The Mount Lofty Ranges is a wine zone in SouthAustralia encompassing the wine regions of Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley and Adelaide Plains. It is named after the range of mountains to the east of the city of Adelaide.
In line with South Australia's other winegrowing areas, conditions within the zone are strongly influenced by variations in topography, including altitude, proximity to the coast and a wide array of soil types. As a result, the three Mount Lofty regions have different climatic and grape-growing conditions.
For example, the Adelaide Hills region has a distinctly cool Climate, which assists in the production of varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. It also specializes in Sparkling wines. By contrast, Adelaide Plains is very Warm, due to a lack of elevation, and mostly produces red wines. Clare Valley's wine production is ruled by its continental climate.
The Mount Lofty Ranges zone borders the Barossa Valley on three sides, but the Barossa and Eden Valleys fall within the Barossa Zone.
Durif noir is a grape variety that originated in France (Dauphiné). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by medium-sized bunches and small grapes. Durif noir can be found cultivated in these vineyards: South West, Cognac, Bordeaux, Provence & Corsica, Rhone Valley.
pink wines from the region of Mount Lofty Ranges go well with generally quite well with dishes of veal, pork or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of veal shank with mushrooms, traditional welsh dark beer or wild boar bourguignon.
On the nose in the region of Mount Lofty Ranges often reveals types of flavors of cherry, citrus or strawberries and sometimes also flavors of citrus fruit, red fruit or earth.
