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Adelaide Hills

Australia

About Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hills runs along the spine of the Mount Lofty Ranges right above the city, and most of its best vineyards sit above 400 metres. That altitude is the whole story - it turns a hot latitude into one of South Australia's coolest pockets. The Hills do vibrant Sauvignon Blanc (Shaw and Smith run the place), elegant Chardonnay (Petaluma and Tapanappa), perfumed Pinot Noir (Ashton Hills), and a fast-growing reputation for peppery cool-climate Shiraz. Two tiny sub-zones, Lenswood and Piccadilly Valley, sit at the highest, coolest end and make some of the most refined wines on the mainland. The 2019 Cudlee Creek fires and 2020 smoke taint cost the region nearly a third of its vines; 2021 and 2022 came back beautifully.

Vintage Ratings

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005
Red
White

Outstanding Adelaide Hills Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2024

Ready
95Exceptional

Cool and even growing season with no major heat events. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay show excellent acid retention and aromatic lift, while Pinot Noir from the high country is fragrant and finely structured.

2023

Ready
94Excellent

Late, cool vintage after a wet spring. Sauvignon Blanc is bright and herbaceous, Chardonnay tightly wound, and Pinot Noir medium-bodied with fine tannin.

2022

Ready
96Exceptional

Considered one of the great recent Adelaide Hills vintages. Cool nights and long ripening gave whites of poise and length, and Pinot Noir of real depth.

2021

Ready
96Exceptional

An outstanding year for cool-climate whites and reds. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are vibrant and concentrated, Pinot Noir perfumed and balanced.

2019

Ready
91Excellent

Warm, dry growing season with low yields. Wines are riper and more concentrated than the regional norm, with the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir showing good balance.

2018

Ready
95Exceptional

Excellent vintage with a long, even ripening window. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are bright and structured, Pinot Noir from the high country aromatic and ageworthy.

2017

Ready
94Excellent

Cool and late after a wet winter. Classic Hills profile with fragrant Sauvignon Blanc, tightly wound Chardonnay, and elegant cool-climate Shiraz.

2016

Ready
93Excellent

Warm early-season conditions then a benign finish. Riper, more generous whites and reds than the regional norm.

2015

Ready
95Exceptional

Strong vintage across the board. Sauvignon Blanc shows classic passionfruit lift, Chardonnay has line and length, and Pinot Noir from Piccadilly and Lenswood is fragrant and balanced.

2014

Ready
92Excellent

Warm summer with a few heat events. Best wines come from the highest sites that held acidity.

White

2024

Ready
95Exceptional

Cool and even growing season with no major heat events. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay show excellent acid retention and aromatic lift, while Pinot Noir from the high country is fragrant and finely structured.

2023

Ready
94Excellent

Late, cool vintage after a wet spring. Sauvignon Blanc is bright and herbaceous, Chardonnay tightly wound, and Pinot Noir medium-bodied with fine tannin.

2022

Ready
96Exceptional

Considered one of the great recent Adelaide Hills vintages. Cool nights and long ripening gave whites of poise and length, and Pinot Noir of real depth.

2021

Ready
96Exceptional

An outstanding year for cool-climate whites and reds. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are vibrant and concentrated, Pinot Noir perfumed and balanced.

2019

Ready
91Excellent

Warm, dry growing season with low yields. Wines are riper and more concentrated than the regional norm, with the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir showing good balance.

2018

Ready
95Exceptional

Excellent vintage with a long, even ripening window. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are bright and structured, Pinot Noir from the high country aromatic and ageworthy.

2017

Ready
94Excellent

Cool and late after a wet winter. Classic Hills profile with fragrant Sauvignon Blanc, tightly wound Chardonnay, and elegant cool-climate Shiraz.

2016

Ready
93Excellent

Warm early-season conditions then a benign finish. Riper, more generous whites and reds than the regional norm.

2015

Ready
95Exceptional

Strong vintage across the board. Sauvignon Blanc shows classic passionfruit lift, Chardonnay has line and length, and Pinot Noir from Piccadilly and Lenswood is fragrant and balanced.

2014

Ready
92Excellent

Warm summer with a few heat events. Best wines come from the highest sites that held acidity.

Curious about Adelaide Hills? Save it to your Discoveries and tick it off when you taste your first wine.

Sub-regions

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Terroir & Character

Climate

CoolHigh altitudeMediterranean influenceVariable elevation

Terroir

Sandy loamPodzolicCool elevationDiverse

Typical Aromas

PassionfruitCitrus blossomAppleFlintWild strawberryWhite pepper
Explore the aroma wheel

Map data: Wine Australia GI Register (CC BY 4.0)