The sun drenched Riverland region is the engine room of Australian wine. Dazzling sunshine makes generous, fruit driven styles popular for juicy flavour and easy drinkability. Ripe, rounded chardonnay is widely produced, while berry-full shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are soft, supple and approachable. A host of emerging varieties including viognier, vermentino, arneis, savagnin and tempranillo are proving suited to the region.
Extending from Blanchetown through Renmark to the Victorian border, the Riverland incorporates the townships of Morgan, Waikerie, Barmera, Loxton and Berri. With 21,900 hectares under vine, the powerhouse region generates a quarter of the nation’s total production. A warm continental climate, fertile soil and irrigation deliver bumper yields and the largest grape crush in the country. The district is dominated by large scale companies and over a thousand independent grape growers.
The mighty Murray river is the lifeblood of the Riverland. It is bordered in parts by towering limestone cliffs embedded with ancient fossils. The riverbanks and wetlands are teeming with native water birds and wildlife. Historic paddle steamers have been navigating the quiet locks and weirs of the Murray since the 1850s.
