South Australia Wine

South Australia  is the most dominant force in the country's wine industry. The state's significance relates not only to its volume of production, which represents almost half of Australia's total output, but also to the prestige and high reputation accorded to its wines. The state is home to some of the most renowned and recognizable wine regions of the world, which produce a vast array of wines – from super-premium and carefully nurtured red wines, to light white wines in every style imaginable, to the lower-end blends stacked on supermarket shelves around the world. For individual descriptions of the South Australian wine regions, please see the table below.

A vastly variable climate and geography make the south-eastern part of the state a diverse area. Not many places in the world can compare to its ability to produce stylistic wines from opposite ends of the grape-growing spectrum – from those resembling cool climate styles, such as Clare Valley Rieslings, to the classic bold and full-bodied reds grown in the hot and sunny conditions of regions like the Barossa. The cooler areas lie at higher altitudes, whereas the valley floors and inland areas such as Riverland are known for their warm growing conditions. 

South Australia's chief claim to fame – and Australia's as a whole, to a large extent – is undoubtedly Shiraz. This northern Rhône gem has adapted amazingly well to the local terroir, producing some of the most sought-after and highly acclaimed wines in the world. Brands like Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace owe their cult status to this variety. But there are many other prominent grape varieties suited to South Australia's individual regions, including Cabernet Sauvignon from the Limestone Coast regions of Coonawarra and Padthaway; Grenache and other southern Rhône-style blends from McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek; Riesling from the Clare and Eden Valleys; and Chardonnay.