Australia
Clare Valley
Australia wine regions
About Clare Valley
Clare Valley is Riesling country. About 130 km north of Adelaide, it sits high enough and gets cool enough nights that the Rieslings stay electric and lime-shred even through warm summers. Locals talk about six sub-areas - Watervale, Polish Hill River, Sevenhill, Auburn, Clare, Hill River - each pulling the Riesling style a slightly different direction. Polish Hill leans flinty and slate-cool; Watervale leans floral and lime-cordial. Clare also gave the world the screwcap. In 2000 thirteen producers led by Jeffrey Grosset bottled their Rieslings under screwcap together to fight cork taint, and the rest of the wine world followed. Names to know: Grosset, Jim Barry, Wendouree, Kilikanoon, Pikes, Sevenhill Cellars.
Australia wine regions
Vintages
35 · 1990–2024
Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Outstanding Clare Valley Vintages
The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.
White
Sub-areas
Grapes of Clare Valley
Climate
ContinentalHigh diurnal rangeWarm daysCool nights
Continental climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The key to Clare Valley's success is its significant diurnal temperature variation - hot days ripen the grapes while cool nights preserve essential acidity and aromatic compounds.
Terroir
SlateLimestoneRed-brown earthDiverse
The valley floor features red-brown clay soils over limestone, while the hillsides offer slate, shale, and sandy loam soils with excellent drainage. The region's varied topography, ranging from 300-500 meters elevation, creates diverse microclimates that allow different grape varieties to find their perfect spots.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Clare Valley wine special?▼
Clare Valley is famous for producing Australia's most crystalline, age-worthy Rieslings thanks to its continental climate with warm days and cool nights at 400-500 meter elevation. The region was also a pioneer in using screw caps for premium wines, which was revolutionary for preserving the pristine character of their Rieslings. It's a compact, historic region north of Adelaide that consistently delivers wines with incredible purity and precision.
What are the best Clare Valley vintages?▼
The standout recent vintages are 2021 and 2022, both rated 5/5 - Jeffrey Grosset called 2022 'beautiful and idyllic' while 2021 delivered exceptional quality with pristine aromatics and high natural acidity. 2016, 2017, and 2023 are all excellent 4/5 vintages, with 2017 being particularly notable for its cool, wet conditions that produced outstanding Rieslings.
What grapes are grown in Clare Valley?▼
Riesling is absolutely the king of Clare Valley - it's what the region is famous for and does better than almost anywhere else in Australia. While other varieties are grown there, Clare Valley Riesling is what put this region on the world wine map and remains its calling card.
Is 2023 a good year for Clare Valley?▼
Yes, 2023 was an excellent vintage rated 4/5 for Clare Valley whites. The Rieslings show high acidities and fine varietal expression, which are exactly the qualities you want from this region. It's a very solid vintage that should produce age-worthy wines.
When should I drink Clare Valley 2023?▼
Clare Valley Rieslings are incredibly age-worthy, and the 2023s with their high acidity will develop beautifully over time. You can enjoy them young for their fresh, citrusy character, but they'll really shine after 5-10 years when they develop those classic petrol and toast notes. The best examples can age gracefully for 15-20 years.
What food pairs well with Clare Valley wines?▼
Clare Valley Riesling is incredibly food-friendly - the high acidity and citrus notes make it perfect with Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Vietnamese dishes. It's also brilliant with shellfish, goat cheese, and spicy foods since the acidity cuts through rich flavors. For aged Rieslings, try them with roasted pork or duck.
How does Clare Valley compare to other major wine regions?▼
Clare Valley punches way above its weight for such a compact region - it's to Australian Riesling what Burgundy is to Pinot Noir. Compared to Germany's Mosel or Alsace, Clare Valley Rieslings are typically drier with more pronounced lime and citrus character rather than stone fruit. The region's innovation with screw caps also set it apart from traditional European regions still wedded to cork.
Map data: Wine Australia GI Register (CC BY 4.0) · Sub-area markers from OpenStreetMap (ODbL)