Winery of the Week - CHALK HILLFor this week's tastings we are hopping over the ditch to taste South Australia. McLaren Vale is barely a few minutes drive South from central Adelaide in South Australia, and while it is very close to its' much larger neighbour Barossa it is a distinctly different region. We'll be tasting five different wines, the award winning Chalk Hill Shiraz, a Cabernet Franc blend, Shiraz Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and finishing the week with a treat - their top end $100 Alpha Crucis Shiraz. |
McLaren Vale RegionRoughly a triangular region, with Adelaide city to the North, the Mt Lofty Ranges to the East and South, and ocean to the West. As a result the climate is more Mediterranean with warm dry summers, mild wet. Sea breezes from the West and gully winds from the hills help to moderate the temperatures unlike the sun-baked Barossa. (aerial photo) |
Chalk HillChalk Hill vineyard overlooks the township of McLaren Vale, first planted in 1969 with Shiraz and Cabernet. The steeper slopes are planted in native drooping oak, which is home to the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo. |