Riverland is the only region within the Lower Murray zone of South Australia. Located in the east of the state, bordering Victoria, it is the largest wine region in Australia in terms of volume, accounting for half of South Australia's output and almost a quarter of the national total. This makes Riverland an immensely important GI (Geographical Indication), and a vital part of the country's wine economy. Every large multi-national wine producer has a stake in its vineyards.
©SAWIA
The Riverland region forms part of the irrigated vineyards of Australia, a large geographical area that spreads across South Australia and the states of Victoria and New South Wales. Together, they produce the majority of the grapes which go into the generic 'South Eastern Australia' appellation – an unofficial 'super-zone' responsible for most of the Australian wines that end up on supermarket shelves worldwide. A proportion of Riverland's annual production also goes into the value-for-money labels turned out by large wineries based in Barossa and the Hunter Valley.
The vast scale of Riverland's grape production means that the region's viticulture is highly mechanized. Nonetheless, there are also a number of small boutique wineries which have earned a name for themselves by crafting high-quality wines.
The Murray river is the region's lifeblood, providing its vineyards with much-needed water. Without this, the vines would be hard-pressed to survive, let alone produce quality grapes. The region has a continental climate, with dry, hot and sunny days during the growing season. On average, a mere 5.3 inches (135mm) of rain falls between October and April. Riverland's flat terrain, with average altitudes of only 82ft (25m), and summer temperatures reaching as high as 113F (45C) also make the Murray river's contribution vital. Irrigation here is not restricted in the way that it is in some fine wine regions of Europe, and this plentiful supply of water, coupled with plentiful sunshine, means that large volumes of healthy and ripe fruit are produced in most years.
Riverland's portfolio of wine varieties is extensive, but focuses largely on Chardonnay for white wines and Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot for reds.
