Elevation
The range of elevations and soil types in the Orange Region enables a wide range of grape varieties to be grown to perfection. In Orange the performance of a variety will be affected by the elevation at which it is grown because the growing season heat summation is lower at higher elevations and higher at lower elevations. Vineyard factors such as slope, aspect, wind and air drainage, can modify heat summation but not radically change it. In Orange the wine style that a particular variety makes will be medium to light bodied but more aromatic at the cooler higher elevations and medium to full bodied but less aromatic at the warmer lower elevations. In France this heat summation effect can be seen in the style difference between Sauvignon Blanc or Cabernet Franc wines produced in the cooler Loire Valley and those same wines produced in the warmer Bordeaux district. Vineyard site selection dictates the wine style produced because it locks in the growing season heat summation and grape variety match that occurs.
The following table divides the Orange Region into elevation zones, equates those zones with heat summation equivalent European wine districts and lists the main varieties grown in these districts.
|
Elevation zones in the Orange Region in metres |
European Wine districts with equivalent heat summations |
Varieties grown in these districts |
|
1100 to 1150 |
Champagne, France Sancerre / Upper Loire, France Geisenheim / Rhine, Germany |
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc Riesling |
|
1050 to 1100 |
Chablis, France Cote d’Or / Burgundy, France Jura, France |
Chardonnay Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Savagnin Blanc, Chardonnay |
|
1000 to 1050 |
Alsace, France
|
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir |
|
950 to 1000 |
Beaujolais, France Central Loire Valley, France
|
Gamay Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc |
|
900 to 950 |
|
|
|
850 to 900 |
Cote Rotie / Northern Rhone, France Rioja Alta, Spain Ribera del Duero, Spain |
Shiraz, Viognier Tempranillo Tempranillo |
|
800 to 850 |
|
|
|
750 to 800 |
Piedmont, Italy Bordeaux, France |
Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon |
|
700 to 750 |
Hermitage / Northern Rhone, France
|
Shiraz, Marsanne |
|
700 to 750 |
|
|
|
650 to 700 |
Rioja Baja, Spain
|
Grenache |
|
600 to 650 |
Chianti , central Italy Chateauneuf du pape, Southern Rhone, France
|
Sangiovese
Grenache, Shiraz |
