Padthaway - South Australia

Originally called Keppoch, Padthaway was identified in 1963 as a viticultural region by Seppelt on the basis of a CSIRO/South Australian Department of Agriculture study carried out 19 years earlier. Seppelts pioneering acquisition of 350 hectares encouraged first Lindemans and Hardys (in 1968) and then Wynns to follow suit, and to this day the region remains the preserve of the major companies, with only one small winery (Padthaway Estate), one large winery (Stonehaven) and one grower brand (Browns of Padthaway). Notwithstanding the originally modest quality expectations held for the region by its pioneers, it has proved itself to be an excellent white wine producer and - if yields are controlled - an equally good red wine area.