Among the first settlers to the region in late 1839, were two English farmers from Devon, William Colton and Charles Thomas Hewett.

[6] The wine region, which is located within the southern end of the Adelaide metropolitan area, runs 30km down the coastline of the Gulf St Vincent in the west and stretches to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges in the east.

A range of climate appropriate Mediterranean grape varieties including Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Nero d'Avola and Sangiovese are increasingly being grown.

Notable for producing premium Shiraz, the grape is by far the most important variety for the wine region, accounting for about 60% of the total crush.

The vineyards are planted on soils including fertile red-brown earths, terra rossa, rendzina, soft sands and dark cracking clays.

The McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association has identified 19 distinct districts based on climate and geology.

[8] In February 2011, South Australian Premier Mike Rann announced that the state government would "look at ways that we can protect the unique identity and integrity of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale."

Premier Rann said: "Barossa and McLaren Vale food and wine are key icons of South Australia.

"[9] Legislation to protect the character of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale was reported in the media as being passed by the South Australian Parliament in 2012 and came into force in January 2013.