As desolate as it sounds, Adelaide Plains is actually a region directly north of the city of Adelaide, on the way to the Barossa or Clare Valley, really, about half an hour’s drive. We’re talking Virginia and Angle Vale all the way to Gawler, on the doorstep of the Barossa.
And yet, for all its proximity, it is one of the driest and most arid wine regions in the country.
Having said that, it’s actually abundant in good rich soils, and not only home to vast crops of potatoes, tomatoes and all sorts of market veggies, but it’s been growing some pretty darn special fruit for decades – since the 50′s, in fact, when Italian migrants worked their magic (we have so much to thank you for!!).
The Trombetta family started it all, I believe, and something I only learned as I was writing this is that the original Penfold’s Grange Hermitage fruit from the 50′s vintages was grown in the Adelaide Plains.
A lot of the fruit was, and still is, sent to producers in the Barossa and McLaren Vale, but in the 70′s we started to see Adelaide Plains brands pop up, pioneered by such names as Joe Grilli with his famous Primo Estate (La Biondina Colombard – awesome), Dominic Versace (a legendary pizza chef as well as winemaker!), Joe Ceravolo – these are the families who have built this wine region. Hazyblur is a particularly good producer.
There are 100 year-old vines in the region, but they only scored their official GI status in 2002. Tough crowd, the GI police.
So what works best in the Adelaide Plains?
Clearly Colombard, at least in Joe Grilli’s expert hands, and there’s the obligatory Chardonnay, Shiraz (surprisingly spicy, with plum and mulberry fruits), Cabernet, Merlot, etc. etc.
Of more interest (to me at least!) are the Italian varieties – Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Moscato and others – with the pioneers of the region sharing their heritage through their wines.
As it should be.