Australia

Name
of Riesling Region: 		Australia Clare Valley Eden Valley Barossa Valley Great Southern
Country: Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia
Geographical
Coordinates:		 n/a 33° 50’S 34° 35’ S 34° 29′S  31° 56′S – 35° 02′S 
Length
of growing season :

(days between last
spring frost and first fall frost)

 Around 200 days

(Early October to late April)

 Around 200 days

Harvest from February – April

 Around 215 days

Harvest from mid March – early May

 Around 200 days

Harvest from February – late April

 Around 200 days

Harvest from early Mar – late April
Total
land area:

(in hectares &
acres)

(not just vineyard
land)

 44,180,000 hectares

of arable land

 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Major
Soil types:

(eg Slate, Shale, loam):

 Wide diversity Red soils over limestone in Watervale
sub-region. Broken slate in Polish Hill sub-region.  Deep alluvial soils to the north and sandy loams to the west.		 Ranging from sandy loam, clay loam, ironstone gravels, quartz gravels and decomposed schist rock. Ancient soils comprising low-fertility clay loam through to more sandy soils, ranging through grey to brown
to red		 Moderately fertile sandy loams with some derived from granite and gneissic bedrocks. Typically brown to
grey-brown in colour.
Total
Vineyard Area:

(all types of grapes): 

151,789 hectares

(0.3% of arable land)

 4,801 hectares 1,933 hectares 9,763 hectares 2,804 hectares
Total
Riesling acreage:		 4,114 hectares

(3% of vineyard area)

 1,024 hectares

(21% of vineyard area)

 534 hectares

(28% of vineyard area)

 326 hectares

(3% of vineyard area)

 202 hectares

(7% of vineyard area)
Number
of Wine producers in region:

(all types of wine)

 2,300 wine producers

752 wineries crushing grapes

 50 20 150 40
Number of wine producers who produce some Riesling: n/a Most Most n/a n/a
Average annual size of Riesling Crop: 33,681 tonnes

(2% of total grape crush).

7,063 tonnes

(26% of total crush)

 3677 tonnes

(29% of total crush)

 2,585 tonnes

(4% total crush)

 1,123 tonnes

(7% of total crush)
Average annual production of Riesling Wines:  ‘000 cases ( ‘000
bottles)		 1,000,000  9L cases n/a however exports approx

56,500 9Lcases

n/a however exports approx

46,000 9Lcases

 n/a however exports approx

26,000 9L cases

n/a but exports approx 14,600 9Lcases
Average
retail price for Riesling:		 AUD $11.36

per 750ml bottle

 AUD $13.81

per 750ml bottle

 AUD$15.52

Per 750ml bottle

 AUD$9.53 n/a
Range of prices of Riesling Wines: $AUD AUD $4.85 –AUD$42.59 AUD $10.38 – AUD $42.59.

(Grosset Polish Hill Riesling is the highest priced Riesling in Australia at average $42.59)

 AUD$12.52 – AUD$30.69 n/a n/a
Note
on domestic consumption:		 Jacob’s Creek Riesling is the  top selling Riesling product in Australia 5 of the top 10 selling Rieslings in Australia are from Clare Valley 2 of the top selling 10 selling Rieslings in Australia are from the Eden Valley A number of leading Barossa based wineries make top selling Rieslings but are not Barossa appellated. n/a
Major markets:

(Countries and/or states/provinces

 USA, UK, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand Australia and export Australia and export n/a n/a

 

Name
of Riesling Region: 		Australia Clare Valley Eden Valley Barossa Valley Great Southern
Most
Common Styles of Riesling wine:

(dry, medium dry, sweet): 

Mostly dry and medium dry Riesling, with small quantities of sweeter (late harvest or botrytis) Mostly dry and medium dry. Clare Valley Rieslings display juicy citrus characters with fine natural acidity. Those of the Watervale sub-region tend to be fuller styles, while those of the Polish Hill sub-region are tighter wines with plenty of minerality. Dry styles.

Eden Valley Riesling is typified by citrus and white floral aromas, with intense lemon-lime citrus on the palate and great mineral acidity that adds great palate length. It ages well, taking a decade or more to develop.

Mostly dry and medium dry. The warmer conditions of the Barossa Valley yield Riesling wines known for their
generosity, and will develop more quickly than Riesling of the cooler Eden Valley or Clare Valley. 		 Mostly dry.

Riesling is one of the most important wines from the region.  Great Southern Rieslings are intense in flavour, with crisp citrus flavours and herbal notes and age superbly reaching their peak within 10 years.

Climate and altitude: Temperate climate. 

Majority of the viticultural area is in South Eastern Australia.

 Mediterranean-like climate.

Warm hot summer days with cooling afternoon breezes.

  • Altitude: 400-500metres (1312-1640 ft)
  • Mean January (veráison) temp: 21.9deg C (71.42F)
 Mediterranean-like climate with cool influences from high altitude

  • Altitude: 380-550 metres (1247-1804 feet)
  • Mean January (veráison) temp:  19.4°C (67°F) 
 Mediterranean-like climate with warm dry summers and cool evening breezes which moderate ripening.

  • Altitude: 250 – 370 metres (820 – 1213 feet) 
  • Mean January (veráison) temp: 21.4°C (70°F) 
 Maritime-influenced and continental climate, cooler on the coastal areas and warmer further inland.

  • Altitude: 50-300metres (164-984
    ft)
  • Mean January (veráison) temp: 19ºC (66ºF): 
Other relevant unique characteristics:

(Terroir – slope, aspect, water

Viti / oenological practices)

   Supplementary water applied to most vineyards vineyards – from external sources or bores. East-West rows. Aspect varies, but most are situated on either a westerly or easterly facing slope to limit daily sun exposure. Wire lifting common to manage light & heat exposure. Heavily reliant on natural rainfall for water source (typically caught & stored on-farm). Shallow soils necessitate regular irrigation practices. Vineyards are typically located on Easterly facing slopes to allow only gentle morning sun exposure.  Wire lifting common to manage light & heat exposure Supplementary water applied to most vineyards – from external sources or bores. Vineyard location varies. Vines are typically exposed to more heat & light. Simple one-wire trellis configuration with catch-wire is common. Floor management practices vary depending on final wine style. Some vineyards are fed by natural rainfall, but others require supplementary irrigation. Aspect & slope vary dramatically. Careful canopy & floor management is required to suit seasonal variations and final wine style.
History   First vines were planted in Clare Valley in 1840s.  Clare Valley is renowned as a premium Riesling growing region, and its best examples can age > 20 years. Viticulture started in Eden Valley in 1842s and it bears some of the worlds oldest Riesling vines. It is a prized region for elegant somewhat austere cooler climate Riesling. First vines were planted in Barossa Valley in 1840s.  The first vines planted by Bavarian settler Johann Gramp on the banks of Jacob’s Creek were believed to be Riesling vines. Vines were established since the 1960s. Within Great Southern, Frankland River sub region is particularly noted
for its Riesling.
Leading brands:
  • Jacobs Creek
  • Wolf Blass
  • Hardys
  • Pikes
  • Annies Lane
  • Jim Barry
  • Taylors Estate
  • Grossett
  • Pewsey Vale Riesling
  • Steingarten Riesling
  • St.Helga
  • Leo Buring
  • Penfolds
  • Jacob’s Creek
  • Wolf Blass
  • Yalumba
  • Peter Lehmann
  • Frankland Estate
  • Xabregas Wines
  • Plantagenet Wines

 

Sources: