The Auswine Forum

Thinking of a couple of days/overnighter in the Coonawarra.
I've been before and visited Hollick, Rymill, Zema, Wynns and Majella.
I'm planning on going to back Wynns and Majella but I'm thinking of going to
Balnaves, Katnook, Bowen, Parker, Brands Laira and Penley.
That's 4 wineries a day. Might trim it to 3 each.

Any hints and tips or wineries that shouldn't be missed?
I'm going with a mate and it's his first visit. I figured Wynns is a must see and
Majella is one of my faves so I'll be going back there.
Thanks in Advance.

I always make sure I go to Balnaves.
Koonara is in the middle of Penola so if you are staying there you may as well pop if you have enough time and have put the car away for the day.

I believe Bellwether (Sue Bell) have opened up a cellar door in Coonawarra. She's a really good winemaker, so check them out if they're open.
Her Cab Sauv is Coonawarra, but a number of the other wines are from further afield (Tasmania, Heathcote, Riverland, and Wrattonbully)

Really enjoyed leconfield when i visited a few years ago. Was small and no one else there = generous pours and a quick tour of the facility (same with majella)
The quality of Leconfield whites was a very good surprise!

Rymill was good, but their wines were dissapointing. Katnook was excellent. Loved their wines and cellar door. Food at hollick was fantastic.

Havent been to balnaves or wynns. I want to try redmans and penley next time im down there.

Balnaves would be the first one on my list

Scotty Vino,

I am sure you'll have a great visit. Lots of good CD experiences and some good food in a couple of spots as well.

You're already going to Wynns and Majella which I support. The Wynns stuff will be more expensive at CD but the whole range is there. They often have specials on some of the whites which can be good value. At Majella see if you can try the Malleea from a bottle that's been open for a day at least, but they have a few other very good wines there as well. Straight cabernet is great. There has been some discussion in another forum about acid levels in Coonawarra wines and I've done a bit of a survey. Majella seem to have total acid levels that are above 7 g/l which is at the high end, but the wines are big enough to cope with that.

Now for six other CD's. Here's some suggestions based on my view of quality wines:

Balnaves is a must. Pete Bissell makes some excellent wines and I love their cabernets, particularly The Tally (this may not be available for tasting, but its worth asking, its worked for me before). The other reds are excellent ... try the sparkling cabernet as well. Great setting as well.

Katnook is another must. Very good wines, stick to the Estate wines, rather than bother with the cheaper range.

Cuttlefish mentioned Bellwether. Sue Bell is well know in the region and she does now have a cellar door at an old shearing shed in the northern end of Coonawarra. Its a bit of an "Old Macdonald's Farm"! She has a good reputation, but last time I went there I wasn't that taken by the wines tbh. She makes wines sourced both locally and from other areas. Interesting anyway.

I went off their wines for a fair while in the late 80's early 90's (cork problems and poor wines), but I would definitely go to Redmans, they have picked up their game since the noughties. Very good value as well I might say. Only make reds, and all are worth trying. The Redman (which will be an older vintage blend) is very good.

Leconfield is also worth a visit. Good wines and a few labels you can only get at CD. Generous as well, last time we were there, late in the day, they gave us a few half empty bottle to consume later! Always like the cabernet and the last few vintages have been very good. They should have a very attractive "June Traminer" Riesling, which is a nice sweet wine.

The Blok Estate is a quirky place in the southern end of Coonawarra. The wines are ok, maybe not outstanding, but one thing I like is that they are only released with some years of age. An interesting range and you can get a great snack type lunch there (anti pasto, ploughman's lunch that sort of thing).

Would I go to Hollick, not sure? I think they have fallen off a bit over the last few years.

It's worth going to Parker Estate. The Terra Rossa Series and the First Growth definitely worth tasting. Block 95 (cabernet and petit verdot) is interesting.

Laira is worth a visit, even just for their premium wines, Stentiford and 171 labels. They also have a very attractive middle range label as well, either Autumn Tide or Tall Ships.

Jack Estate (in the old MIldara winery) is worth a look. At last years masterclass at the Cabernet Celebration weekend in October, their Mythology Cabernet showed very well. Small range.

Lastly, a long time favourite of mine is Bowen Estate. Doug (and now daughter Emma) has been there for forty vintages now. Occasionally they run out of stock, but both reds are great. They also have a very good chardonnay which is not widely available other than at CD.

Others include Rymill, Zema, DiGiorgio, Raidis Estate, Penley Estate, Kidman, Highbank, Banks Thargo, Patrick, Ladbroke Grove and Koonara (in Penola), but I would go for six of the above before any of these. To be honest though, its all a good experience. There are a couple of vineyards that don't have CD, (Reschke) and the catch-all TWE place is now closed as is Yalumba.

Food is great as well, Upstairs at Hollick, Pipers, Fodder (in Coonawarra township). Pubs in town, ok not sophisticated, but good. Good accomodation, I would recommend Must, given that Punter's Retreat is alway v difficult to get into. There are other places as well.

Hope that's all food for thought, but don't take my word for it, try them.

cheers, Malcolm

Balnaves.

Tally is open on weekends and sometimes on Monday morning.

Unfortunately, Wynns don't show JR or single vineyard other than V&A Lane.

Can't remember if Majella open Malleea. Katnook usually open Odyssey and Prodigy. Parker usually open First Growth. And so on

Dupe.

swirler wrote:Balnaves.

Tally is open on weekends and sometimes on Monday morning.

Unfortunately, Wynns don't show JR or single vineyard other than V&A Lane.

Can't remember if Majella open Malleea. Katnook usually open Odyssey and Prodigy. Parker usually open First Growth. And so on

you've lucked out, I've had the JR, Michael and single vineyard releases at Wynns each time I've been there.
The Malleea is on tasting, have tried it a few times.

This Friday's off-line in Melbourne, Coonawarra vs Rest of Oz, might throw up some relevant outcomes!

mjs wrote:Scotty Vino,

I am sure you'll have a great visit. Lots of good CD experiences and some good food in a couple of spots as well.

You're already going to Wynns and Majella which I support. The Wynns stuff will be more expensive at CD but the whole range is there. They often have specials on some of the whites which can be good value. At Majella see if you can try the Malleea from a bottle that's been open for a day at least, but they have a few other very good wines there as well. Straight cabernet is great. There has been some discussion in another forum about acid levels in Coonawarra wines and I've done a bit of a survey. Majella seem to have total acid levels that are above 7 g/l which is at the high end, but the wines are big enough to cope with that.

Now for six other CD's. Here's some suggestions based on my view of quality wines:

Balnaves is a must. Pete Bissell makes some excellent wines and I love their cabernets, particularly The Tally (this may not be available for tasting, but its worth asking, its worked for me before). The other reds are excellent ... try the sparkling cabernet as well. Great setting as well.

Katnook is another must. Very good wines, stick to the Estate wines, rather than bother with the cheaper range.

Cuttlefish mentioned Bellwether. Sue Bell is well know in the region and she does now have a cellar door at an old shearing shed in the northern end of Coonawarra. Its a bit of an "Old Macdonald's Farm"! She has a good reputation, but last time I went there I wasn't that taken by the wines tbh. She makes wines sourced both locally and from other areas. Interesting anyway.

I went off their wines for a fair while in the late 80's early 90's (cork problems and poor wines), but I would definitely go to Redmans, they have picked up their game since the noughties. Very good value as well I might say. Only make reds, and all are worth trying. The Redman (which will be an older vintage blend) is very good.

Leconfield is also worth a visit. Good wines and a few labels you can only get at CD. Generous as well, last time we were there, late in the day, they gave us a few half empty bottle to consume later! Always like the cabernet and the last few vintages have been very good. They should have a very attractive Autumn Harvest Riesling, which is a nice sweet wine.

The Blok Estate is a quirky place in the southern end of Coonawarra. The wines are ok, maybe not outstanding, but one thing I like is that they are only released with some years of age. An interesting range and you can get a great snack type lunch there (anti pasto, ploughman's lunch that sort of thing).

Would I go to Hollick, not sure? I think they have fallen off a bit over the last few years.

It's worth going to Parker Estate. The Terra Rossa Series and the First Growth definitely worth tasting. Block 95 (cabernet and petit verdot) is interesting.

Laira is worth a visit, even just for their premium wines, Stentiford and 171 labels. They also have a very attractive middle range label as well, either Autumn Tide or Tall Ships.

Jack Estate (in the old MIldara winery) is worth a look. At last years masterclass at the Cabernet Celebration weekend in October, their Mythology Cabernet showed very well. Small range.

Lastly, a long time favourite of mine is Bowen Estate. Doug (and now daughter Emma) has been there for forty vintages now. Occasionally they run out of stock, but both reds are great. They also have a very good chardonnay which is not widely available other than at CD.

Others include Rymill, Zema, DiGiorgio, Raidis Estate, Penley Estate, Kidman, Highbank, Banks Thargo, Patrick, Ladbroke Grove and Koonara (in Penola), but I would go for six of the above before any of these. To be honest though, its all a good experience. There are a couple of vineyards that don't have CD, (Reschke) and the catch-all TWE place is now closed as is Yalumba.

Food is great as well, Upstairs at Hollick, Pipers, Fodder (in Coonawarra township). Pubs in town, ok not sophisticated, but good. Good accomodation, I would recommend Must, given that Punter's Retreat is alway v difficult to get into. There are other places as well.

Hope that's all food for thought, but don't take my word for it, try them.

cheers, Malcolm

Crikey Malcolm you're all over it!
Honestly that's better than any info I could find elsewhere online.
I know you're a 'Warra fan and I was hoping you might respond.
Cheers!
Thanks to everybody else for throwing in their 2 bobs. Appreciated.

sch5252 wrote:you've lucked out, I've had the JR, Michael and single vineyard releases at Wynns each time I've been there.
The Malleea is on tasting, have tried it a few times.

Oh. Maybe you went on a weekend. I've been more than once. Or did I not know the secret words

St Marys is another CD, off the beaten track, 15 km to the west of Penola, arguably not in Coonawarra, although they are on terra rossa apparently. Beautiful dry stone walls surround and inhabit the property, don't get much passing trade, wines are ok but nothing special imo, suffer from too much eucalyptus/menthol and all varieties seem somewhat similar

Then if you go a further 80km or so further west, you get to Robe! Nothing wrong with that of course, as it is crayfish central!!

Happy to put up with the fact that Coonawarra reds do not exactly go that well with SE Sth Aust crayfish!! A nice white, some freshly cooked cray, maybe some white bread, bit of seafood sauce, does it get any better!!??

mjs wrote:Then if you go a further 80km or so further west, you get to Robe! Nothing wrong with that of course, as it is crayfish central!!

Happy to put up with the fact that Coonawarra reds do not exactly go that well with SE Sth Aust crayfish!! A nice white, some freshly cooked cray, maybe some white bread, bit of seafood sauce, does it get any better!!??

My first Coonawarra visit came off an easter camping holiday in Robe back a few years.
Was with a group of friends and convinced the entire crew to do a Winery run for the day.
It was a bit spur of the moment but we ended up visiting Wynns, Majella, Rymill, Hollick and Zema.
Came back to the camp site with a few reds for the rest of the weekend.
A lot of the purchases from that weekend never made it back home unfortunately.
Figured I'd do a more planned trip focusing on returning with some cellaring prospects.

Scotty vino wrote:A lot of the purchases from that weekend never made it back home unfortunately.

And why would that be unfortunate? haha

First visit to Coonawarra was in '73 off the back of a trip from Adelaide to a motorcycle racing event at MacNamara Park at Mt Gambier. Remember going to Redman and being served by Arthur Hoffmann at CD. Claret was $3 and Cabernet $4.50, $9 in magnum.

For what it is worth the latest Halliday mag has a Coonawarra feature in it plus a whole heap of cabernet reviews.

Yeah, got the email and fb post yesterday. Good to see, but bit of an infomercial for me. Very selective in what was discussed, not representative of the best of the region for me at all, particularly David Sly's "Top Ten" picks

booked in for a weekend in July. I didn't realise the 'cellar dweller' festival was going to be on while I'm there.
Seems as though a few wineries will have some back vintages on hand for tasting.
Hmmmm. I'm thinking the plastic might be in for a bit of a workout.

Malcolm, when I last looked David Sly was a music journo working for the Tiser, perhaps I should apply for a job as a wine reviewer .

Trying to organise a weekend in October.
Cheers
Craig

Great thread and I hope to visit in the next month or so- though disappointed to miss crayfish season in nearby Robe.

Scotty vino wrote:booked in for a weekend in July. I didn't realise the 'cellar dweller' festival was going to be on while I'm there.
Seems as though a few wineries will have some back vintages on hand for tasting.
Hmmmm. I'm thinking the plastic might be in for a bit of a workout.

Scotty, all the CDs will have some older wines for tasting during July, its a really great time to visit

phillisc wrote:Malcolm, when I last looked David Sly was a music journo working for the Tiser, perhaps I should apply for a job as a wine reviewer .

Trying to organise a weekend in October.
Cheers
Craig

Craig,
Know anything about music? .... Right, you're our wine man ... haha!
We are there on the third weekend, think that's when masterclass and a few other things like retrospective tasting and dinners are on. See you then?
Malcolm

Malcolm, I will check with management, about what weekend we might be going.

Cheers
Craig

Snap! Literally pulled up after a quick day trip visiting a few wineries. Very impressed with Leconfield which is now showcasing regional wines. Coonawarra Cabernet and merlot, mclaren vale Shiraz, watervale Riesling and newbie Adelaide hills Chardonnay. All very good and good prices. The straight merlot and Cabernet merlot were highlights showing what a new winemaker can achieve since taking over in 2001. Redman and Wynns are also worth a visit.

Carl

JamieBahrain wrote:Great thread and I hope to visit in the next month or so- though disappointed to miss crayfish season in nearby Robe.

Well, we did go to Robe for crayfish year before last, for the Cabernet Weekend in October, which is just inside the start of the crayfish season! Gorged ourselves a bit before returning to Penola for three days. Rather nice I must say

Malcolm, might try for the 3rd weekend in October.
Have a hankering for a thick cut of David Meeks rump or rib-eye to cook on a BBQ.
Not much detail so far re events, might have call a couple of wineries to see what's on.
Cheers Craig

Craig,

The Cabernet Celebration Weekend now seems to be a Cabernet Celebration Month this year! However, I understand that previous events such as the Retrospective Tasting, the Masterclass and dinners at Pipers will be on the third weekend (14th, 15th, 16th). There are other events on the first and fifth weekends, with probably some other informal things in between. Majella vertical, Breakfast at Balnaves, other dinners etc will be in there somewhere I am sure.

Just by the way, it seems that there are quite a few events organised for Cellar Dwellers in July, even a 50 year retrospective of Redmans, lots of tastings, dinners etc. Unfortunately can't really get there in July this year.

Will be there with three other couples (from both Melb and Adl) on the third weekend in Oct. Would be good to catch up

cheers, Malcolm

Cellar Dweller Program here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ulk2p57zo4d31pw/Cellar%20Dweller%20DL%20Programme_2016_final.pdf?dl=0