Coonawarra
The Coonawarra grape growing and wine producing area occupies a most significant position in the Australian Wine Industry. It first came into being in 1890 when Mr John Riddoch of Yallum Park, who owned vast tracts of land in the Penola District, subdivided some 2,000 acres of his property to establish a fruit colony. After some time it became known as the Coonawarra Fruit Colony. Grape vines figured prominently amongst the fruit grown, the vines thriving in the rich terra rossa soil, and in 1893 Riddoch built the first winery in Coonawarra, now Wynns Coonawarra Estate.
Although the vines flourished and those early days saw some excellent wine being made, the demand for quality table wines was not strong and the Coonawarra Wine Industry faced some difficult times. Fortunately for the Coonawarra District and wine lovers generally this is not the case today. The resurgence which commenced in the 1960s has continued to the present day when almost every available hectare of grape growing country on the famed strip of terra rossa soil has been planted, or is about to be planted. The cigar shaped terra rossa strip of land runs north and south along the highway immediately north of Penola for 16km and is up to 2km wide. Coonawarra boasts 18 wineries, many open seven days a week. The cellar door sales offer the opportunity to taste and buy table wines which are eagerly sought by wine enthusiasts and have gained an enviable reputation amongst wine lovers everywhere.
Australia
Limestone Coast Region
