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Gilbert Valley Wine District, SA
The Gilbert Valley District lies in the southern sections of the Clare Valley Wine Region and includes vineyards and wineries near the townships of Riverton, Navan & Rhynie, Saddleworth, Hamilton, Marrabel and Giles Corner. The Gilbert Valley is located between the Clare and Barossa Valleys. Gilbert Valley has a history of wine production and grape growing dating back to the early 1880's, and is also well-known as an outstanding wheat and grain growing regions. The historic Wooroora Winery was established by The South Australian Company at Macaw Creek, and planted 200 acres of vines in the late 1890's. Leasingham Wines was also established in the Clare and Gilbert Valley district during this era. By 1901, Wooroora, under the skilful direction of Thomas Hardy, has a production of 20,000 gallons
of premium red wine that was exported to the UK. Exports declined and wine production declined.
Currently there are some seven vineyards in the Gilbert Valley producing around 500 tonnes of grapes,
generally using dry grown techniques from low yielding vines in an organic environment.
The terroir of the Gilbert Valley is well suited to Grenache, Shiraz, Cabernet and Riesling.
Most of the annual rainfall of 520mm occurs during winter and the terra rossa and Bay of Biscay soils are ideal for grape growing.
Hot dry summers reduce the incidence of disease and organic viticultural methods are used more most of the vineyards.
The Clare Valley Wine Region includes eleven districts :
Watervale ;
Mintaro ;
Leasingham ;
Auburn ;
Gilbert Valley ;
Stanley Flat ;
Armagh ;
Burra ;
Clare ;
Polish Hill River ;
Sevenhill
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Wineries
Macaw Creek, SA Macaw Creek Rd, Riverton SA 5412
Macaw Creek Wines is a small winery in the Gilbert Valley. The Gilbert Valley is located between the Barossa and Clare Valley`s. Macaw Creek wines produce a small range of premium table wines and a tawny port, as well as a preservative free red wine. Winemaker Rod Hooper has developed the techniques of making preservative free wine from experience and research in Germany and at Charles Sturt Unive...