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The Limestone Coast The Limestone Coast is composed of several key wine making regions; Mount Benson, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Padthaway. Key varietals from this extraordinary wine region include Australia's greatest Cabernet Sauvignon, exceptional Shiraz and quality Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. |
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The Coonawarra Winemakers all over the world agree that "great wine is grown in the vineyard" - but to grow great wine you first need great soil. The international fame of Coonawarra is built on Australia's most prized wine growing soil: Terra Rossa. Coupled with a cooler maritime climate that ensures maximum flavour complexity, Terra Rossa (meaning 'Red Land') has made Coonawarra a winemaking paradise. |
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What is Terra Rossa? Over 150 million years ago an ancient ocean covered modern day Coonawarra and sediment composed of the shells of crustaceans and shellfish became compressed into a hard limestone layer on the seabed. During the Ice Age (1 million-650,000 years ago) the seas retreated and limestone ridges came to mark where the coast had been. It is for this reason that Coonawarra falls within the wider winemaking region known as the Limestone Coast and the best vineyard sites mark the last remains of this prehistoric coastline. Now over 60 km from the modern coast, the white limestone is concealed under the shallow, iron-rich topsoil that gives Terra Rossa its famous brick red colour. This topsoil can be as little as 10cm deep but plays a central role in producing wines of the highest quality. |
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Why is Terra Rossa perfect for growing great wine? Although the Terra Rossa strip is only a few feet higher than neighbouring soils it has better drainage as a result. Vines dislike having 'wet feet' as this hampers their root development but wet soil also means cold soil and it is a vital part of the Coonawarra phenomenon that, despite its cooler climate, grapes here repeatedly reach optimum ripeness. It is the warmth of the Terra Rossa soils that allow this consistency. An ideal mineral profile and low nitrogen content are also vital for taming the natural vigour of vines and producing low yields of highly flavoured fruit. |
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