
Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale
Internationally, Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s two most well known wine regions, alongside Barossa Valley in South Australia. Located about a two hour drive north of Sydney, the region is very popular for weekend escapes from the city of Sydney.
Hunter Valley’s climate includes regular droughts or floods, seemingly less than desirable conditions to grow grapes, with the hot, humid summers and cool winters. Nevertheless, the region has been under cultivation since the 1800’s and is responsible for putting Australian wine, in particular Sémillon and to a lesser extent Shiraz, on the world wine map. Winemaking pioneers such as Bruce Tyrrell (Tyrrell's Wines) and Len Evans helped the region gain worldwide recognition.
The famous Hunter valley Sémillon was for many years known as ‘Hunter Valley Riesling’ and is never matured in oak. It is however one of the most ageworthy whites in the country with bottles showing an inordinate ability to age gracefully. Bottle-aged Sémillons will often exhibit burnt toast and honey characteristics, slight nutty notes and supremely complex flavours on the palate. This palate complexity is coupled with soft acidity and the finish can be very long indeed.
The McLaren Vale wine region is located less than an hours drive south of Adelaide, straight down the picturesque coastline.
Shiraz is by far the most widely planted variety, and the most important variety for the region, accounting for about 50% of the total crush. Every winery in the region will likely be producing at least one or more Shiraz wines, and with the wide range of unique terroirs available, each influenced by the maritime climate in unique ways, each Shiraz will have its own regional nuances.
Shiraz produced in McLaren Vale will often exhibit chocolate and coffee notes, with a little less pepper than those from Barossa Valley, and are often blended with Grenache. Other red varieties grown include Cabernet Sauvignon (and Merlot blends) Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Tannat and Zinfandel. The main white variety would be Chardonnay, however Sémillon and it's common blending partner Sauvignon Blanc are made, alongside lesser amounts of Riesling, Pronto Bianco, Vermentino and Fiano.
If you plan to visit McLaren Vale there are over 65 cellar doors so you'll be spoiled for choice, ranging from the small-boutique wineries to very large wineries. The drive from McLaren Vale up to the Barossa Valley is very scenic, passing over the rolling Adelaide Hills, and though the quaint German-settled town of Hahndorf.
Hunter Valley’s climate includes regular droughts or floods, seemingly less than desirable conditions to grow grapes, with the hot, humid summers and cool winters. Nevertheless, the region has been under cultivation since the 1800’s and is responsible for putting Australian wine, in particular Sémillon and to a lesser extent Shiraz, on the world wine map. Winemaking pioneers such as Bruce Tyrrell (Tyrrell's Wines) and Len Evans helped the region gain worldwide recognition.
The famous Hunter valley Sémillon was for many years known as ‘Hunter Valley Riesling’ and is never matured in oak. It is however one of the most ageworthy whites in the country with bottles showing an inordinate ability to age gracefully. Bottle-aged Sémillons will often exhibit burnt toast and honey characteristics, slight nutty notes and supremely complex flavours on the palate. This palate complexity is coupled with soft acidity and the finish can be very long indeed.
The McLaren Vale wine region is located less than an hours drive south of Adelaide, straight down the picturesque coastline.
Shiraz is by far the most widely planted variety, and the most important variety for the region, accounting for about 50% of the total crush. Every winery in the region will likely be producing at least one or more Shiraz wines, and with the wide range of unique terroirs available, each influenced by the maritime climate in unique ways, each Shiraz will have its own regional nuances.
Shiraz produced in McLaren Vale will often exhibit chocolate and coffee notes, with a little less pepper than those from Barossa Valley, and are often blended with Grenache. Other red varieties grown include Cabernet Sauvignon (and Merlot blends) Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Tannat and Zinfandel. The main white variety would be Chardonnay, however Sémillon and it's common blending partner Sauvignon Blanc are made, alongside lesser amounts of Riesling, Pronto Bianco, Vermentino and Fiano.
If you plan to visit McLaren Vale there are over 65 cellar doors so you'll be spoiled for choice, ranging from the small-boutique wineries to very large wineries. The drive from McLaren Vale up to the Barossa Valley is very scenic, passing over the rolling Adelaide Hills, and though the quaint German-settled town of Hahndorf.
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- Tyrrell's Old Winery range is named after its historic winery in the Hunter Valley, built in 1863 for the first vintage in 1864. Medium bodied with a generously flavoured palate leaning toward a white peach/citrus flavour spectrum and a clean, crisp ... Learn MoreTyrrell'S 'Old Winery' Chardonnay 2021$9.99 Per item
- Serve slightly chilled. This wine is very compatible with most styles of foods. Fresh and lively pineapple, with an intense sweet tropical nose with lifted spice aromas. Rich tropical fruit and honey flavours fill the palate and are complemented by ... Learn MoreTyrrell'S 'Old Winery' Verdelho 2021$11.99 Per item
- The value this wine delivers for the money is incredible. The wine starts out with a deep ruby colour. On the nose, the wine is full of cherry and blackberry fruits, which continue on the palate. What sets this Shiraz ... Learn MoreD'Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz 2017$12.99 Per item
- The southern hairy-nose wombat is small than other wombat but is stocky, robust and the proud state emblem of South Australia. Like the might of the little wombat, Little Giant iis crafted from premium regional fruit from established vineyards that ... Learn MoreLittle Giants Grenache 2021$18.99 Per item
- The southern hairy-nose wombat is small than other wombat but is stocky, robust and the proud state emblem of South Australia. Like the might of the little wombat, Little Giant iis crafted from premium regional fruit from established vineyards that ... Learn MoreLittle Giants Grenache 2020$18.99 Per item
- Sourced from a small selection of some of our top Semillon vineyards around the Hunter Valley. Most of the vineyards are dry grown and have an average vine age of 40 years. The grapes were machine harvested at cool temperatures in ... Learn MoreTyrrell's Hunter Valley Semillon 2022$19.99 Per item
- The ‘baby brother’ to the famous Vat 47 Chardonnay. Excellent drinking on release and will develop in complexity with short term bottle age. A citrus nose with a slight hint of oak. A weighted palate that is generous and has the ... Learn MoreTyrrell's Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2021$19.99 Per item
- Mouth filling and elegant, this hand crafted wine is a great example of a modern Hunter Chardonnay. The rich fruit palate with peach, melon and almond flavours is balanced by the creamy texture from French Oak treatment A rich fruit ... Learn MoreDe Iuliis Estate Chardonnay 2020$19.99 Per item
- Superb vintage growing conditions in 2019 led to the production of this outstanding Verdelho. Full of rich, tropical characters of pineappple and passionfruit, this wine makes on excellent accompaniment to Asian style dishes, as well as seafood or pasta. ... Learn MoreDe Iuliis Estate Verdhelho 2020$19.99 Per item
- An Italian-passito-style botrytis wine, it was crafted using hand-picked Viognier grapes that were late harvested and allowed to dry out for 3 weeks. It was fermented in French oak barrels (20% new) for six months, resulting in a beautiful bright golden colour. ... Learn MoreMr Riggs Sticky End 2018 (375ml)$20.00 Per item
- The De Iuliis Semillon white wines are known for being amongst the best Semillons on offer in the Hunter Valley. This irresistible luscious dessert wine has concentrated flavours of honey / marmalade, dried apricots and peaches. Its silky mouth feel, light ... Learn MoreDe Iuliis Late Picked Sem 2021 (500ml)$20.00 Per item
- It is a classic, traditional Coriole Chenin with a delicate filigree of autumnal fruits and spring florals. The nose displays red apple and pear, crisp white peach, honeysuckle, jasmine and quince flower and a hint of Leatherwood honey. A pleasant ... Learn MoreCoriole Chenin Blanc 2020$20.99 Per item
- Located at the southern end of McLaren Vale, the soil here is heavy grey loam mixed with black Biscay clay and sits above ancient Ngaltinga formation bedrock. The fruit is crushed immediately upon arrival at the winery, the skins and ... Learn MoreMitolo Jester Shiraz 2019$21.99 Per item
- Coriole is still family owned and operated, with some vines dating back to 1919. Their wines offer great value for money at each price point. The Redstone Shiraz was produced off three vineyards in the McLaren Vale and made to be ... Learn MoreCoriole Redstone Shiraz 2019$21.99 Per item
- A highly aromatic, Middle-Eastern allure - warm toasted spice, dark chocolate and the classic McLaren Vale Cabernet aromas of cassis, plum and blackcurrant. The palate has a lovely fine, long line and crunchy textural tannins. This is a bright, playful ... Learn MoreCoriole Songbird Cabernet Sauvignon 2020$21.99 Per item
- Made exclusively for United Cellars by Yangarra Estate using barrel selected fruit. Aromas of dark fruit aromas, along with blueberries, dark chocolate and some floral notes. A medium-full bodied palate packed with juicy black fruit, hints of licorice and dark ... Learn More
- A new wine in the Sparkling range. The chance to blend Hunter Semillon with Chardonnay in a sparkling wine is one not to be passed up. Semillon brings lively freshness and drive, with chardonnay creating a textural and drinkability to ... Learn MoreBimbadgen Hunter Valley Cuvee NV$22.00 Per item
- RockBare is a great example of the region’s signature wine. This bright and crunchy number presents a savoury touch with an intense concentration of flavour that makes this wine stand out from the pack with fine walnut–like tannins. ... Learn MoreRockbare McLaren Vale Grenache 2017$22.99 Per item
- If there's anything Mike De Iuliis loves more than a cold beer after a long day during harvest, it's a cool glass of dry, refreshing Rosé. This vintage of De Iuliis Rosé is made from Sangiovese and Merlot fruit - ... Learn MoreDe Iuliis Estate Rose 2021$22.99 Per item
- The base wines are predominately French oak matured Shiraz from McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. Rounding out the blend are small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional of up to ten years of age. The inclusion of older ... Learn MoreCoates La Petite Cuvee Sparkling Shiraz Nv$22.99 Per item
- This top value red is just the latest step on winemaker Peter Fraser's march towards recreating his own McLaren Vale examples of the famous bends of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here old vine Grenache combines with Mourvèdre, Shiraz, Cinsaut, Carignan, and ... Learn MoreYangarra 'Noir' 2020$24.99 Per item
- Blanc is the result of years of research and quarantine of the best white varieties we can find amongst the ancient north-west Mediterranean vine types. The fact that these Châteauneuf varieties have been successfully blended for so many years ... Learn MoreYangarra 'Blanc' 2021$24.99 Per item
- Located at the southern end of McLaren Vale, the soil here is heavy grey loam mixed with black Biscay clay and sits above ancient Ngaltinga formation bedrock. Lush but with an effortless weight. Silky tannins mesh seamlessly with the vibrant ... Learn MoreMitolo Jester Grenache 2019$24.99 Per item
- Located at the southern end of McLaren Vale, the soil here is heavy grey loam mixed with black Biscay clay and sits above ancient Ngaltinga formation bedrock. Matured in older oak barrels for twelve months, the Jester Malbec is fragrant, ... Learn MoreMitolo Jester Malbec 2019$24.99 Per item
- Located at the southern end of McLaren Vale, the soil here is heavy grey loam mixed with black Biscay clay and sits above ancient Ngaltinga formation bedrock. Very fragrant and clearly defined, classic varietal expression of Cabernet Sauvignon with blackcurrant, ... Learn MoreMitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon 2018$24.99 Per item
- A delightful wine for current drinking. It’s light to medium bodied with the fruit sourced from throughout South Australia. Aromas of rustic strawberry with a little rose petal and spiciness. The palate is soft and supple but with good ... Learn MoreThistledown Gorgeous Grenache 2020$24.99 Per item
- Selected from parcels of fruit that make fragrant and juicy wines, Bloodstone is a pure and velvety Shiraz evoking ripe red cherries and blackcurrants. Cellar now — 2023-2025 ... Learn MoreGemtree Bloodstone Mclaren Vale Shiraz 2019$25.00 Per item
- So well suited to the McLaren Vale region and over 40 years of experimenting with the sites, clones and rootstocks has led to this sangiovese being an Australian benchmark. Harvested from our 12 blocks across our 4 McLaren Vale vineyards it is interesting ... Learn MoreCoriole Sangiovese 2020$25.00 Per item
- Summer of ’69 was inspired by owner Sarah Marquis' birth year. She wanted to celebrate this era of peace, love and good times. Mollydooker’s Summer of 69 Verdelho’s bouquet of honeysuckle and lemon fill the nose, hinting at a sherbet ... Learn MoreMollydooker Summer of 69 Verdelho 2019$25.00 Per item
- Named after the original owners' Spartan origins, this is the only Coriole site facing due north. A vivid dark ruby, this is a richer expression and yet still relatively light on its feet. Floral and lifted upon entry. A dense ... Learn MoreCoriole Sparta Shiraz 2018$25.00 Per item
- Our Sparta vineyard was planted aoround 25 years ago on a north facing hillside on the western boundary of our property. The style is bright, rich and full bodied. A vivid dark ruby, this is a richer expression and yet still ... Learn MoreCoriole Sparta Shiraz 2020$25.99 Per item
- Uncut is the first wine Gemtree made, a distinctive McLaren Vale Shiraz. It is generous, layered, bright and textural. Cellar now — 2024-2029. ... Learn MoreGemtree Uncut Mclaren Vale Shiraz 2018$26.00 Per item
- WHO IS THE BOXER? 'Mollydooker' is old Aussie slang for a left handed boxer and our Boxer always punches well above its Fruit Weight™. Did you notice he has two left-handed gloves? TASTING NOTES: This alluring and unashamedly bold Shiraz ... Learn MoreMollydooker The Boxer Shiraz 2020$26.99 Per item
- Beautifully intense purple colour with aromatics that leap from the glass. Pure fruited aromas of blood plum and redcurrant combine with alpine herbs, wild mint, anise, clove, crushed seashell, and biscuit dough. Freshness abounds on the palate with fine but ... Learn MoreAphelion Welkin Project 5255 Malbec 2020$26.99 Per item
- The Welkin Grenache By Aphelion 2020 is part of a brand new special range of vibrant, early release, ready to enjoy, but delightfully complex wines. It fairly leaps out of the glass at you! Beautifully intense purple colour with aromatics that ... Learn MoreAphelion Welkin Grenache 2020$26.99 Per item
- Officially known as Calabrese in Italy with Nero d’Avola a modern evolution of Sicily’s most famous vinous export. Aromas of black cherry, dried-herbs, incense and terra-cotta tile lead on to a palate of dark chocolate, plum, beetroot and ... Learn MoreSC Pannell ‘Nero Diavola’ 2020$26.99 Per item
- “Lighter, warm climate red wines based on Grenache particularly from McLaren Vale have a growing place on the tables of Australian diners. Youthful, flavoursome wines to make you smile that match where and how we live, and the food we ... Learn MoreSC Pannell 'Basso' Garnacha 2019$28.00 Per item
- Abundant Tempranillo black fruits, plums, cocoa and wet earth overlaid with Touriga National’s pungent fruit mince, jasmine scented florals and nutmeg/cinnamon spices. It is a rich flavoursome, medium-full bodied wine. The palate is long and consistent with integrated ... Learn MoreSC Pannell Tempranillo Touriga 2018$28.99 Per item
- “The fourth release of Dead End Tempranillo from the mildest vintage since 2011; a wine of real presence, complexity and depth with an extra punch of fruit.” - Steve Pannell. Drink Now until 2022. ... Learn MoreSc Pannell 'Dead End' Tempranillo 2018$28.99 Per item
- We hand picked each parcel to preserve freshness & vibrancy, keeping 10% as whole bunches, & gently destemming the balance to preserve whole berries, we allowed it to cold soak for 3 days to capture aromatics. Fermentation commenced naturally, it was hand plunged & tasted ... Learn MoreMinistry Of Clouds Mclaren Vale Shiraz 2021$29.90 Per item