{"id":3759,"date":"2025-07-18T14:34:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3759"},"modified":"2025-07-25T09:11:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T23:41:17","slug":"adelaide-hills-wine-region","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3759","title":{"rendered":"Adelaide Hills Wine Region"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After notable failures during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, grapegrowing and winemaking almost disappeared from the Adelaide Hills. A revival began in the 1970s and continued through the 1980s, thanks to pioneers like the Verralls at \u2018Glenara\u2019 in Upper Hermitage, Brian Croser at \u2018Petaluma\u2019 in Piccadilly Valley, and Stephen George at \u2018Ashton Hills\u2019.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the number of growers increased, they formed loose associations and eventually an Adelaide Hills Wine Region (see map)<\/a> was officially registered in 1998. The initial criterion for inclusion was sketchy, requiring that vineyards be about 400m above sea level and therefore sharing a comparable moderate climate. But as Stephen George explained: \u2018Such simplicity was shortlived for we were soon required by bureaucracy to define the boundaries for export purposes. This was to be done with such accuracy that a grapegrower on one side of a road might be included in a region while his neighbour across the road was precluded\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Vines in the Piccadilly Valley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Region is about 70 km from north to south and 30 km from west to east. The Adelaide Hills Council District coincides fairly closely with the northern part of this Wine Region, and the majority of the vineyards and wineries are within the District. The Region has two registered subregions, Lenswood (declared like the bigger region in 1998) and Piccadilly Valley (2000). Here distinctive soils and microclimates contribute to special qualities in the products. Throughout the Wine Region there is increasing attention to the terroir, to the special characteristics of quite small areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


By 2001 it was estimated that there were 200 grapegrowers in the region, with over 40 winemaking companies. But further developments at that time, such as new vineyards and wineries, and cellar doors, were hampered by concern about the water catchment. This was eventually relaxed and the region boomed even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Google Maps displaying Wineries and Cellar Doors in the region<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Hills are especially known for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz, and sparkling wines, amongst others, but there is an increasing number of varieties, with some quite obscure and adventurous. Who had heard of Albarino, Fiano, Gruener Veltliner, Nebbiolo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Adelaide Hills Red Wine Grapes ready for harvest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite various setbacks in this century – a wine glut, bushfires, vine diseases, the Covid pandemic, and a political dispute with China that saw exports restricted – the local industry continues overall to thrive. Wines from the Adelaide Hills Region have gained an international reputation. Yet by a hundred years ago it had become received wisdom that the Hills were not suitable for vineyards!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Sources: Stephen George, \u2018Modern history of the Adelaide Hills grapegrowing and
winemaking industry\u2019, in Robert Martin (ed.), Views from the Hills: Essays in
the History of the Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Districts Historical Society,
2002.
Katie Spain, The Wine Producers: A Taste of Adelaide Hills, Bud Media, 2022<\/em>; The Advertiser<\/em>; Piccadilly Valley Vineyards<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have recollections, knowledge or further information that you would like to share about the people, places or events described here, then please contact us at mldhs@mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After notable failures during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, grapegrowing and winemaking almost disappeared from the Adelaide Hills. A revival began in the 1970s and continued through the 1980s, thanks to pioneers like the Verralls at \u2018Glenara\u2019 in Upper Hermitage, Brian Croser at \u2018Petaluma\u2019 in Piccadilly Valley, and Stephen George at \u2018Ashton Hills\u2019. As … Continue reading “Adelaide Hills Wine Region”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PaNLq6-YD","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3734,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3734","url_meta":{"origin":3759,"position":0},"title":"Hills Sculpture Trail","date":"July 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A major initiative, which has left permanent traces in the region, was the Adelaide Hills Inaugural International Sculpture Symposium, which took place in 2012. Eight sculptors from around the world were invited to \u2018The Cedars\u2019 at Hahndorf - the former home of the painter Sir Hans Heysen - to spend\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/botanic-gardens-Glimpse-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3711,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3711","url_meta":{"origin":3759,"position":1},"title":"Boundary Wars","date":"July 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Shortly after its formation in 1997 by the amalgamation of four smaller councils, the Adelaide Hills Council consented in 1998 to the excision of the Adelaide Foothills suburbs of Skye and Auldana and their transfer to the neighbouring Burnside Council District. This was in conformity with the local government legislation\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/botanic-gardens-Glimpse-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":60,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=60","url_meta":{"origin":3759,"position":2},"title":"Our History","date":"February 12, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"How better to introduce the nature and the history of our district than to quote these edited selections from Robert Martin\u2019s comprehensive history of the Stirling district, \"Under Mount Lofty\", originally published in 1987 and updated in 1996. .....From the city of Adelaide in South Australia a few kilometres of\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/copy-of-0070-1ab.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2666,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2666","url_meta":{"origin":3759,"position":3},"title":"Other Adelaide Hills Local History Groups","date":"June 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Rod Kemp Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens History is widely respected within the Adelaide Hills and many districts and towns have their own groups of enthusiastic historians and in some cases, buildings housing museums and archives. Some groups have their own websites or other forms of on-line presence. Such groups\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Mt-Lofty-Botanic-Gardens.1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3724,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=3724","url_meta":{"origin":3759,"position":4},"title":"Tour Down Under","date":"July 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Since 1999 the Adelaide Hills have gained worldwide attention as Adelaide and environs host the Tour Down Under for competitive cyclists. This has happened every January, except in 2021 and 2022, during the Covid pandemic. The Tour Down Under passes through Gumeracha in January 2025 For a brief time, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/botanic-gardens-Glimpse-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2479,"url":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/?page_id=2479","url_meta":{"origin":3759,"position":5},"title":"First Peoples of the Mt Lofty Districts","date":"January 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Return to Gateways Topics Mt Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc.Acknowledgement of Country The Mt Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc. recognises that the lands of the Adelaide Hills and Adelaide Plains hold deep and lasting spiritual significance to their traditional custodians. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/unnamed-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3759"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3759"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3877,"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3759\/revisions\/3877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}