Mount Lofty Ranges zone is a wine zone located in central South Australia west of the Murray River that occupies the Adelaide metropolitan area north of Glenelg, extending as far north as Crystal Brook, and as far south as Mount Compass in the Mount Lofty Ranges. The zone which encloses the Barossa zone on three sides, consists of the following wine regions all of which have received appellation as an Australian Geographical Indication (AGI): Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains and Clare Valley. The zone received AGI in 1996.
The Mount Lofty Ranges zone covers an area of central South Australia bounded at the north by a line of latitude approximately in line with Crystal Brook, to the west by the Gulf St Vincent coastline and a line extending north from Port Wakefield, to the south by the line of latitude passing through Glenelg in the Adelaide metropolitan area and the portion of the Mount Lofty Ranges extending as far south as Mount Compass and bounded to the east by a line immediately west of the alignment of Murray river. The zone encloses the Barossa zone on all but its east side. The term ‘Mount Lofty Ranges’ was registered as an AGI under the Wine Australia Corporation Act 1980 on 27 December 1996.
The Mount Lofty Ranges are the range of mountains just to the east of Adelaide in South Australia.
The Mount Lofty Ranges stretch from the southernmost point of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Cape Jervis northwards for over 300 kilometres (190 mi) before petering out north of Peterborough. In the vicinity of Adelaide, they separate the Adelaide Plains from the extensive plains that surround the Murray River and stretch eastwards to Victoria.
The Heysen Trail traverses almost the entire length of the ranges, crossing westwards to the Flinders Ranges near Hallett.
The mountains have a Mediterranean climate with moderate rainfall brought by south-westerly winds, hot summers and cool winters. The southern ranges are wetter (with 900mm of rain per year) than the northern ranges (400mm).
The part of the ranges south of and including the Barossa Valley are commonly known as the South Mount Lofty Ranges, and the highest part of this section is the summit of Mount Lofty (727 m or 2,385 ft). The part of the ranges nearest Adelaide is also called the Adelaide Hills.