It looks like your membership has expired, Anonymous
The section on the Hastings River GI above includes the following text: ‘Semillon in Hastings River can develop some of the same characteristics as its does in the Hunter’. Minor typo: ‘as its does’ should read ‘as it does’.
The section on the Orange GI includes the following text: ‘It is also the highest region overall in the entire country: Orange GI begins at the 600-meter line of elevation, and its vineyards rise up the slopes of NSW’s central highlands, past the 1000-meter mark.’ It is worth noting that it is easy to be confused by such statements, as one can find the following quote in the World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition: ‘New England is Australia’s highest wine region at up to 4,330ft (1,320m).’ I don’t know, but I’d wager that these two seemingly contradicting statements are claiming different things: the first claiming a higher minimum elevation and the second claiming a higher maximum elevation. If so, it would probably be best to steer clear of ambiguous wording such as ‘highest region overall’ to avoid confusion. But alas confusion stems from many sources as Wine Australia’s legal definition for the Orange GI would suggest that the GI is ‘defined as that contiguous area that is above 600 metre elevation’, but then lists the altitude for the GI elsewhere as 376-1390m (wherein I’m assuming those areas below 600m affect the climate and growing conditions of the overall GI, though those elevations don’t qualify for the GI itself). But I’m open to correction and further education on all fronts . . .
The section on Mudgee GI includes the following text: ‘Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the region’s most planted varieties, and red grapes outnumber white grapes by four to one.’ I, for one, would be curious to know the source for that claim. James Halliday’s Wine Atlas of Australia 2014 Edition has Shiraz as the most-planted grape variety based on 2012 data. And it’s odd that Wine Australia’s site does not include Shiraz as one of the ‘Top Varieties Grown in Mudgee’, yet Wine Australia’s 2021 Vintage Report (available here) indicates that Shiraz had more tons produced than any other grape variety in the Mudgee GI. Furthermore, Wine Australia’s VinSites project states that area-by-grape-variety data have not been collected since 2015, which makes me wonder when the data were collected and where they were reported . . .
I believe the following sentence needs a correction: At 727 meters above sea level, Mt. Lofty itself is the highest spot in the appellation (Mt. Lofty…isn’t.) and it is South Australia’s wettest point.
Thanks, Mark! I've edited above.
Note that these boundaries came directly from Wine Australia's incredibly detailed maps and I drew them into Google Earth Pro.
FYI, Penfolds Magill Estate is just in Mount Lofty Ranges and not Adelaide Plains. It's not far away from Adelaide Hills which is just over the actual mountain range. This image is part of a massive project I'm working on and shows the area around Adelaide including the location of Penfolds.
Thanks, Hamish. I've update the language above.
I would suggest Penfolds "Grange" is not Barossa. There is no definitive breakdown listed but hints at Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Magill Estate (Adelaide Plains). I think it is always marketed as South Australia GI.
Thanks for the update!