SOUTH AUSTRALIA: A GREAT WINE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
South Australia has 18 wine regions and is officially a Great Wine Capital of the world - alongside the likes of Bordeaux, Napa Valley and Rioja. Internationally recognised for producing the best wine in the world, South Australia is a varietal playground thanks to an array of terroirs—from coasts with cool breezes, to rolling hills and rich red soil. Rich in winemaking history, South Australia is home to the oldest continuously producing Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in the world and Australia’s oldest family-owned winery. Marrying vintner legacy with contemporary practices has earned us a string of top awards from the world’s most prestigious wine shows. Discover why our Adelaide wine regions are the globe's best!
What Are The Best Wine Regions Of South Australia?
South Australia’s 18 wine regions are a bit like a giant cheese platter—picking the best is tricky, but we’ll slice off nine that are a must-visit. Each with a distinct offering, flavour and experience – South Australia truly has something for every wine lover. Among the major Adelaide wine regions are world-famous destinations (Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Coonawarra) as well as charming smaller regions home to up-and-coming labels.
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Barossa Wine Region
Ever imagined tasting the world’s best wine? You can do just that in the heart of the Barossa Valley. Explore over 80 cellar doors, enjoy local produce and sample award-winning wines from some of the oldest vines on the planet, only an hour from Adelaide. For decades, the Barossa has wowed red wine lovers with its legendary shiraz—smooth, full-bodied and spiced just right. No wonder wine critic Jancis Robinson dubbed it "Australia's quintessential wine region”. It’s the go-to spot for iconic cellar doors like Seppeltsfield Estate, Hentley Farm and Yalumba.
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Adelaide Hills Wine Region
The Adelaide Hills is a standout among South Australia’s wine regions, well-known for its award-winning cool-climate wines (and being on the doorstep of our CBD!). Just a short 15 minute drive from Adelaide, it features rolling vineyards and steep, verdant hills - creating a leafy retreat home to well-known cellar doors like Golding Wines, The Lane Vineyard and Shaw + Smith. It’s a region that inspires creativity in its artists, food producers and winemakers, who are fittingly pushing alternative grape varieties. The Adelaide Hills is also home to historic European-influenced towns, including Hahndorf—Australia’s oldest German settlement.
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Clare Valley Wine Region
If you’ve ever daydreamed about biking through a landscape of old stone buildings, majestic gum trees and rolling green vineyards while sipping wine, then guess what? That fantasy is a reality in Clare Valley. Hop on the fun 35 kilometre cycle trail that winds through this picturesque countryside and charming cellar doors like Pikes Wines, Paulett Wines and Sevenhill Cellars. As Australia’s riesling capital, Clare Valley is not only known for its world-class wines but also its rich history—the region’s winemaking heritage stretches back over 160 years.
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McLaren Vale Wine Region
Just a 40 minute drive from the heart of Adelaide, McLaren Vale marries wine culture with seaside charm. Picture this: sipping wine from a double-decker bus or a giant Rubik’s cube; it’s easy with over 80 quirky cellar doors set amidst a patchwork of green vines that meet one of Australia’s most stunning coastlines. With a Mediterranean-like climate, McLaren Vale is renowned for its rich shiraz and premium grenache, but you’ll also discover Spanish and Italian varieties like fiano, vermentino, tempranillo, and sangiovese. It may be the oldest South Australian wine region, but it’s always ahead of the curve.
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Kangaroo Island Wine Region
The gold medal for Australia’s most surprising wine region goes to (drumroll please): Kangaroo Island! Here, unspoiled beaches, desert dunes and abundant wildlife meet remote, untamed vineyards. It creates a unique blend of boutique cellar doors and experimental drops. This relatively new Australian wine region, separated from mainland South Australia by a 15km stretch of ocean, is the perfect spot to unwind. Visit False Cape Wines to see how they made a cellar door out of recycled materials, or catch one of the most breathtaking views on the island when you visit Dudley Wines – a cellar door perched atop cliffs with a view out to the mainland.
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Eden Valley Wine Region
Dubbed the ‘Garden of Grape and Gums’, Eden Valley wine region is a picture of contoured vineyards, undulating farmlands and ancient gum trees—all framed by boutique cellar doors. Just a short drive from the Barossa Valley, it’s an easy win to tick off two incredible wine regions in one trip. Pull up a seat at Fernfield, Brockenchack or Henschke to taste the region's signature cool-climate varieties: riesling and shiraz. Fun fact, the name ‘Eden Valley’ hails from the word ‘Eden’, which was carved into a tree by early settlers in 1847!
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Riverland Wine Region
With vines stretching from the sprawling banks of the Murray River to the edges of the Outback, the Riverland is the largest grape growing region in South Australia. Fed by the Murray River, the Riverland produces some 460,000 tonnes of grapes and more than 85 varietals, making it an integral part of the South Australian wine industry. Here, you'll find more than 12 cellar doors, including Banrock Station, Angove Family Winemakers, 919 Wines, Whistling Kite and Salena Estate.
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Langhorne Creek Wine Region
Home to the oldest recorded cabernet sauvignon vines in the world and fifth-generation winemaking families, the fertile flood plains of Langhorne Creek produce some of the state’s most premium wine grapes. The region fits between the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale, only an hour from Adelaide. It’s here you can sip South Australian wine floating above the vineyards in an architecturally-designed shipping container at Kimbolton Wines, tucked in a renovated stable dating back to 1866 at Bremerton Wines, or drink in 160 years of history at Bleasdale.
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Coonawarra Wine Region
Welcome to South Australia’s red centre: the Coonawarra. That crimson hue doesn’t just hint at bold red wines but also at the famed terra rosa soil that’s put this region on the map. Imagine intimate tastings, a vibrant calendar of events and festivals and over 25 cellar doors spread across a compact 20km stretch of the Limestone Coast. It’s the perfect place among South Australia’s wine regions to kick back and enjoy a world-class cabernet sauvignon or shiraz at passionate cellar doors like Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Bellwether Wines and Ottelia.