The city has accepted the Great Wine Capitals Global Network’s invitation to join Bilbao (Rioja, Spain), Bordeaux (France), Cape Town (Cape Winelands, South Africa), Mainz (Rheinhessen, Germany), Mendoza (Argentina), Porto (Portugal) and Valparaiso (Casablanca Valley, Chile).

Adelaide, home of the National Wine Centre and the country’s major industry representative and research organisations, is the gateway to the 18 wine regions of South Australia, most of which are within one or two hours drive by car.

Viticulture and winemaking have been practiced in the region practically since the founding of the colony. Vineyards were first planted in the 1840s in the area north of Adelaide, which came to be known as the Barossa Valley.

South Australian wineries produce almost 80% of the country’s premium wine and half of Australia’s bottled wine.