From the dazzling Limestone Coast
If you’re a fan of popular Australian drops, chances are you’ve drunk wine from the Padthaway wine region. This is vineyard country, where row after row of vines roll through the region’s sunny plains, occasionally interrupted by gatherings of tall red gums.
Just over three hours’ drive south of Adelaide, Padthaway is a long, narrow strip of land north of the Coonawarra wine region. Growing thousands of hectares of vines for some of Australia’s most well-known names in wine, Padthaway grapes have long been used to boost flavour in red and white multi-regional blends. Being part of these blends means the Padthaway name has flown under the radar. But these days there’s also a growing number of wineries showing how good the local wine can be.
Padthaway is part of the picturesque Limestone Coast wine zone in South Australia’s south east, which also includes Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, Mount Benson, Mount Gambier and Robe. It’s one of the most important wine zones in Australia, unique for its limestone soils, which include the ‘terra rossa'.
Vast vineyards and open pastures surround the tiny town of Padthaway, home to a small, close-knit community with agriculture at its heart. As well as wine grapes, the region is known for its vegetables, grains, olives, beef and lamb.
Padthaway wine: bright and balanced
The first vines were planted here in the 1960s and major wine companies were quick to stake their claim on the region, which was pinpointed for its good soils and Mediterreanean-like climate cooled by ocean breezes. It also has a valuable underground water supply – the name ‘Padthaway’ is believed to come from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning ‘good water’.
Seppelt was the first big name in the region, followed by Lindeman’s, Wynns Coonawarra Estate and Hardys. In more recent years, a growing number of small, independent wineries have been making their mark, including Oparina Wines, Morambro Creek Wines and Padthaway Estate. Specialising in sparkling and Shiraz, Padthaway Estate was once the only winery in the region. Its historic homestead, built in 1847, is now luxury accommodation and the cellar door is in a restored 1850s stable.
Chardonnay is a star of Padthaway, producing vibrant wines known for their distinctive flavours of grapefruit, stone fruit, melon and pineapple. Other standout wines include rich Shiraz and full-flavoured, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s also smaller amounts of Pinot Gris, Merlot and Pinot Noir.
With its sweeping expanse of grapevines and gums, the Padthaway wine region is a relaxing rural retreat where you’ll find standout wines that make this a bright spot in the Australian wine scene.
