*** Welcome to piglix ***

Barossa Valley wine-growing region

Barossa Valley
Wine region
Barossa Valley South Australia.jpg
Aerial view of the Barossa Valley
Type Geographical indication (GI)
Year established 1997
Years of wine industry Since 1843
Country Australia
Part of Barossa Zone
Growing season October-April
Climate region Mediterranean
Heat units 1710
Soil conditions Clay loam through to sandy
Size of planted vineyards 10,350 hectares (25,600 acres)
Varietals produced
No. of wineries 37
Comments Data from 2012

The Barossa Valley wine region is one of Australia's oldest wine regions. Located in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is about 56 km (35 miles) northeast of the city of Adelaide. Unlike most of Australia whose wine industry was heavily influenced by the British, the wine industry of the Barossa Valley was founded by German settlers fleeing persecution from the Prussian province of Silesia (in what is now Poland). The hot continental climate of the region promoted the production of very ripe grapes that was the linchpin of the early Australian fortified wine industry. As the modern Australian wine industry shifted towards red table wines (particularly those made by the prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon) in the mid-20th century, the Barossa Valley fell out of favor due to its reputation for being largely a Syrah from producers whose grapes were destined for blending. During this period the name "Barossa Valley" rarely appeared on wine labels. In the 1980s, the emergence of several boutique families specializing in old vine Shiraz wines began to capture international attention for the distinctive style of Barossa Shiraz, a full bodied red wine with rich chocolate and spice notes. This led to a renaissance in the Barossa Valley which catapulted the region to the forefront of the Australian wine industry.


...
Wikipedia

...