At the gateway to the Limestone Coast, the Padthaway region is a fertile plain with natural underground water resources. It is home to a pastoral community of vignerons, graziers and grain croppers. Padthaway has a longstanding reputation as high quality chardonnay country. It makes wines of white peach, spice and good ageing capacity. Cool styles of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon have now risen to outshine the whites. They show characteristic spearmint tones stemming from towering eucalypt gums surrounding many of the vineyards. Orlando’s Lawsons vineyard has achieved high acclaim as an example of great regional typicity.
Padthaway is a premium grape-growing district with 4,900 hectares under vine. Viticulture was pioneered in the area in 1964, and major vineyard holdings are owned by large Australian wine corportions. Situated to the north of Coonawarra, the Mediterranean climate is slightly warmer, with some coastal influences. Soils consist of free draining grey and red loams over limestone, including patches of terra rossa.
[Padthaway] Good Water - Potawurutj Aboriginal word