The Clare Valley is known as one of the best wine regions in the world. Although 150kms from Wilmington, a trip to some of the cellar doors of the 40 or so wineries is well worth the effort.
Best riesling in the world!!
Clare Valley winery Kilikanoon has won the trophy for the best riesling in the world at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. It won for its 2006 Mort's Block riesling. Kilikanoon is just one of the leading wineries that calls the Clare Valley home.
Visit the cellar doors
If you're looking for famous labels bearing equally famous names, look no further. Clare Valley is home to the likes of Neil Paulett, Stephen John, Jeffrey Grosset, David O'Leary, Andrew Mitchell, the Barry family, Robert Crabtree, Neil Pike, Stephanie Toole, Tim Adams and Brother John May. And if you have a question about wine, chances are the winemaker is somewhere nearby and will be delighted to attend to you personally. It's just one of the many advantages of being a truly 'boutique' region.
The wines
As Australian wine regions go, Clare Valley is small, accounting for around 2.5 per cent of the nation's crush. But its boutique wines are select and moreover, they're taking the world by storm.
You'll find Clare Valley on wine lists in the world's five-star restaurants, as well as in the First Class compartments on Qantas aircraft. In 2004, a few lucky guests were even served a local drop by Jamie Oliver at Brad Pitt's birthday party.
Clare Valley continues to be known as the home of Australian Riesling, having set the standard by which others measure their own excellence. But 2004 also saw a local Cabernet Sauvignon being voted the world's finest by a panel of London judges, while a string of Shiraz vintages garnered their usual crop of gold medals.
Local wine-makers are great innovators, and not only in the blending of their varieties. You'll notice the widespread use of the screw-cap closure. This cork replacement was bravely championed by the region, and has proved so successful in preventing 'wine taint' that it's rapidly being adopted by the industry in Australasia and overseas.
