Clare ValleyThe Clare Valley is undoubtedly one of Australia's prettiest wine regions. It's made up of a series of valleys and small sub-regions, including Auburn, Clare, Polish Hill River, Watervale, and Sevenhill, and many of the quaint buildings are made out of the locally quarried bluestone. Producers include Leasingham, Jim Barry, Tim Adams, Mockingbird Hill, Kilikanoon, Skilogalee, Knappstein Wines, Mount Horrocks and Pikes. There’s even a Jesuit winery, Sevenhill Cellars, which makes sacramental wine for church ceremonies. The Clare is renowned for its long-lived, steely, minerally Rieslings, and its big, full-flavoured, complex Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignons. It's also beginning to make a name for itself with its Italian varietals -- Dolcetto, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo are just some of the new wave reds available from the region. Individual vineyards are tiny, and quality is very high, with limited production, so Clare Valley is real connoisseur territory and prices can be pretty expensive. Though you can certainly still pick up a bargain if you look closely enough!
|
