Clare Valley
Hit the Spot ➺ Clare Valley
The Clare Valley might be best known for Riesling, but there’s plenty more going on between those rolling hills and old stone cellars. It’s a region that can do precise just as well as generous, with bottles that feel distinctly South Australian. They’re bright, expressive and rarely shy on flavour—from electric whites with citrus, herbs and crunch to spiced, savoury reds with plenty of depth. There’s a lot packed into this little pocket. Enough to hit just about every spot.
punching above its altitude
Despite the name, Clare Valley isn't really one valley at all. It's a patchwork of ridges, gullies and elevated pockets. Vines first went into the ground in the 1840s, with Riesling eventually putting Clare firmly on the map—bone-dry, lime-driven and built to age for decades. These days, the classics sit alongside everything from Assyrtiko and Vermentino to Gewürztraminer and a new guard of lighter, less conventional reds. The classics are still here, but the region's found a few new tricks.