Fleurieu is a wine zone located South of Adelaide, the administrative capital of South Australia, which takes its name from the French explorer Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu. Across the zone Shiraz is the most common Grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are among the supporting cast.
Five wine regions can be found within its boundaries: Currency Creek (to the west of Lake Alexandrina), Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek (between Lake Alexandrina and the town of Strathalbyn), McLaren Vale (in the northwest of the peninsula) and Southern Fleurieu (located on the peninsula and a section of the Mount Lofty Ranges).
Overall, the Climate of Fleurieu is heavily affected by its proximity to the sea, producing a predominantly Mediterranean influence.
The seasons are characterized by milder temperatures than those experienced in some of South Australia's inland and high-altitude regions. The five regions within the zone have variable mesoclimates, dictated by their elevation and proximity to the coast. These conditions combine to make the peninsula an area which can support a variety of grape types.
Most certainly Portuguese, not to be confused with the Touriga Franca also of the same origin. In Portugal, where it is widely cultivated, it is used to produce, among other things, the famous red Porto. It is also found in Uzbekistan, Australia, South Africa, Cyprus, Spain, etc... very little known in France, although it is listed in the Official Catalogue of A1 vines.
red wines from the region of Fleurieu go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of roast monkfish with bacon, sweet and sour braised leg of lamb or roast duck breast stuffed with foie gras confit.
On the nose in the region of Fleurieu often reveals types of flavors of plum, bramble or mint and sometimes also flavors of cinnamon, microbio or mulberry. In the mouth in the region of Fleurieu is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.
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