Making waves
On a rugged coastal landscape, tucked between two lakes and the Southern Ocean, you’ll find the unlikely wine region of Robe. Unlikely because up until the 1990s, this popular seaside resort was far better known for fishing and tourism. But in recent years, growers and winemakers have proven it’s capable of producing premium fruit and very elegant, cooler-climate wines.
Taking its name from the historic fishing port town of Robe, the Robe wine region is on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, about three and a half hours south of Adelaide. It dazzles with natural beauty: white-sand beaches, clear waters and cliff-top walking tracks through grasses and bushland.
The town is one of the state’s oldest and in the 1850s it was a bustling international port. Amble through the streets and you’ll find charming evidence of its past in restored Heritage-listed buildings and famous landmarks. Restaurants and cafes abound and seafood is a specialty, including the area’s famous lobster.
In such a compact wine region, it’s easy to explore what’s on offer, and you can taste vibrant wines in a handful of welcoming cellar doors. The wine scene is dominated by boutique producers crafting top-quality drops such as crisp Chardonnay and spicy Shiraz.
A fresh take on the classics
Robe was only recognised as an official wine region in 2006 but it’s making up for lost time with expanding vineyards producing impressive wines and showing exciting potential for even bigger things to come. Much of Robe’s fruit is sold to wineries in other regions, including some big-name brands, but local producers are increasingly crafting their own wines and building a reputation for the region in its own right.
With its cool, maritime climate and diverse soils including the highly coveted red-coloured terra rossa, Robe produces distinctive wines that are known for being powerful yet elegant and bursting with flavour. These are wines that make a perfect match for the local seafood – think fresh Chardonnay bright with citrus and peach flavours, and punchy, tropical Sauvignon Blanc. There are red wines to discover too, and you’ll find elegant, peppery Shiraz and full-flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon.
Taste some of Robe’s best at Governor Robe Wines, whose cellar door is in a historic building on the town’s main street, where you can also pick up local produce and art. Their vineyard, established in 1995, lies in the heart of the region, and produces the grapes for premium wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Karatta Wines is another standout boutique winery in Robe, producing refined wines that reflect the region’s unique conditions, including a lively Pinot Rosé and a distinctive sparkling Shiraz Cabernet.
With its bright, cooler-climate wines crafted by quality-driven producers, the Robe wine region is on the rise. Wines by the sea never tasted so good.
