Adelaide Hills wine region facts for kids
| Wine region | |
Piccadilly Valley, south of the Mount Lofty Ranges in the Adelaide Hills
|
|
| Type | Australian geographical indication (AGI) |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1998 |
| Years of wine industry | Since 1830s |
| Country | Australia |
| Part of | Mount Lofty Ranges zone |
| Sub-regions | Lenswood, Piccadilly Valley |
| Climate region | 'I' |
| Heat units | 1150 to 1479 |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 203–426 mm (8.0–16.8 in) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 17,873 ha (44,170 acres) |
| Grapes produced | 17,873 t (17,591 long tons; 19,702 short tons) |
| Varietals produced | Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris |
| Comments | climate data - 2004, production - 2014 |
The Adelaide Hills is a special area in South Australia where grapes are grown to make wine. It is located east of the city of Adelaide. This region is officially recognized as an Australian geographical indication, which means it has a unique identity for its wines.
What is the Adelaide Hills Wine Region?
The Adelaide Hills wine region stretches along the Mount Lofty Ranges. It goes from near Mount Pleasant in the north down to Mount Compass in the south. This area was officially named an 'Australian Geographical Indication' (AGI) on February 9, 1998. An AGI helps to protect the name and quality of wines from a specific place. It's like a special label that tells you where the grapes came from.
What Grapes Grow Here?
In 2014, the Adelaide Hills wine region had a total of 17,873 ha (44,170 acres) (that's about 44,165 acres) planted with grapevines. The most popular type of grape grown here is Sauvignon Blanc. It made up about 36.5% of all the grapes planted.
Other common grape types (called varietals) include:
- Chardonnay: This grape made up about 19.3% of the plantings.
- Pinot Noir: About 14% of the vineyards grew this grape.
- Pinot Gris: This grape accounted for about 5.8% of the plantings.
Overall, white wine grapes are grown more often in the Adelaide Hills. They made up about 67.3% of all the grape plantings. Red wine grapes accounted for about 32.7% of the plantings.
How Much Wine is Made?
In 2014, the region produced a lot of grapes. About 5,836 tonnes (5,744 long tons; 6,433 short tons) of red grapes were crushed. These grapes were valued at over A$8 million. For white grapes, about 12,037 tonnes (11,847 long tons; 13,269 short tons) were crushed. These white grapes were worth more than A$14 million. This shows how important grape growing is to the Adelaide Hills region.
