South Australia is home to Australia's finest wine appellations. The three regions surrounding the capital city of Adelaide - McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and the Adelaide Hills, are recognized as among the finest in the world.

The diverse hill region east of Adelaide is on the forefront of quality development in Australia. The higher elevations, combined with the evening breezes that come off the nearby Gulf of St. Vincent, create perfect growing conditions for cool climate grapes. The Adelaide Hills vineyards, averaging 400 meters above sea level, are just a half an hour from the city center. The verdant terrain of this wine region is often steep, with many vineyards facing north to carch the best sun.

The reputation of the Adelaide Hills is growing rapidly as more and more high profile winemakers recognize the potential of this area for the highest quality wines.

The Johnston family settled in this area in 1839, and today, is the oldest known family-owned business in South Australia. The town of Oakbank they settled was named by the family after the Oak Bank area of Glasgow in their native Scotland.