Cool climate/Elevation 60m Today Coonawarra is one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia. Its weathered limestone terra rossa soils, relatively cool climate and overall water availability make it a unique vineyard site. The region, however, is exposed to the swinging influences of the cool Great Southern Ocean and hot dry northerly winds. Spring frosts are a major problem and have been known to wipe out crops. Mechanical and machine harvesting is widely used in Coonawarra, although smaller producers prefer to tend their vines by hand. It is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, although Coonawarra Shiraz can be particularly smart. There are some Coonawarra Rieslings and Chardonnays, but these don’t have the same impact as the red wines of this region. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's

Located north east of Hobart, the Coal River Valley lies in a rain shadow and is curiously one of Australia’s driest wine regions.The area has a distinct maritime climate with a long growing season.Vineyards are planted on a range of sandstone and alluvial soils and are largely protected from wind. Owing to low rainfall in the area, supplementary irrigation is often required.