| Msgr. Patrick S. Brennan |
|
The Clare Valley, about 80 miles north of Adelaide, has a European feel to it and a lot less tourist hype than other districts. It was settled in the 1850s and named Clare by homesick Irish because its gentle landscape reminded them of County Clare. Winemaking in the valley began with Jesuit brothers, who grew grapes to make their own sacramental wine. My hosts, Joe and Jean, live in Clare, with a population of a little over 3000. The town was established in 1842. A railway line was built in 1918, and it closed in 1984. The alignment now carries a "rails to trails," the "Riesling Trail," for walking and cycling.