Padthaway, a wine region in the Limestone Coast zone of South Australia, is an elongated strip of land located north of Wrattonbully. The region came into being as a direct result of the success of its southern neighbor, Coonawarra, as winegrowers looked to explore adjoining areas in search of similar growing conditions. Its potential as a quality grape-growing area was first established back in 1944, following research conducted by the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), but the foundation for the industry was laid down by Karl Seppelt in 1963 when the first vineyards were established. Since then, the region has witnessed a tremendous expansion – with almost all of the big names in the Australian wine industry having a presence here. The region received its GI (Geographical Indication) status in 1999.
Padthaway has a flat landscape, with altitudes of no more than 164ft (50m) and very subtle, but significant, variations in slopes and elevation. The overall climate can be categorized as Mediterranean; it is a little warmer than Coonawarra and the coastal regions of Mount Benson and Robe. This, along with the famous terra rossa soil, dictates the region's wine styles – biased towards whites and led by Chardonnay. Padthaway's Chardonnays have earned a reputation based on their clean and pure fruit flavors, mostly without any oak influence. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdelho are the other important whites of the region. Equally high-quality red wines are produced here from grape varieties such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
