Just south of Adelaide, where the vines run down toward the sea, McLaren Vale makes a richer, rounder, more velvety Shiraz than the mighty Barossa — the sea breezes off Gulf St Vincent lend a cooling freshness and a characteristic note of dark chocolate and salt. Some of the vineyards are among the oldest on earth.
Old-vine Grenache and Mediterranean varieties thrive here too, and a restless, experimental spirit runs through the region. Generous yet surprisingly fresh, McLaren Vale Shiraz is one of Australia's most seductive reds.