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Nicknamed “Australia’s other red centre” the region is marked out by the famous Terra Rossa soil.
The region stretches from the township of Penola at one end then heads north for about 15km and is only about 2km wide. All but a few wineries are located on the Riddoch Hwy that runs through the middle of the region, which makes it very easy for wine touring.
Coonawarra wines have won more Jimmy Watson trophies than any other region. It is the Cabernet grape that so rightly gets all the attention here, but don’t forget about Coonawarra Shiraz, which is gaining in reputation.
Be on the lookout for some excellent Chardonnay and some quality Riesling, both wines surprised me in a region known for its reds.
With a bit more driving involved from one of the major cities Coonawarra is suited for a long weekend getaway but the drive is easy no matter where you are coming from, so put this on your to do list now!
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Balnaves
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat & Sun 12pm - 5pmThis pretty cellar door sits over a large pond with a timber decking that looks out at all the ducks. A rose garden is at the front with picnic tables and umbrellas sca...read more
Features: Picnic tables
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Blok Estate
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmNot the prettiest of cellar doors, with the tasting room looking a bit like the front room of someone’s house converted into a tasting room. A good range of wines w...read more
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Bowen Estate
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmIf you had a spare 15 mins then this cellar door is perfect for you. A relatively small cellar door with only 3 different wines to try, but both the Cabernet and the Sh...read more
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Brands Laira
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Mon - Fri 9am – 4:30pm, Sat - Sun 10am - 4pmTasting room is a nice and spacious set-up with one white, being a Chardonnay and four reds to try. My pick of the wines was the Blockers Cabernet....read more
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Coonawarra Wine Gallery
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmThe Wine Gallery represents several wineries which include Jamiesons Run, Mildara, Lindemans, and Greg Norman wines. An excellent range was available for tasting in the...read more
Features: Produce section
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Digiorgio Family Wines
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmIf you need a break from all the red wine you have been tasting, then the Digiorgio black and white cellar door has two excellent Sparklings and several white wines are...read more
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Hollick
Location: Ravenswood lane Coonawaara SA
Open: Daily Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat - Sun & public holidays 10am - 5pmHollick winery was the whole package, a beautiful cellar door, great service, good wine plus the only winery in the region that had a restaurant, and a very good one at...read more
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Katnook
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Mon - Fri 10am – 5pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 5pmAn original 1890’s building has been converted into this beautiful modern cellar door. The fit out is classy and the ideal place to taste the many great wines from Ka...read more
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Kidman
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Opens: Daily 10am - 4pm
Koonara
Location: 44 Church St Penola SA
Open: Daily 10am – 6pmI’m torn as to who will love this place more? The cellar door is different in that it is as part of a homeware and produce shop. The blokes will love it for the fact ...read more
Features: Homewares & produce shop
Ladbroke Grove
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
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Leconfield
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Mon - Fri 10am – 4.30pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 4pmA good range of wines available for tasting with a diverse selection of both white and red wines. The tasting room was on the cosy side but with Leconfield well represe...read more
Majella
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 4.30pmThe cellar door has a nice decking area out the front with tables and market umbrellas which is ideal to keep an eye on the kids while they run riot on the lawn just in...read more
Parker Coonawarra Estate
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 4pmA beautiful cellar door, modern and spacious. There is a only a small range of wines to taste with one Chardonnay and four reds, a Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot and a Cabern...read more
Features: Produce section
Patrick Of Coonawarra
Location: Crn Riddoch Hwy & Ravenswood Lane Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmThe spacious cellar door has a small produce section with a variety of oils and chutneys available to sample & purchase. Patricks has one of the larger lists of wines...read more
Features: Produce section
Penley Estate
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 4pmOne of the few wineries located just off the Riddoch hwy, the drive through the vineyard will reward you. Penley Estate has a soccer field size patch of grass out the f...read more
Punters Corner
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Mon - Fri 10am – 4pm, Sat - Sun 12pm – 4pmA lovely modern tasting room with corrugated steel and big chunky hardwood beams on the outside and a warm cosy vibe on the inside. This was our final cellar door bef...read more
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Raidis Estate
Location: 147 Church St Penola SA
Opens: Thurs - Mon 12pm - 6pm
Redman
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Opens: Daily Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat - Sun & public holidays 11am - 4pm
Rymill
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmThe long treelined driveway up to Rymill would have to be one of the prettiest in the region. At the end, the trees part giving view to the largest cellar door building...read more
Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Location: Memorial Dve Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 5pmI must admit Wynns was not high on my list of priorities of wineries to go and visit as so many of their wines are easily found in almost every bottle shop, but… The ...read more
Features: Picnic tables
Yalumba
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 10am – 4.30pmThe modern spacious Menzies room in Coonawarra is the smaller of Yalumba’s two cellar doors. (The larger being in the Barossa Valley) The Menzies room is cosy with so...read more
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Zema Estate
Location: Riddoch Hwy Coonawarra SA
Open: Daily 9am – 5pmWith my wife driving and so many wines to try we have a deal where she only wants to try the wines that I think are the best from each cellar doors list. The Problem at...read more