SouthAustralia is one of Australia's six states, located (as the name suggests) in the south of the vast island continent. It's the engine room of the Australian wine industry, responsible for about half of the country's total production each year. But there's more to the region than quantity - countless high-quality wines are produced here, most from the region's signature Grape, Shiraz. These include such fine, collectible wines as Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace, Torbreck The Laird and d'Arenberg The Dead Arm.
South Australia's wine portfolio is heavily weighted towards Powerful red wines, most of which are made from Shiraz. Another grape variety that thrives here is Cabernet Sauvignon, the best examples of which come from the Limestone Coast in the far south-east of the state (notably Coonawarra, Padthaway and Robe). Grenache has also proved well suited to the South Australian Climate and winemaking style, particularly when combined with Shiraz and Mourvedre (also known as Mataro in Australia) to create the classic Australian GSM blend. European varieties as diverse as Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano and Petit Verdot are also present in South Australian vineyards, but only in small quantities.
Mainly cultivated in the Languedoc region, carignan originates from Spain. Because of its very resistant branches, it is often called hardwood. Its bunches are quite large. They are compact and winged with a lignified stalk. The berries are spherical in shape and take on a bluish-black colour. Carignan has a total of 25 approved clones, the best known of which are 274, 65 and 9. The carignan buds at the beginning of June and is protected from spring frosts. It does not reach maturity until the third period. Also, this grape variety needs warmth and sunshine. It appreciates dry and not very fertile soils. Carignan vines can live for more than 100 years. Those that are more than 30 years old produce a better wine. This wine is well coloured. It is generous and powerful at the same time. Pepper, cherry, blackberry, banana, raspberry, almond, prune and violet are some of the aromas that this grape variety gives off.
pink wines from the region of Australie du Sud go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, mature and hard cheese or veal such as recipes of express veal stew in a pressure cooker, gratin of fresh chard (green and ribs) or adapted vietnamese fondue.
On the nose in the region of Australie du Sud often reveals types of flavors of strawberries, red fruit or microbio and sometimes also flavors of cherry, cream or tree fruit.
