Wrattonbully is one of five wine regions that make up South Australia’s Limestone Coast. The vineyards of Wrattonbully lie on a crest of undulating limestone ridges with ancient terra rossa topsoil. Large underground caves and primitive marine fossils stretch below the surface of the vines. The region makes rich red wines with depth and complexity. Cabernet sauvignon is the regional hero, making up almost half of total plantings. Shiraz and merlot are equally powerful, showing generous fruit and soft tannin profiles. Characterful chardonnay is the region’s main white grape. There is growing interest in emerging Spanish and Italian varieties from the area, including tempranillo, sangiovese and barbera. While there are many local growers, most Wrattonbully labels are made in wineries located outside the district.
First planted to wine grapes in the 1960s, Wrattonbully is situated between Padthaway and Coonawarra. 2,600 hectares of vineyards have been established to take advantage of the unique local topography and continental climate. Rolling hills with gentle elevations of 75-100m above sea level give cool airflow, frost protection and complex flavour development.
The world heritage listed Naracoorte caves national park is a feature of the Wrattonbully region.
