Wine regions Australia - Coonawarra

Coonawarra   South Australia

With its terra rossa soil and passionate winemakers, the Coonawarra region can't help but make fine wine. With Cabernet Sauvignon the undoubted star, the region is renowned for the production of some of Australia's greatest red wines.

Coonawarra lies within South Australia's Limestone Coast Zone. The region nudges the Victorian border 380km south east of Adelaide.

The climate is Mediterranean with cooling maritime influences off the Southern Ocean. Rainfall is low especially during the growing season, necessitating irrigation.

The region lies on a ridge 59m above sea level. The surrounding country is flat, frosty and poorly drained.

Coonawarra was entered onto the Register of Protected Names after an eight year battle over boundaries. The fight was protracted because the name Coonawarra is world famous and because that fame comes from the earth. The famous Terra Rossa is red-brown topsoil laid over a thin layer of calcrete (calcium carbonate) sitting on a white limestone base. This soil gives the wine its terrior or flavour of the soil. Black soil areas are interspersed amongst the Terra Rossa and these soils produce quite different wines. And there lay the difficulty, how to impose bureaucratic neatness on nature.

Coonawarra has become synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon. It's the star performer on the Terra Rossa. Overall the region produces quality reds from Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Merlot grapes. White grape varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Semillon.

The first vineyard was planted in the 1880s at Yallum, a property established by John Riddoch primarily for sheep grazing. The region did not establish its reputation as a viticultural area until the 1950s when Wynns and Penfolds purchased acreage on the back of a resurgence in the table wine market. Investment by large and small companies led to expansion, securing Coonawarrra's status as a great wine region which was founded on the pioneering work of vignerons like John and Owen Redman of Rouge Homme.

Tourism, although limited by the region's isolation from a major city is fostered by events such as the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebration and Barrel Auction and the annual Coonawarra Cup held at the Penola Racecourse.

Harvest time: late March to early May

Vintage Report 2007

The Coonawarra Vignerons and Grapegrowers are pleased to report that warm and dry ripening conditions resulted in the 2007 vintage producing good fruit quality, however the yields across all varieties were well below average.

It was a difficult growing season with severe spring frosts (which affected 60% of the region), coupled with unusually dry spring and summer conditions. A drenching rainfall in early January revitalised the vines, restoring soil moisture which allowed the vines to develop flavour and colour in the grapes.

All white varieties are showing a good balance of acid and fruit with elegant fruit characters particularly Sauvignon Blanc which enjoyed the benefit of cool nights and warm days in the lead up to harvest displaying distinct varietal flavours and characteristics.
 
Although flowering and set was slightly uneven, berry size remained small, and combined with the dry conditions, the red varieties matured the grapes with no disease pressures. Cabernet Sauvignon with strong flavour and spicy tannins is particularly pleasing. Merlot enjoyed the seasonal conditions and ripened beautifully with soft varietal expression and exceptional colour. Shiraz with flavour ripeness developed generous rich fruit.
 
A low yielding vintage, with warm ripening conditions, resulted in good quality, clean fruit showing intense fruit characters with the potential for admirable quality wines.

Coonawarra Vignerons Association

Sites with more information:

• Coonawarra Australia's Other Red Centre
• Limestone Coast South Australia