McLaren Vale - South Australia

McLaren Vale is a township in the wine region of McLaren Vale in South Australia. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of about 2,583 people. The township was formed in 1923 from a merging of the two original villages of Gloucester and Bellevue, which were established in the 1840s by British pioneers. The McLaren Vale wine region is well known for its dry red wines, especially those made from Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot are also grown. White wine varieties in the region include Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon blanc and Riesling. In recent years innovative wineries have begun using less common varieties such as Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Barbera, Cinsaut, Vermentino and Viognier.