Described as a town “straight from the past,” the judging panel of 14 Australian travel experts said Clare could have been “plucked straight from the Tuscan countryside,” and noted the distinction between the rolling hills, twisting green vines, and dusty ground that caught their imaginations.

Judges looked from wine-growing hubs to beachside hideaways and remote outback communities to establish a short list of 300 towns with a population less than 45,000.

The panel hotly debated what made each town special and the country’s top 100 towns were selected, Clare was one of 13 South Australian towns chosen for the final count. Renowned for its Riesling and Shiraz, rich winery history, and heritage-listed buildings added to the town’s appeal.

The Riesling Trail from Clare to Auburn was noted to be “one of the nation’s most rewarding walking and cycling tracks” and was of particular interest to the judging panel.

Ambling past stunning vistas, 19th century cottages, vineyards, and farmyards along the old-Clare railway the trail was said to be ideal “for the leisurely sampling of wines and local produce.”