Clare Valley
An elevated plateau famous for exquisite dry riesling — citrusy, with driving acidity preserved by extremely cold nights and limestone-laced soils.
About the region
Clare Valley (which, like Eden Valley, is not a true valley but an elevated plateau) is known for exquisite rieslings, although it also makes very precise shirazes. Where Eden Valley's rieslings are more floral, exotic and medium-bodied, those of Clare Valley are more citrusy, with driving acidity. It is commonly assumed that the rieslings from these areas are picked early to achieve their dizzying crispness, but they are not: rather, the regions' extremely cold nights and water-holding, limestone-laced soils are credited with preserving riesling's backbone of inherent acidity. Clare Valley sits within South Australia, the state that produces more than half of all Australian wine.
