First stop on our whirlwind Coonawarra tour on our way between Melbourne and Adelaide and I realize…read moreI've been completely spoiled by American wineries (specifically the Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles regions!!) as I was expecting to get specific tasting notes and flavors from the server and all I got was 'what do you want to taste' and 'there you go'. Don't get et me wrong, the service was friendly, attentive and welcoming but there was no information given about the wine which I always found a little overwhelming and pretentious (especially in Napa) but which I'm now finding I really miss since I'm not getting it... Go figure?!?! Anyway tasting notes are at the counter if you are that way inclined so you don't miss out completely! And wine tastings are complimentary in the region which is a refreshing change although I'm completely programmed to by a bottle regardless these days... Wynn was a great start to our wine tasting afternoon, the service was friendly and welcoming, the wines, although nothing surprising are good examples of Coonawarra Reds, there are two wines on the tasting list that are available only through the cellar door and there is a considerable discount on the RRP if purchasing through the winery or if joining the wine club... Make sure you by if your in the region, you won't be disappointed!

You'll find one of the prettiest and stylish homeware store here right smack in Koonara…read more With candles, vases, bowls, aprons and trinkets alike to accompany your wine tasting adventure, you can help but feel so at home in this delightful cellar door. Their best features apart from the wines are bike hire. Rent a bike here and tour the rest of the wineries along Coonawarra at your ease, as you take in the breathtaking views. The winery also hosts a Koonara Cottage Bed & Breakfast, a beautiful cottage overlooking the paddock and stunning Coonawarra landscape.

Situated right in the centre of the main street, Koonara is a fab spot to start tasting before…read moreheading through to the Coonawarra. The space feels a little awkward because it does double as a homewares store, however the staff here are passionate, super friendly, and knowledgeable so the awkwardness fades quickly. The wines are primarily named after either angels or the owner's daughters which is pretty sweet. The wines themselves are tasty, with some fantastic Coonawarra reds in the mix, and a few whites if you're that way inclined. Overall it's worth popping your head into if you're in Penola's main street... even if you're not up for a full day of tasting... why not pop in for a cheeky sample or two?

One of the modern cellar door features you'll find in Coonawarra and the only restaurant you'll…read morefind in a Limecoast winery. You can taste a wide range of Hollick wines here plus the Frizzante and Pinot Noir which are only available at the cellar door. The restaurant aptly named 'Upstairs at the Hollicks' lends a panoramic view of Hollick "Neilson's Block" vineyard and stunning Coonawarra landscape. Diners can only catch the winemaker in action in the barrel store as they enjoy their meal. This year the Hollick picked up an award for the Best Restaurant in a Winery at the 2011 Restaurant & Catering Awards! A must visit when you are touring the vineyards in this Limecoast region. Check out their Vineyard, Winery and Lunch tour on their website.

You probably need 2-3 days to enjoy the bevy of cellar doors in Coonawarra plus take in the…read moredelights and sights of this amazing Limestone region. Grab your friends or bring your interstate friends and hire a bus, and discover the thrill of Coonawarra and the region's best loved reds. A family run winery using only estate grown vines, they produce the flagship Patrick of Coonawarra range, Estate range and Mother of Pearl range which carries a unique and maritime influence. Beautiful and exquisite drop- a must visit!!

I'm a wine geek - a buff, a connosieur if you will allow me to toot my own horn a little. Patrick…read more(used to be called Patrick T) is a stand-out boutique winery in Penola. If you're a fan of Australian style red wine this is unmissable, although they have a range which could easily be considered must-try for just about any palette. My friends love the Mother of Pearl range which appeals to their bargain hunting insticts, however I'm dedicated to the Patrick of Coonawarra label. Every Cab Sauv I've tried on this label has blown my socks off. The tastings are conducted around a semi-circular bar which was just magic for our group of 10 last time, as it created an intimacy and communal experience you just don't acheive in a conventional line. You may overlook this one in favour of the famous names in this region, but if it's about the wine this will definately make it into the itinerary!

Leconfield has two cellar doors, one in McLaren Vale and the other in Coonawarra…read more Boasting a perfect limestone winery building with a barrel storage of 2000. They offer an intimate and educational wine tasting tour as you take in the view of winemakers at work and other winemaking activities. They certainly make a good drop here with intense berry fruit and top it with the famous Coonawarra silky, textured finish. Go for the Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Riesling!

Well known for its private functions and wedding affairs, Katnook Estate offers a friendly wine…read moretasting to the cellar door. At the entrance of the cellar door, look out for a deep pit which shows visitors the famous terra rosa soil profile. Information from the website shows that approximately 90,000 cases are made annually under the Katnook Estate (20 000 cases), Katnook Founder's Block (40 000 cases), Riddoch (10 000 cases) and export labels. Katnook Odyssey Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Prodigy Shiraz are both iconic wines under Katnook Estate's labels. Expect a premium drop when you pick up a bottle of Katnook Estate.

Fourth and final winery of the day because let's face it, any more than four or five and your no…read morelonger tasting, you're just drinking!! Combine this with the tough drink driving laws in Australia and it's not worth overdoing it (note: it NEVER is, regardless of local laws!!) Katnook was my absolute favorite stop of the day! In the parking lot there is a fenced of section of ground that has been excavated away to show the various geological layers of the region, giving visitors a good indication of why the Coonawarra region is so special (hint: it's the soil). Upon entering the rating room you are invited to take a seat at the bar and the server is happy to walk you through as many or as few of their available tasting bottles as you like!! This is the only winery we tasted that had various vintages and estate wines available to taste and we did vertical tastings of one or two wines as well as tasting of the same grape at various estates which really demonstrated how different the same grape can be depending upon growing conditions. Most surprisingly, your also welcome to taste their two premiere wines, Prodigy and Odyssey, a Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon respectively that retail for $100 and are Langton V classified as excellent and outstanding again respectively. Very happy with our experience at Katnook! Don't miss this one if your tasting in the area!!

As in all family run boutique wineries in Coonawarra, expect warm and friendly wine tastings…read moresessions here amidst fruit trees and grape vines. Run by Chris Raidis and his family, they offer member invite food tastings cooked in their much loved Hojas oven, paired with their home grown wines. Marked with the Billy Goat icon on their wine bottles, Raidis produces the following wine range to match your gastronomical affair: 2011 Cheeky Goat Pinot Gris- sweet notes of apple, pear, cinnamon, spices, and floral aromas. 2011 The Kid Riesling- A stready whiff of white flower, apple, spice, and stone fruit. 2009 Billy Cabernet Sauvignon- Breathe in aromas of caramel, spice, stewed berries, earthiness, cloves, mint, and leather.

Blest with generous picnic lawns overlooking a pond and pleasant rose bushes, enjoy a good drop…read morefrom the famous Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip. 70% of the wine planted here is Cabernet Sauvignon whilst Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay finishes the rest population of the 58 hectares. Some of the wines you'll find here are: 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon- steady aroma of ripe cassis, liquorice and spicy leather combine with fine smokey French oak. 2011 Cheeky Red- latest summer release, a perfect accompanying to seafood, poultry and pasta, enjoy this traditional rose from the grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker guru Pete Bissell who's carved a name in the industry in France, Italy, Russia and homeland Australia tweets regularly on @pjbll. Be sure to follow his winemaking adventures as he brings you the current updates at Balnaves.