. But there are countless high quality wines, sometimes even collectible ones, that can be found, especially made from the grape variety symbol of the region: Shiraz. Red wines also thrive on Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Grenache has also adapted well to the climate of South Australia: together with Shiraz and Mourvèdre it forms the classic GSM blend, which has become famous in the Rhone Valley. Although in smaller quantities there are several European varieties such as Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano and Petit Verdot. Among the white wines there are few but extraordinary excellences based on Riesling and Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills or the Limestone Coast. Given the size of the wine-growing region, the climate and topography vary greatly from one area to another, as does the altitude which can range from nearly sea level at Langhorne Creek to as much as 600 meters in parts of the Piccadilly Valley on the hills of Adelaide. This does not allow to define precisely the characteristics of its terroir which can be very varied, even between plots of the same company. The south-eastern corner is cooler and less arid than the northern one, too hot for growing Vitis vinifera. The climate is moderated by the presence of two large gulfs. Between the eastern side of the Gulf of St. Vincent and the Murray River there is an approximately 80km wide belt within which are the famous vineyards of Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale.