Hungerford Hill and Terroir

Hungerford Hill selects the best grapes from Australia's best regions to create wines with flavour, finesse and regional character.
What is the terroir of these regions?


Hunter Valley
Location: Mid North Coast of New South Wales, 160km north of Sydney
Altitude: 75m
Climate: Hot - One of the warmest and most humid wine regions in Australia, with 750 mm annual rainfall concentrated over the vintage months. However the heat is tempered by afternoon cloud cover and weak sea breezes. Heat degree days total 2070, and Mean January temperature is 22.7
Soils: Vary widely from friable red duplex soils through to deep friable loam soils.
Major Varieties: Semillon and Shiraz
Harvest time: Late January to early March


Tumbarumba
Location: Southern New South Wales, 100km South-West of Canberra
Altitude: 300-800m
Climate: Cool - One of the coolest and highest wine regions in Australia, with 985mm annual rainfall spread evenly throughout the year. Heat degree days total 1010, and Mean January temperature is 19.3
Soils: Decomposed granite and basalt
Major Varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Harvest time: Late March to May


Hilltops
Location: Southern New South Wales, 100km West of Canberra
Altitude: 250-450m
Climate: Hot - A continental climate with substantial diurnal temperature variation, annual rainfall of 650 mm mainly in the spring. Heat degree days total 1880, and Mean January temperature is 22.5
Soils: Rich and deep, typically dark red granitic clays impregnated with basalt.
Major Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
Harvest time: Late March to May


Orange
Location: Central New South Wales, 200km -West of Sydney
Altitude: 600-900m
Climate: Warm - mild to warm midsummer mean temperatures are offset by cool to very cool nights during the growing season. Annual rainfall of 830 mm is winter-spring dominant .Heat degree days total 1309, and Mean January temperature is 19.9, very close to Bordeaux .
Soils: Friable, deep red brown clays derived from basalt, plus deep red/ yellow/brown clay loams.
Major Varieties: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
Harvest time: Mid March to earlyMay


Clare Valley
Location: South Australia, 200k North-West of Adelaide
Altitude: 400-500m
Climate: Hot - The style of wines is entirely inconsistent with a climate seemingly so warm. Annual rainfall of 630 mm is winter-spring dominant .Heat degree days total 1770, and Mean January temperature is 21.9, very close to the near-by Barossa Valley.
Soils: Red to brown clay in colour with a significant limestone content.
Major Varieties: Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
Harvest time: Early March to late April


Source: James Halliday, Wine Atlas of Australia & New Zealand, Harper Collins 1998