The best Coonawarra cellar doors
Where to taste the terra rossa
Coonawarra is Australia's Cabernet heartland, a narrow cigar-shaped band of terra rossa over limestone that gives the region's reds their unmistakable structure and cassis fruit. The wineries below range from founding families to modern benchmark makers — taste across a few in a day and the character of the soil starts to make itself clear.
-
1
CoonawarraWynns Coonawarra Estate
The region's defining estate, where Coonawarra Cabernet was effectively written into the rule book.
See place → -
2
CoonawarraBalnaves of Coonawarra
Family-led tastings built around The Tally, one of Coonawarra's great reserve Cabernets.
See place → -
3
CoonawarraRedman Wines
A founding family pouring honest, age-worthy reds at gloriously fair prices.
See place → -
4
CoonawarraParker Coonawarra Estate
Home of First Growth, a classic single-vineyard Cabernet named with a nod to Bordeaux.
See place → -
5
CoonawarraPenley Estate
Polished Cabernet and a smart cellar door experience among the vines.
See place → -
6
CoonawarraHollick Estates
Terra rossa reds paired with a hilltop restaurant and long views.
See place → -
7
CoonawarraMajella Wines
Powerful, generous Cabernet and Shiraz from a grower-turned-maker.
See place → -
8
CoonawarraZema Estate
A family estate crafting structured, traditional Coonawarra reds.
See place → -
9
CoonawarraRymill Coonawarra
Long-established maker with a relaxed, welcoming tasting room.
See place → -
10
CoonawarraKatnook Estate
A historic name pouring estate Cabernet and cool-climate whites.
See place →
Book ahead at the smaller estates, take it slowly, and let the strip reveal why Cabernet found one of its great homes here.
More like this
Guide
A Coonawarra Cabernet day
A single, unhurried day along the famous cigar-shaped strip of red soil over limestone, where Cabernet Sauvignon reaches a pitch it manages almost nowhere else in Australia.
Guide
A Penola Heritage Loop
A half-day loop through Penola's historic streets, following the footsteps of Mary MacKillop and the founders of the wine country.
Guide
A Coonawarra Wine & Food Long Lunch
Slow down for a classic Coonawarra day: a string of cellar doors on the red strip built around a long, unhurried lunch.
Top 10
The Best Places to Eat & Drink on the Limestone Coast
Coonawarra Cabernet, a tiger-legend pub and rock lobster off the boat: the best spots to eat and drink across the region.
Top 10
Best Cellar Doors Beyond Coonawarra
Coonawarra gets the glory, but the Limestone Coast wine country runs from coastal Cape Jaffa to the limestone ridges of Wrattonbully. These cellar doors are worth the detour.
Top 10
Best Day Trips from Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier makes a perfect base for the Limestone Coast. From here, caves, coast and wine country are all an easy drive. Here are the best day trips.