The Mount Benson wine region is a wine region in the south east of the Australian state of South Australia located on the continental coastline about 300 kilometres (190 miles) from the state capital of Adelaide and halfway between the towns of Kingston SE and Robe.
The Mount Benson vineyards are planted on gently undulating terrain ranging from five to 50 metres above sea level and attracted the interest of viticulturalists due to prevalent loam-based terra rossa soils that sit atop free-draining limestone, which formed over millions of years while the region was underwater.
Where this clay sits above the water table oxidation occurs, forming rust and giving the soil is characteristic red colour.
Cold and wet winters and long, cool and dry growing seasons are typical in the region.
Red grape varieties represent 75% of all grapes grown in the region, with the majority of Mount Benson planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, but also including substantial plantings of Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot noir, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.