© SAWIA
The Piccadilly Valley is a sub-region of Adelaide Hills zone (itself a sub-region of the Mount Lofty Ranges) in South Australia. It is located between the towns of Ashton and Bridgewater. Although a small area in terms of the amount of land planted with vines, it is renowned for the quality of its cold, mesoclimate-influenced wines, especially sparkling styles.
Located directly behind the towering Mount Lofty, the Piccadilly Valley is geographically one of the highest wine regions in Australia, with altitudes ranging from 1312 to 1970ft (400–600m). This location means that a mix of cloud and fog envelopes its vineyards, further lowering the temperatures. It also receives a high level of rainfall, as a result of the rain-bearing clouds being trapped by the nearby mountain range. These conditions mean that proper site selection for vineyard development is vital. Naturally, the best wines come from sites with growing conditions most favorable for achieving a high level of fruit maturity.
Piccadilly Valley specializes in the production of sparkling wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, but still wines made from fruit grown on warmer north-facing slopes are also well regarded. Additionally, some more adventurous producers have successfully experimented with northern Rhone-style Shiraz-Viognier blends.
