McLaren Vale is a sub-region of South-Eastern Australia, near the town of Adelaide. It has a Mediterranean climate, with long warm days and short cool evenings during the growing season. The soils are mixed, with pockets of iron-rich, terra rosa soils and dry clay. The soils are free draining, meaning winemakers can strictly control the water levels in the vines, but the proximity to the ocean ensures there is enough rainfall to need little irrigation; indeed, there are more than a few wineries that are able to dry farm even in the warmest years. The region is prized for creating intense, aromatic reds of power and elegance and has been planted since the early 1800s to vitis vinifera.