Celebrated as the home of Australian Riesling, the Clare Valley is one of the country’s oldest wine growing regions. It’s located around two hours drive to the north of Adelaide around the towns of Clare, Penwortham, Sevenhill, Watervale and Auburn and is blessed with a Mediterranean climate highly favourable for the growth of grapes.
In addition to Riesling, the more than 40 wineries in the Clare Valley are also known for their Chardonnay, Semillon, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Most of these are relatively small, family-run operations situated between the towns of Clare and Auburn, with many located along the 35-kilometre long Riesling Trail, a walking and cycling route built along the old railway tracks. It passes through the towns of Leasingham, Watervale, Penwortham and Sevenhill, each of which exhibits the legacy of its European settlers in its rich architectural heritage. Art galleries, gourmet restaurants and boutique guest houses dot the region, together with cellar doors where visitors can sample the wines produced here, accompanied by home-grown, seasonal produce and tapas-style dishes. The Jesuit Monastery and Winery at Sevenhill offers a fascinating insight into the viticultural history of the Clare Valley, with some of the first vines planted here in 1851, together with the Old Police Station Museum in the town of Clare itself. Coincide a visit with the Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend to sample the year’s vintage, accompanied by local delicacies and live entertainment.
The Clare Valley can be accessed from Adelaide by bus with the Yorke Peninsula Coach Lines, but most opt to self-drive, allowing them to stop and explore the cellar doors and sights along the way. A number of local operators also offer guided bus tours throughout the region, or visitors can organise a private tour by vintage car.
Although the Clare Valley was first inhabited by the indigenous Ngadjuri people, it was the English, Irish, Poles and Silesians who settled during the mid-19th century that were the first to plant vineyards around their villages and establish the winemaking tradition in the area. In February of 1983, the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires swept through the region, causing extensive damage to the vineyards, railway line, and local industry.