Adelaide Plains is a wine region in the Mount Lofty Ranges zone of South Australia, located just north of the state capital, Adelaide. The Gulf of Saint Vincent forms its western border, while the famous Barossa Valley lies to the northeast. For many years the region supplied most of its grapes to the better-known wineries in Barossa and McLaren Vale, but an increasing number of small producers are now making very high-quality wines within this GI (Geographical Indication), bringing much-deserved recognition to a region first established in the 1950s. The region was awarded its official GI status in 2002.
The region's climate is warm and dry, with extremely low rainfall (5 inches/130mm) during the growing season, making irrigation vital. The southwesterly breezes blowing in from the Gulf of Saint Vincent help to moderate temperatures somewhat, but the overall conditions are hot – aided by the lack of elevation, which reaches only 65ft (20m) on average. These factors make Adelaide Plains' grape-growing conditions similar to some of the inland regions of South Australia. One of the benefits of the arid climate, though, is that the Adelaide remains largely disease-free.
Adelaide Plains' warm conditions suit many heat-loving varieties, especially red-wine grapes such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Among the whites, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Colombard lead the plantings, with Colombard particularly well suited to the climate. Adelaide was popular with Italian immigrants to Australia, both in the early 20th Century and after World War II. In keeping with that heritage, grapes like Sangiovese and Moscato also find favor with some producers. Other prominent varieties include Grenache, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Semillon and Gewürztraminer.
