The Riverland is the engine of Australia's volume wine industry much like the Central Valley of California or the Midi in France. The region lies in the arid interior of the country, bordering Victoria, and is irrigated by the Murray River, without which, it could not exist.

The Riverland accounts for 50% of South Australia's wine by volume and nearly 25% of the NATION's total volume. The region has a continental climate with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Huge swathes of highly mechanized vineyards blanket the region and produce consistently reliable wines in almost limitless volume, accounting in large part for Australia's muscular presence on supermarket shelves the world over. Most wines form the basis of large scale blends and are labeled with the broader South or Southeastern Australia designations. (Wine/Appellations)