Eden Valley has no strong pattern of vineyards which are seemingly sprinkled at random over the region. There is great variability in altitude and thus in wine flavours.
The region covers an area in the Mount Lofty Ranges extending from Truro in the north to just south of Springton in the south. The region received appellation as an Australian Geographical Indication in 1997.
The lower altitude easterly vineyards have low rainfall and are drier and hotter than those of the west and south and while at a higher altitude than the Barossa Valley produce wines which are very similar to those of the Barossa. Perhaps on average the Eden Valley is 200 metres higher than the Barossa Valley. There are though vineyards at higher altitudes, over 400 metres, and these are associated with cooler climate fruit characters. Soils are often thin so the vineyard landscape is patchy and localised.
There is a detailed description at The Landscape and Terroir of Eden Valley
A regular on our Glug list of wines is Mount Eagle Eden Valley Riesling. The geographic feature Mount Eagle is a ridge line to the east of the historic towns of Keyneton and Eden Valley.
See HERE for details of other South Australian wine regions
