Langhorne Creek must be one of Australia’s most under-appreciated wine regions. Less than one hour from Adelaide, Langhorne Creek lays quietly nestled in the monstrous shadows of the world-famous Barossa Valley and the iconic McLaren Vale. And perhaps owing to its relatively fewer wineries, it does not even get the sort of recognition that the lesser known (compared to Barossa) Coonawarras and Heathcotes of AUS rightfully receive for their ability to achieve peak varietal expression. And yet, despite all of this, one of the two best Cabernet Sauvignons we drank in 2018 and the best AUS Sangiovese we have drunk came from Langhorne Creek. Further, if you are looking for truly excellent Shirazes at prices that won’t knock you out of your house, other than Coonawarra, we know of no other place to find them in such abundance. Finally, what Langhorne Creek is currently achieving with the Malbec varietal cannot be overlooked.

This degree of excellence coming from this region might surprise some, but a quick study of Langhorne Creek’s history reveals that while small, the region boasts some of the oldest vines and best wine soils in Australia. It’s a wonderland of kind people and stellar wines.