Tyrrell’s McLaren Vale Vineyard
Willunga, SA
The first vines in the region appear to have been planted in 1836. Over the next 100 years or so, the vineyard area gradually increased and many wineries have since been established. Situated 40km south-east of Adelaide, vineyards extend from Reynella in the north to Willunga in the south.
The majority of vineyards in this region are found on flat to gently undulating land within 12km of the sea. There is a substantial meso-climatic variation throughout McLaren Vale, due to varying exposure to the cooling influence of the nearby ocean. The climate is characterised by warm summers, moderate winters and winter-dominant rainfall.
Harvest commenced in early March. Yields vary from very low to moderate, but large extremes exist depending on soil type and water availability. While it continues to produce utterly distinctive Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, many of its vineyards are ideally suited to white grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay.
The Tyrrell’s Willunga vineyard was purchased in 1994 specifically to give us greater red wine autonomy and alleviate Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc demands. A 1,000 tonne crushing facility was built on-site in time for the 1997 harvest, complete with 70,000 litres storage capacity. The must juice from both red and white grapes is transported to Tyrrell’s Winery in the Hunter to complete its transformation into wine.
| Area Under Vine |
87 acres |
| Grape Varieties |
Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Merlot
|
| Average Yield |
5 to 7 tonnes/acre whites
2 to 5 tonnes/acre reds |
| Map Coordinated |
34°14'S |
| Altitude |
50-200m |
| Soil Type |
Alluvial and clay loam |
| Climate |
Mediterranean |
| Annual Rainfall |
600mm |
| Mean January temperature |
21.7 °C |
| Irrigation |
Drip irrigation from underground aquifer |
| Primary Brands |
Rufus Stone, Lost Block and Old Winery |