The Clare Valley

Actually, it is not one valley but several – the main ones being the Hutt River – flowing from near Sevenhill north to join the Broughton, which heads for the sea at Port Broughton – and Eyre Creek, which joins the Wakefield and goes towards the sea at Port Wakefield. Smaller valleys are the Hill River and the Skilly.

The hilltops range from 450 to 500 metres – in general, the further up the hill you are the better your rainfall. The most usual winds are from the Southwest, which bring cool weather.

The country was originally of the Ngadjuri people. The first white settlers arrived in the late 1830’s and vines were first planted in the 1840’s, and have been grown here ever since. It was and is an excellent climate for viticulture – cool and wet winters and warm dry summers, with occasional heat but always cool nights. Soils vary considerably and site selection remains important for quality.

The region is one of exceptional natural beauty, with plenty of natural trees and rolling hillsides. It is generally regarded as the most beautiful wine producing region in Australia, and most people who visit tend to fall in love with the area, and make plans to come back soon after first visiting.

When I first came here in 1981 there were, I think, 12 wineries. I remember wondering whether there was room for 13; now there are more than 40.