Australian Wines from the Petaluma Vineyards
Clare Valley
Petaluma has owned the Hanlin Hill vineyard (planted in 1968), high on the eastern slate hills of the Clare Valley, since 1979. The slate geology underlying Petaluma's Hanlin Hill Vineyard is perfect for producing the highest quality Riesling which is invariably defined by a backbone of high acidity with lime intensity and slatey nuances.
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Piccadilly Valley
The Piccadilly Valley is the coolest viticultural region in South Australia and home to Petaluma's seven distinguished Chardonnay vineyards. Nestled in behind Adelaide's Mount Lofty, the Piccadilly Valley has a myriad of different slopes and sub-valleys. Petaluma now has the enviable position of seven mature age vineyards, up to nearly 30 years in age. Located at altitudes up to 600 metres, each vineyard has its own individual aspect and soil composition, with an underlying geology which ranges from 800 million to 1,800 million years old.
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Mount Barker
Mount Barker is located on the eastern escarpment of the Adelaide Hills, 30 kilometres directly east of the cool Piccadilly Valley. Petaluma pioneered Mount Barker when it planted Viognier and Shiraz on the micaceous schist soils at altitudes of 350 to 450 metres. Directly to the north east the hot dry plains have a warming influence on Mount Barker, whilst the cold southern ocean to the south provides a cooling influence ensuring the retention of natural acid and elegant flavours in the finished wines.
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Coonawarra
The Evans Vineyard was purchased in 1978 from late Australian wine legend Len Evans. The vineyard is in the heart of Coonawarra, where the regions famous warm friable red clay soils (Terra Rossa) of Coonawarra are derived from parent material, reflecting the maritime presence of the region's geological past. The cold Southern Ocean has now receded by some 80 kilometres, but it still exerts a moderating influence on the climate of Coonawarra, contributing to the region's ability to produce elegant and long-lived Cabernet and Merlot wines.
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