<p><b>Barossa Valley</b></p> Colonel William Light, the South Australian colony’s Surveyor-General, named the Barossa in 1837 after the site of an English victory over the French in the Spanish Peninsular War. In the mid-1800’s Silesian and English immigrants settled in the area. The Barossa itself comprises two distinct sub-regions: Eden Valley and the warmer Barossa Valley floor at 270m.The Barossa Valley enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate characterised by hot dry summers and relatively low rainfall. Cool sea breezes from the Gulf of St Vincent modify the temperature, however hot northerly winds can occasionally dominate creating considerable vine stress. Many older established vineyards are dry-grown, but supplementary irrigation is also extensively used. The valley is comprised of rich brown soils and alluvial sands. A long history of uninterrupted viticulture in the area means th

<p>Traditionally, Saumur is sparkling wine country. Vineyards planted on limestone soils give the grapes the bright acidity they need to make great sparkling wines. This is the Loire&rsquo;s biggest producer of bubbles &ndash; partly due to the geographical size of the region and the rules governing yield. Under the vineyards lie kilometres of tunnels and caves, carved from the limestone to age the the wines. The area around Saumur is the third largest sparkling wine appellation in France after the Champagne region and the Cr&eacute;mant d'Alsace AOC with more than 12 million bottles of Saumur Mousseux produced each year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hot climate/Elevation 75-250m The Hunter Valley is the most important quality wine-producing region in New South Wales. Although it can be hot, the cloud and rainfall patterns modify the microclimate remarkably. The area is maritime influenced with afternoon sea breezes funnelling up through the Hunter River/Goulburn River Gap. Rainfall is very erratic and can arrive at the most inopportune time. Soils are generally rich volcanic and alluvial soils. The best vineyard sites appear to be located within sight of the imposing Brokenback Range, where they are exposed to cool sea breezes. Further inland is hotter and drier. Hunter Valley Shiraz and Semillons can be exceptional. Some producers have success with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's</p>

Cool climate/Elevation about 170m Pemberton is a pioneering wine region with great potential. It is located in Western Australia's southwest where the deep red loams and high rainfall give rise to a majestic karri forest. The first grapes were planted in 1977, with commercial plantings expanding throughout the 1980s. The climate here is markedly cooler and slightly wetter than the Margaret River growing season. The region experiences slightly fewer sunshine hours, although it is also maritime influenced. Soils are typically brown loams derived from gneissic rock. The terrain is quite undulating with stands of karri. This region is unproven, although Pinot Noir is particularly promising. It is also well suited to the production of refined Bordeaux style wines. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's