< Wine Grow Districts Index

New South Wales - NSW

Cowra

Despite sporadic growth since the Cowra Estate planted its first vines in 1973, there has been enormous growth in the importance of this region. The 1990s was a decade of major expansion with a number of larger companies, notably Rothbury and Richmond Grove, and boutiques such as Brokenwood aggressively planting vineyards. It is primarily a white wine region that specialises in full flavoured, moderately priced Chardonnays. The climate is hot and dry with the mean January temperature of 23.55ºC (74ºF) Cowra Airport, significantly above that of Cessnock in the Hunter, nearby Mudgee and approximates of Griffith further west. Growing season rainfall is relatively high but relative humidity is low, reflecting the continental nature of the climate. Spring frosts require appropriate site selection. The vineyards are situated on gentle slopes within two valleys cut into the western side of the Great Dividing Range by the headwaters of the Lachlan and Belabula rivers, which converge at Gooloogong. The Lachlan thence flows into the Murrumbidgee River north of Balranald. The soils are those most commonly found throughout south-east Australia; brownish loamy sand to clay loam on the surface, with red clay subsoils. They are moderately acidic and consequently moderately fertile. Windowrie Estate was the first winery to be built in the region, and there are now many vineyards with their own labels that use 100% Cowra fruit. Cowra is famous for its full-flavoured early-maturing Chardonnays and has now emerged as a fully fledged wine region with an increasing number of wineries and cellar-door operations proving to be tourist draw cards, that are creating demand for improved tourist infrastructure, including accommodation, within the region.