Mclaren Vale

McLaren Vale is a city in South Australia. It is located south of the Adelaide CBD, near Willunga, Aldinga and is a short drive from Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Goolwa and Middleton. McLaren Vale is one of South Australia's world renowned wine regions, and boasts excellent wineries, gourmet restaurants and many boutique stores.

Famous for producing some of the best Shiraz Australia has to offer, McLaren Vale is arguably one of the premier Shiraz-growing regions of the world. Shiraz is by far the most important variety for the region, accounting for about 50% of the total crush. The area's thin soils, limited water, and warm summers harness Shiraz’s natural vigour and produce intense flavoured fruit, and wine with a deep purple colour that can last decades in the bottle.

McLaren Vale wines are distinguished by their ripeness, elegance, structure, power and complexity. McLaren Vale has 3,218 hectares of Shiraz under vine. Other major varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon with 1,288 ha planted, Chardonnay with 722 ha planted and Grenache with 402 ha- much of this dry-grown (non-irrigated) bush vines. (Statistics taken from the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board’s vineyard register as of May 2005.)

Mclaren Vale is an easy 45 minute drive by car from the centre of Adelaide. From the Adelaide CBD, take Goodwood Road south to South road, then head west. If open, use the Southern Expressway (Otherwise take Main South Road), and follow the signs first towards Victor Harbor and then to McLaren Vale. Car hires are available in Adelaide for all budgets ranging from the world wide brands, down to rent-a wreck cheapies. Renting and returning a hire car is a no-brainer.

A far more scenic route, avoiding miles of car yards, traffic lights and suburban build up is to take the Mt Barker Highway (the main road out of Adelaide to Melbourne) and leave the highway to enter Hahndorf. From there drive to Meadows and then follow the sign posts to McLaren Vale. On arriving in McLaren Vale, initially turn right, back toward Adelaide, and drive about 300 metres down the main street to the outskirts of the town as the tourist centre with winery location maps is on the Adelaide side of the town.

There are various tour companies in Adelaide which will offer bus tours of McLaren Vale. Almost all wineries offer tastings at no charge in the expectation of a sale.

Whilst it is possible to take a bus or use a bicycle around McLaren Vale, the many interesting and unique areas are spread far apart. Therefore, it may be an idea to consider hiring a car for the time you are going to spend there.