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The Vineyard History
The vineyard was the 388 hectares owned by KVL 274 hectares is planted to vines with the remaining area used for grazing, native vegetation, and property infrastructure. The majority of the Estate was established in the late 1990s and since then the vineyard has evolved with new blocks being established and some blocks being removed to meet changing market conditions. The areas dedicated to grazing play an important role in the management of the vineyard and has allowed sheep to graze the vineyard during winter months thereby reducing the amount of chemical weed control and tractor usage. The areas of native vegetation have improved biodiversity an important part of sustainable viticultural practices. Kayinga Estate’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised my becoming a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. The property has a long history of farming reflected in the old buildings which have been lovingly restored making it one of the most beautiful and functional works areas in the region.
The Estate borders large scale vineyards developed by Mildara Blass Ltd (now Treasury Wine Estates Limited) and Marandoo Estate Limited.
The land is relatively flat with several slightly elevated areas with gentle slopes. Because of the near perfect climatic conditions, it's proximity to a large body of water (Lake Alexandrina), its warm climate and low frost risk, it was seen as an ideal area for growing high quality red table wine fruit for inclusion into table wines of between $10-25 per bottle.
Vineyard Layout
The Estate was planted exclusively with red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Shiraz. These principal varieties were chosen based on their proven suitability to the region and their strong historical demand among grape buyers. The varietal mix at Kayinga Estate was strategically selected to meet the specifications of multiple grape buyers while maintaining economically viable production levels for C and B grade fruit. The layout of the property at that time is shown below.
Shiraz
The most important variety at Kayinga Estate is Shiraz, representing 44% of plantings. The variety originates from the Hermitage area of France's Rhône Valley, where it is known as Syrah. Its precise origins remain uncertain—some suggest it was brought to France by hermits from Shiraz in Iran, while others believe Roman legions transported it from Syracuse. In Australia, Shiraz is grown across all viticultural regions and is used to produce a diverse range of red wine styles.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The other key variety at Kayinga Estate is Cabernet Sauvignon, which also accounts for 44% of plantings. This variety is one of the world's most widely recognized red grapes and is cultivated in nearly every major wine-producing country. Cabernet Sauvignon gained international prominence through its role in Bordeaux, where it is often blended with Merlot. Throughout most of the 20th century, it was the world's most widely planted premium red wine grape until being surpassed by Merlot in the 1990s. In Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon is the second most widely grown variety by area, and in Langhorne Creek it is considered the region's premier variety.
Climate and Soil
The Langhorne Creek region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 400-500mm, which falls predominantly during winter and spring. This seasonal pattern significantly reduces the risk of summer disease pressure. The Estate's soils vary from shallow loamy sands to deep loams over light to medium clay subsoils. Most soil profiles contain various forms of carbonate, including calcrete rubble and calcrete stone layers, which promote healthy root development and ensure effective drainage.
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