Adelaide Hills Wine Region

Adelaide Hills

The picturesque Adelaide Hills wine region runs along the top of the Mount Lofty Ranges from Mount Pleasant in the north to Mount Compass in the south. It is a cool climate region driven by altitudes of 350-700 metres above sea level.

The focus is on premium styles of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wine. They show vibrant character, elegance and fresh natural acidity. The Adelaide Hills is leading the charge for chardonnay in South Australia. Impressive, modern chardonnay styles show bright citrus fruit with subtle oak integration, complexity and minerality. Sauvignon blanc makes zesty wines of passionfruit and tropicals, while sensuous pinot noir is coming into its own. Sparkling wine styles range from fresh and fruit driven, to complex and creamy. Bigger reds like shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc ripen successfully on the warmer sites. Hills growers are also having success with tempranillo, nebbiolo, sangiovese, arneis, and gruner veltliner.

The Adelaide Hills is home to over 50 wine producers. 3,700 ha of vineyard rise and fall through the twisting valleys of the range in multiple pockets of soil and aspect. The great diversity of terroir includes grey and brown loams, weathered schists, skeletal quartzites, sandstones and podsols. Lenswood and Piccadilly Valley are recognised sub regions.

Reaching 727 metres at the summit, the Mount Lofty Ranges stretch for over 300km from Cape Jervis at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula to Peterborough in the north of the state. The lush green vines and candlebark eucalypts of the Adelaide Hills are an easy 20min from Adelaide CBD, with lots of gorgeous picnic spots along the way.