Coonawarra Region

Founded by John Riddoch in 1890, the Coonawarra region lies in South Australia’s Limestone Coast viticultural zone, mid-way between Adelaide and Melbourne and one hundred kilometres inland from the Southern Ocean.

Over the ensuing century Coonawarra earned the reputation of being ‘the most preferred region in Australia for red wine’, but it was not until 2003 that its boundary was legally defined by the Geographic Indications Committee.

Located largely in the Hundreds of Penola and Comaum, this 400 square kilometre region extends some sixteen kilometres into South Australia from the Victorian border. However, its heart is a narrow terra rossa ridge, 27 kilometres long and averaging only 1.8 kilometres wide. Comprising 4820 hectares and accounting for just 12% of the Coonawarra region, it is on this unique soil that the best vineyards are located.

The Riddoch Highway follows the crest of the ridge and visitors remark with pleasure, as they drive its length, that reading the winery signboards is just like reading the wine list of any first class restaurant.

For further information, please see Coonawarra Boundary.