The high country of Eden Valley is one of Australia’s premier cool climate wine regions, characterised by its rugged beauty and varied topography, with vineyards scattered across rolling hills, sharing the terrain with grazing land, rocky outcrops and ancient gums. Eden Valley is the Barossa’s Garden of Eden.
Defined by the cool climate, ancient soils and later ripening, Eden Valley wines are distinctive in their character, displaying wonderful aromatics, elegance, complexity and finesse. Most famous for its Riesling, Eden Valley also produces world-class Shiraz and a range of traditional and alternative varieties. This is cool climate Barossa.
With a winemaking history dating back to 1847, Eden Valley is home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz and Riesling vineyards. Traditional grape growing continues with a focus on sustainability and authenticity, with fifth and sixth generations of the original settlers continuing to apply their craft.
The Influence of Altitude
Eden Valley’s elevated topography and resulting cooler climate influences the wine quality in several ways. The ripening period is often 4 weeks later than in the Barossa Valley, and with the final stages of ripening occurring in cooler conditions, varietal flavours and structure are delicate and elegant. Harvesting in these cooler conditions ensures the grapes are at their very best prior to crushing.
Eden Valley’s Defining Characteristics
Beautiful: The wines, the vineyards, the captivating landscape, the picturesque scenery, the preserved natural environment, the old homesteads and churches, the character of the people.
Cool: The elevated cooler climate of Eden Valley is what defines the region and the wines as a unique part of the Barossa.
Elegant: Characteristic of the wines; balanced, inviting and captivating, expressing their sense of place with purity and style. Charming and delightful surroundings.
Unspoilt: Not exploited or overdeveloped, with vineyards, grazing land and natural bush in balance with the environment.
Hidden Gem: Off the tourist track, a place of beauty waiting to be discovered – Barossa’s Garden of Eden.
Authentic: A place with no fancy frills, and real, down-to-earth people with plenty of passion, carrying on the tradition of generations and the culture and heritage of the region.
Sustainable: Traditional grape growing, dry grown to minimal irrigation, caring for and protecting the environment, and increasing move to sustainability.
Finesse: In the wines, delicate and elegant, pure and structured, balanced and focussed. In the people, the pursuit of perfection in applying their craft.
Artisan: Single vineyards, craft, passion, the enchanting cottage industry feel of the grape growing and wine production. Big in Eden Valley is small everywhere else.
Eden Valley Statistics
Located east of the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley forms part of the Barossa Ranges, with an altitude range of 400 to 600 metres, in comparison to the Barossa Valley at 250 to 350 metres. The area is not a valley as such, but a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, rocky outcrops, river valleys and big red gums.
Its topography is such that it consists of many macro-climates, and is ideal for smaller single vineyards that can capitalise on the special terroir. Eden Valley is a part of the Barossa Zone Geographical Index (G.I.)
Map Coordinates: 34° 35’ S
Altitude: 380-629m (1247-2063 feet)
Heat Degree Days: 1,390 between October and April.
Annual Rainfall: 550 mm – 600 mm.
Mean January Temperature: 19.4°C (67°F)
Relative Humidity: An average of 44% between October and April.
Harvest: Typically mid-March to late April.
