Smidge Wines

Adelaide Hills

The Adelaide Hills is fast becoming renowned as one of Australia's premium grape growing regions. Bordered by Kuitpo in the South and Mt Pleasant in the North, the region is long and narrow and can be accessed within an hour to the east of Adelaide.

This region is considered to have a cool climate, however the diversity of microclimates influenced by altitude and aspect, allow many grape varieties to be grown. Rainfall in the Adelaide Hills is significantly higher than in either the Barossa or Langhorne Creek, averaging between 750mm to 1200mm depending on which area of the Hills.

Vines have been planted near Echunga since the early 1840's, and it is reported that perhaps the Australia's first exported wine (a gift to Queen Victoria) came from this area.

The growing season is typically September to May and vintage typically between March and May.

We source our Merlot from a rich vineyard in Verdun, on the banks of the Onkaparinga River with excellent exposure allowing the fruit to attain balanced sugar and flavour ripeness.

Our Viognier comes from a small vineyard in Gumeracha.

Barossa Valley

The Barossa remains one of Australia's most famous wine growing regions and is situated approximately 80kms, or an hour north of Adelaide.

With more than 150 years of grape growing and winemaking tradition, the Barossa's heritage was originally based on making fortified wines. It wasn't until the 1950's when winemakers began creating greater volumes of table wines that have now become the trademark of the region.

The Barossa Valley, with its hot Mediterranean climate, and annual rainfall of only 500mm is re-nowned for its big reds packed full of spice, tannin, rich fruit and depth.

Although these traits are most frequently associated with the Barossa Shiraz, it is for these characteristics we have also selected the Barossa as the second region in our regional Zinfandel Series.

Vintage typically begins sometime in February, and continues through to late April or even early May.

Langhorne Creek

The average rainfall in area is low (less than 400mm) meaning irrigation is necessary and is infact the source for this regions reputation. With a vineyard heritage dating back the 1860's it is thought that Langhorne Creek is the home to one of Australia's first irrigation schemes. When original grape growers in the region used the seasonal flow of the Bremer and Angus rivers to flood their vineyards during winter. Although the systems and control has improved, it is still used in some parts of Langhorne Creek today.

Langhorne Creek is generally flat with very fertile soils ranging from red loams to silty deposits resulting from the alluvial outwash from it's bordering Mt Lofty Ranges.

Langhorne Creek has developed a reputation for delivering grapes with exceptional balance between fruit and fine tannins which are characteristics synonymous with rich red Zinfandel.

McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is approximately 35 km south of Adelaide and is renowned for the wines it produces, in particular Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Although initially the region's main economic activity was the growing of cereal crops, wine legends, John Reynell and Thomas Hardy planted grape vines in 1838 and the present-day Seaview and Hardy wineries were in operation as early as 1850.

McLaren Vale has a Mediterranean climate, with a dry warm Summer, the from December through to March/April, giving an easy change between summer and winter. Winter rains of 580-700  mm per annum flow into a fresh spring. The region rarely experiences frost or drought due to its close proximity to the sea.