Nick's Report: There’s Gold in them there Hills!

I had the pleasure of judging at the Adelaide Hills Wine Show recently, a regional exhibition of around 500 local wines, including wines from many of the best and most interesting makers in the region. It’s a very diverse region with a complex climate underpinned by detailed topography and soil types which all combine to make for extremely interesting wine.

Although some of the more southeasterly parts of the region tend to be warmer and dryer, it is by and large considered a cool-climate location. The wines have energy, vitality and what I call levity, or an uplifting quality of lightness. 

Chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier sourced from the coolest and most elevated sites come together in vibrant sparkling wines, whilst other sites produce some of the most intense and focused still chardonnay wines. Pinot noir has long been considered an Achilles heel of sorts, but the average quality is now steadily improving. See below also for one amazing red wine from pinot meunier. 

Shiraz (syrah) has been the recent superstar of the region, attracting the highest of high-profile awards that again recognize the ability of this place to produce intense, focused and fragrant red wine in a mid-weight style. It’s a case of both sourcing grapes from the right place and an acceptance that, in the midst of South Australia’s warmer climate regions that have made a name for full-bodied, ripe and bold expressions of shiraz, the Adelaide Hills needs a different approach. 

Cabernet and merlot both work well, as does riesling in both dry and sweet styles, and there are a number of lesser-known varieties that are demonstrating early success on the back of the region’s innate strengths as a great place to grow grapes. The Adelaide Hills is, without doubt, one of the most exciting sources of high-quality cool-climate wine in Australia; see below for my notes on all the top trophy-winning wines.  

2013 Deviation Road Adelaide Hills Loftia Vintage Brut

2015 Howard Vineyard Riesling Adelaide Hills Clover

2015 La Prova Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills 12.7%

2015 Wirra Wirra Sauvignon Blanc Hiding Champion

2015 S.C. Pannell Adelaide Hills Aromatico

2014 Penfolds Chardonnay Adelaide Hills Reserve Bin A

2015 K1 by Geoff Hardy Riesling Adelaide Hills Autumn Harvest

2015 Hahndorf Hill Adelaide Hills Rosé

2015 Murdoch Hill Pinot Meunier Adelaide Hills The Surrey

2014 Henschke Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills Giles

2014 Shaw & Smith Shiraz Adelaide Hills

2013 Nova Vita Cabernet Sauvignon Adelaide Hills Reserve

Contributing Editor Nick Stock is a renowned Australian wine writer, author, presenter and filmmaker who reports on his worldwide wine tasting experiences for JamesSuckling.com.

Tasting Notes

Penfolds Chardonnay Adelaide Hills Reserve Bin A 2014

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2014
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Henschke Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills Giles 2014

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2014
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Shaw + Smith Shiraz Adelaide Hills 2014

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2014
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Deviation Road Adelaide Hills Loftia Vintage Brut 2013

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2013
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Howard Vineyard Riesling Adelaide Hills Clover 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Murdoch Hill Pinot Meunier Adelaide Hills The Surrey 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Nova Vita Cabernet Sauvignon Adelaide Hills Reserve 2013

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2013
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


La Prova Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills 12.7% 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Wirra Wirra Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills Hiding Champion 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


S.C. Pannell Adelaide Hills Aromatico 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


K1 by Geoff Hardy Riesling Adelaide Hills Autumn Harvest 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN


Hahndorf Hill Adelaide Hills Rosé 2015

Country Australia
Region South Australia
Vintage 2015
YOU NEED TO BE A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER TO VIEW THIS CONTENT.

Access more than 150,000 tasting notes

Hundreds of new wine ratings published each week of wines just released or about to be released into the market

Get advanced alerts every time a new tasting report is published

Wineries and wine-selling organizations are required to take out a Business Subscription ($399/year) or a Corporate Subscription ($999/year) as these provide a copyright and trademark license to use JamesSuckling.com content and scores for marketing and sales, as well as ready-to-use POS materials for all wines.

SUBSCRIBE OR LOG IN