Two Hands Wines sources fruit from six of Australia's premium Shiraz growing regions, from which we produce our wines, including the Garden Series: six Shiraz wines from each of the six different growing regions. Our objective here is to demonstrate the regionality of Australian Shiraz, with different characteristics of the six Garden Series wines reflecting the soil, climate and other aspects of each region.
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BAROSSA VALLEY
REGIONAL STYLE
The Barossa Valley is renowned for Shiraz; robust wines with plenty of fruit intensity and concentration, endowed with firm, ripe tannins and the ability to age.
TOPOGRAPHY
Located 80km north-east of Adelaide, there are two main vineyard areas in the Barossa. The Barossa Valley floor stretches from Nuriootpa in the north, to Lyndoch in the south, with the majority of vineyards having sand based soils and span from the eastern banks of the North Para River. As the valley floor begins to slope upward it becomes the Barossa Ranges, with predominantly red clay/loam soils, the higher altitude provoking cooler, windier, wetter conditions by comparison. On hitting the 400m mark to the east (the ridge of the range), the region is then classified as Eden Valley, also marked by a distinct change in soil type.
CLIMATE
Warm to hot summers with little rain or subterranean water for irrigation and many old, dry-grown vineyards. The higher altitude Eden Valley and, to a lesser extent, the Barossa Ranges provide cooler conditions which are reflected in the resultant wine styles.
SOIL
The soils vary widely, but fall in an overall family of relatively low-fertility red/brown clay loam through to more grey sandier soils.
CLARE VALLEY
REGIONAL STYLE
The Clare Valley is well respected for its vibrant, limey, long lived Rieslings and generous, but elegant Shiraz wines.
TOPOGRAPHY
The Clare Valley is interesting in that it is cool enough to produce pristine Riesling, but warm enough to fully ripen Shiraz and Cabernet. This is to do with the variable topography, from the higher altitudes of Polish Hill River at 500m in the north, down to the warmer, earlier ripening soldier's blocks at Leasingham in the south.
CLIMATE
Clare Valley can be described as having a large climate range. Summers are characterised by clear, warm to hot days, low humidity and notable drops in night time temperatures in March as picking begins, allowing for good acid retention. Annual rainfall is approximately 630mm - due to lack of water, the majority of vineyards are dry-grown.
SOIL
Variable soil types with predominantly red loam over a mixture of quartz, ironstone and limestone around Watervale and further north is red-brown clay loam over slate sub-soil in the Polish Hill River region.
McLAREN VALE
REGIONAL STYLE
Shiraz is the most important varietal for this region; generous, plum-mulberry fruit profiles, sometimes chocolate/mocha characters with notes of earth and spice and soft, supple tannins. They are wines (with a few exceptions) for the mid-term.
TOPOGRAPHY
50km south of Adelaide, the majority of vineyards in this region are found within 12km of Gulf St Vincent. The gently undulating landform extends easterly towards the slopes of the Mount Lofty Ranges, rising to 200m at Blewitt Springs and 350m in pockets around Clarendon.
CLIMATE
Mediterranean climate, warm to hot, dry summers and moderate winters, tempered by gulf sea breezes. Annual rainfall is approximately 656mm however the majority of vineyards are drip irrigated although some old vine sites are dry grown.
SOIL
A variety of soil types, from red brown sandy loams to grey brown loam sands with red/yellow clay subsoils, deeps biscays to brown loams over limestone with patches of lime and more sandy soils around Blewitt Springs.
LANGHORNE CREEK
REGIONAL STYLE
Harmonious, medium to full-bodied wines with soft, silky tannin structure and plenty of fruit filling the mid palate.
TOPOGRAPHY
60km south-east of Adelaide, Langhorne Creek is defined by the Mount Lofty Ranges to the west and north, and Lake Alexandrina to the south. On average, around 20-50m above sea level. A flat flood-plain with minor undulations, due to wind forming sand loam peaks.
CLIMATE
Despite being a flat, dry landform, it is milder and cooler than McLaren Vale due to south-west sea breezes across Lake Alexandrina. Annual rainfall is around 388mm, only 145mm falling during the October to March growing season, therefore irrigation is necessary, traditionally from flooding annually and flood plains, but more recently with drip irrigation on higher ground.
SOIL
Years of flooding has deposited a mixture of silt, loams and clay-loams.
PADTHAWAY
REGIONAL STYLE
Shiraz, full-bodied, dense, fleshy style, dark berried fruit with peppery overtones.
TOPOGRAPHY
Similar characteristics to the neighbouring Coonawarra, but warmer. The Limestone Coast is an ancient sea bed with scattered ridges of Gambier limestone. In general, gentle slopes between 35-90m.
CLIMATE
Warm to cool climate, tempered by chilly maritime winds from the Southern Ocean. Also tends to Spring frosts. Annual rainfall is approximately 526mm, very dry conditions hence the need for drip irrigation, with water being sourced from the shallow water table.
SOIL
Variable although the most common soil types are alkaline, red duplex with deposits of red/brown sandy loams over limestone.
HEATHCOTE, CENTRAL VICTORIA 
REGIONAL STYLE
Shiraz is the backbone of the region, producing full bodied, rich, stylish wines with cool restrained elements.
TOPOGRAPHY
110km north/north-west of Melbourne, Heathcote is bordered to the west by the Bendigo Region, and to the east by the Goulburn Valley Region. The majority of vineyards lie on the northern slopes of the Mount Camel Range (part of the Great Dividing Range) at an elevation of 160-320m with intermittent peaks of over 500m.
CLIMATE
Like the Clare Valley, Heathcote has a huge climate range with warm to hot days and cool nights. It is cooler than neighbouring Bendigo and Goulburn Valley, but warmer than Macedon to the south. The climate is tempered during the growing season by south to south-east winds and the Mount Camel Range. Annual rainfall is around 578mm, with dry land viticulture in the central and eastern parts of the region.
SOIL
Heathcote red soil (metamorphosed Cambrian rock) approximately 300 million years old.
