Account for locational factors of taylors wines
Taylor's Wines was established in the Clare Valley Wine Region in Southern Australia (located at 33.8336° S, 138.6100° E). More specifically, it exists in the Auburn sub-region of the Clare Valley, on a plot adjacent to Wakefield River. The postal address of the winery is 1 Winery Road, Auburn, South Australia. A range of factors, primarily the terroir - climate and soils - influenced the Taylor family to settle into this location.
The Clare Valley region, inside the orange box.
The location of Taylor's Wines, near the town of Auburn, is settled on an ephemeral river on the western edge of the compound highlighted in the green box.
SoilsThe soils at Clare Valley are named "Terra Rossa" - Italian for Red Earth, which is comprised of red-brown loam covering limestone. These soils are clay soils, which unlike typical clay-based soils, have relatively good drainage properties. They form from the weathering and erosion of limestone deposits and are rich in minerals such as iron, giving them their red colour. The drainage and nutrients make them a popular soil to grow grapes in, as they provide a distinct taste to the grape.
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Climate
The Clare Valley, situated near the southern coast of South Australia, should typically have a rather hot climate. However, due to its altitude, 350m above sea level, it enjoys cooler temperatures than other regions of South Australia. This, along with winds from the Gulf of St. Vincent, around 70km to the south-west, contributes to the Mediterranean style climate which encompasses the Clare Valley. This mimics many other climates which exist around 30-50 degrees of latitude north or south, which is optimal for grape growing due to its temperatures. Most of the rainfall, which averages around 630mm annually, arrives from the winds which carry humid air from the gulf, mostly during winter and spring.
This climate is beneficial for grape growing, as it allows for warm days which reach up to 40 degrees Celsius and cool nights which can drop to 5 degrees Celsius. The red wines produced by Taylor's Wines are strong and flavoursome as a result of these warmer days, which is one way the climate of Clare Valley influences the wines of Taylor's Wines. The cool nights also aid in creating the taste of the wines, as they help retain acidity in the grapes and enhance the final product. It particularly emphasises the tastes of the Riesling grapes which the area is famous for. A final aspect of climate in the valley is that due to the hills, many different aspects are able to be employed in viticulture. The amount and intensity of sunlight is able to be manipulated by placing different vines on hills, which face all directions in this valley. For example, The St Andrews Riesling which Taylor's Wines grow are placed on east facing hills to obtain morning sunlight and are well-sheltered by natural features. The Shiraz grape, however, is placed on a west-facing hill and the Cabernet rests on the river flat, receiving sunlight throughout the day. This allows for a larger grape variety to be grown in the Clare Valley opposed to other grape growing regions. The Clare Valley from Taylors Wines on Vimeo. |