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.
An ancient grape variety that has been cultivated for a long time, mainly in the Rueda region of northwestern Spain. D.N.A. tests show that it is the result of a natural cross between Savagnin and Castellana Blanco. It should not be confused with the Verdelho, which is very well known in Portugal, and the Verdelho Branco, which is almost more widespread. The Verdejo is registered in the Official Catalogue of wine grape varieties list A. It can also be found in the United States (Virginia, California, etc.), Australia, Portugal, etc., but is practically unknown in France.
white wines from the region of Fleurieu go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, spicy food or mushrooms such as recipes of potjevleesch, saka-saka or whiskey paupiettes.
