REST AND RECREATION COONAWARRA

The Terra Rossa Wine Club is a fabulous cellar door restaurant and winebar in the main street of Penola! Enjoy a Coonawarra wine tasting while you dine on tapas, wagyu beef and local seasonal vegetables or classic pizzas. Have a beer in the protected courtyard, or eat Melbourne cafe-style out the front with a chai latte or an Americano! Owner and vigneron Steve Moignard invites you to enjoy the fruits of Comaum (pronounced "Com" - "Orm") and surrounding parishes, including Penola. New Chef Kerry Hutchins (previously Gambier Hotel) will delight you with cheeky specials such as Mary McScallops and Penola Beef Tournedoes from AUD30.00. Enjoy beautiful sunny lunches in the outdoor courtyard with white tapas plates and dry white Coonawarra wine, or relax with romantic candelit dining in the main restaurant with fine wines and excellent service. The Terra Rossa Wine Club has tapas and fine dining options, and uses local seasonal vegetables, herbs and fungi plus the best quality meats ... wagyu beef, quail, emu, kangaroo and black angus eye fillet, plus 10 tapas dishes and a children's menu. At the fully licensed winebar, taste Hundred of Comaum Wines or chat with friends.

Located in Church Street Penola, the Adam Lindsay Gordon bust is a bronze replica of the marble bust of Adam Lindsay Gordon in Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey, London. The bust honours the Australian poet and Penola the place he called home for 14 years. Adam Lindsay Gordon was author of the poetry collections Sea Spray and Smoke Drift (1867) and Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes (1870). He is the only Australian poet to be honoured with a bust in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.

St Marys Vineyard and winery is located 15 kilometres west of the Penola township in the Penola Wine Region of South Australia. St Marys Vineyard was the first Penola Winery with the vineyard planted on an island of terra rossa soil, that has been in the family since 1937. Barry and Glenys Mulligan are the family owners and operators of this small winery. They first planted grapes and then decided in 1986 to go ahead and make their own wine, specialising in red and white table wines. The attractive cellar door was opened in 1992. Groups please book in advance.

A number of cycling trails are available for you to enjoy showcasing the history, heritage, food and wine, and nature of the Penola and Coonawarra region. Rides range from historical rides, town rides, conservation rides, redgum and wine rides, a Yallum Park Victorian homestead ride along with surrounding area rides. Pick up a brochure from the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre.

Katnook Estate is one of the most esteemed domains in Australia's premier red wine district, Coonawarra. Its vineyards, planted in prime Terra Rossa soil, span 200 hectares in the heart of this comparatively small and remote region in the southeast corner of South Australia. From here come red wines that have contributed to Coonawarra's international reputation and white wines with equally distinctive attributes. Wines produced include both the Riddoch range and that named after the place itself, the prestigious Katnook Estate range.

Visitors can enjoy 16 hectares of beautiful scenery at Greenrise Recreational Reserve. Have a picnic, watch the birdlife or take a leisurely walk around the reserve. Located one kilometre south of Penola. Penola has gained significant recognition through one of its past residents. It was in Penola that Mother Mary MacKillop set up the Sisters of Mercy, an organisation which through her generous and lifelong good deeds has led to her canonisation as Australia's first saint. Penola is a town that has a unique yet rich history including the many wineries located throughout its localities. These vineyards and wide range of wineries has ultimately helped to diversify the pastoral economy of the area with an agricultural industry. Penola is a fantastic and thriving inland township that is will provide a warm and welcoming reception to all those who visit.

Visit the picturesque Coonawarra wine region and find Koonara Wines cellar door in the heart of Penola. It is a cellar door with a difference. Along with award-winning wine tastings, they offer a wide range of homewares, giftwares and local produce. They are the proud winner of a silver medal in the South Australian Tourism Awards 2006 - Tourism Wineries, and were recently awarded "5 Star Winery" in the James Halliday 2012 Wine Companion.

The Redman Winery offers you the chance to taste and buy some of Coonawarra's finest award-winning wines. Since first producing wines at Coonawarra in 1908, the Redman family have specialised in making only premium quality Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Merlot wines. You can also taste a selection of older vintage wines in the Cellar Door Sales area at the winery. Meet third generation winemakers Bruce or Malcolm Redman when you visit the winery, and help them celebrate the family milestone of over 100 years of winemaking in Coonawarra.

Parker Coonawarra Estates have achieved an unmatched reputation both within Australia and overseas where fine wines are revered for integrity and consistently superb quality. The Parker Estate Vineyard, situated at the southern end of Coonawarra was established in 1985 on the rich terra rossa soil over limestone of the Coonawarra. It carries Cabernet Sauvignon as the predominant variety with minor planting's of Merlot and Petit Verdot. Each vintage a small quantity of the best fruit is selected for the Terra Rossa First Growth label. If in any year the grapes do not reach the high standard set, then no Terra Rossa First Growth is made. In those years the wine is released under the Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon label. They now release each year a mere 500 cases of Terra Rossa Merlot only for cellar door sales, online and mail order.

Visitors are welcomed to Rymill Coonawarra by two majestic bronze stallions rampant to the Rymill family's distinctive winery, which produces elegant and classic wines made exclusively from grapes grown in its own Coonawarra terra rossa vineyards. As well as the renowned Cabernet Sauvignon, the sought after Sauvignon Blanc and the other wine varieties available for tasting, investigate The Bee's Knees and mc². While you are visiting the cellar door, explore the striking three-storey building, which offers vineyard panoramas and views of the working winery. You will be intrigued by the Rymill family history. Botanical representations of grape varieties and a series of detailed paintings depicting the seasonal vineyard activities by Robe artist John Hinge are exhibited in the cellar door for you to peruse while wine tasting. Locally produced olives and olive oil are also available. Groups welcome and wine tours available by appointment.

Mary MacKillop was canonised on 17 October 2010 in Rome. She became Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first saint of the Catholic Church. She met Father Julian Tenison Woods in Penola in 1860 and their dream began to found a new religious order to meet the educational needs of isolated and disadvantaged children. She started teaching in a stable and then moved to the Schoolhouse, which today is a heritage building that people can visit. At the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre there is an interpretive centre with major exhibitions explaining the lives of Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods, priest and scientist. An exhibition in the Schoolhouse explains the early teaching methods of the Sisters of Saint Joseph that they co-founded in Penola. Saint Joseph's Catholic Church is also on the site.

This 18- hole golf course located 10 kilometres south of Penola is flat but well wooded with tight fairways being set amidst natural bushland. The grass greens and fairways are well watered and lightly bunkered. Birds and wildlife live in the pleasant surrounds. Visitors are always welcome to join in competitions or social competitions. The club holds competitions on Saturdays for both men and ladies with a ladies competition also being held on Wednesday, and a men's competition on Thursdays. The Clubhouse is open on these days for a social drink after the game, and catering facilities and Clubhouse hire are available upon request. Par 72, 5,884 metres (men's), 5,232 (ladies). More information is available from the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre, 27 Arthur Street, Penola, phone 08 8737 2855, fax 08 8737 2251.

Nestled amongst the corporate giants of the Australian wine industry along Riddoch Highway in Coonawarra, is Zema Estate - a unique family owned and operated winery and vineyard. All aspects of their quality red wine production, from hand pruning and winemaking, right through to bottling and packaging are overseen by the family on the estate. The wine only leaves the property when sold; either through their own Cellar Door Sales outlet or through their national and international network of select wine distributors. Zema Estate's modern new Cellar Door facility is open for sales and tastings every day from 9am to 5pm and visitors are assured a warm and friendly welcome - that special brand of hospitality, which only comes from a small, family owned business.

Wander through historic timber and stone cottages that retain the charm and character of yesteryear. Petticoat Lane represents the oldest residential area of Penola. The lane's character is enhanced by red gum kerbing, rose plantings and lavender and herb farm featuring 60 varieties of lavender. Petticoat Lane is open daily. Please call the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre 08 8737 2855 or collect keys for the cottages at the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre.

Highbank's vines are grown without the use of chemical herbicides or insecticides, and have been farmed according to organic principles for more than 25 years. The family vineyards are located only on the highest banks of terra rossa soil, overlaying the cigar shaped limestone ridge of the renowned Coonawarra wine region. Owners Dennis and Bonnie Vice believe, as custodians of the land, that it is their responsibility to farm it carefully, harvesting the fruit gently and nurturing the wines, with as little intervention as possible through a very natural wine making process. If you want to get a taste of the Highbank wines, you need to phone in advance as the cellar door is only open by appointment. And plan to stay a while and soak up the experience at Highbank's romantic vineyard accommodation.

The Penola Fantasy Model Railway and Rose's Tearoom is home to the magical and colourful kingdom of Penolaraya. The kingdom, covering two house blocks, is only 30 metres from the main street of Penola in the south east of South Australia. The theme for the accredited tourist attraction is 'Colour, Magic, Myth and Legend'. The kingdom has hosted visitors from every state and territory in Australia and none have seen anything like this, making the layout the only one of its type in the country. We have also had visitors from every continent on the planet (except Antarctica) and all of these people have said the same as those in Australia. The Kingdom is basically divided into three realms; Rose's Tearoom; adjoining this in a large building is Merlin's World and outside visitors experience the Enchanted Water Gardens. A feature of Merlins World is the driving of trains by visitors on a large 'fantasy' layout. Its hands on fun for everyone. Castles are the main architectural theme, with some even floating on water! Penolaraya is designed for all ages to enjoy, so please bring your camera, so that you are able to record your Penolaraya experience.

Coonawarra is renowned as one of Australia's finest wine regions and is particularly known for producing world class red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. There are five wineries along the Coonawarra Wineries Walking Trail and all are open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. You will be warmly welcomed into each of the cellar doors as you taste some of Australia's finest Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties. The walking trail is just less than five kilometres. If you allow 20 minutes at each winery, the trail should take approximately three hours to complete. You may wish to factor in a lunch stop at Fodder or pre order a picnic basket from the Coonawarra Store to enjoy on the lawns at one of the wineries. For more information, please see website.

Raidis Estate is in the Coonawarra wine region. Its wines are created for good food and good friends. The wine list may not be long, but it includes three very impressive wines. The 2006 'Billy' Cabernet Sauvignon is the product of Raidis' home block, consisting of 15 year old vines on prime terra rossa soil in the heart of the Coonawarra wine region. Extended maturation in French Oak for 18 months ensures that this basked-pressed wine is ready to enjoy now. The 2008 'The Kid' Riesling is from the estate's southern block in the Coonawarra, where exceptional white wines are produced. This wine is no exception, and the strong fruit flavours are supported by just a hint of acid. Fresh and refined now, this wine is ready to drink but will develop further for up to ten years. The recently released 'The Pup' is a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is a young playful wine, with citrus aromas, especially lime, and hints of mango and passion fruit. A tropical burst of flavour on the palate develops into a crisp green apple finish that lingers.

Yalumba's commitment to Coonawarra was confirmed in March 2002 when The Menzies Wine Room and Vineyard was officially opened. Sited at the heart of the Yalumba Menzies Vineyard, the rammed earth building sits amidst a sea of vines on the terra rossa soil that is the very essence of Coonawarra. Surrounding it is an extensive native vegetation area where Yalumba has spent six years working to rehabilitate and rejuvenate the remnant native trees and grasses of the region.

Brand's Laira is the home of Coonawarra's oldest single vineyard Shiraz. Our vineyards are situated in the heart of the legendary 'Terra Rossa' region of Coonawarra. The 'Laira' legend dates back to 1893. In that year, a 28 hectare vineyard was established by Captain Stentiford, who named the property after a square rigged sailing ship trading around the Australian coast and New Zealand. It was believed the Laira carried the vines he first planted in 1893 and to this day, grapes from those original vines continue to go into our premium award winning wines. Come and visit us in our state of the art cellar door where you can taste our award winning wines. Peer into Eric Brand's shed where Brand's Laira wines were originally made for a glimpse of yesteryear.

Alexander Cameron (1810 - 1881) known widely as the king of Penola, is remembered as being the first squatter in the district and founder of the town. Cameron has been commemorated by a life-sized bronze statue by John Dowie, erected by public subscription in Church beside his Royal Oak Hotel.

Hollick Winery and Restaurant is located at Coonawarra. The Hollick family welcomes visitors to its modern cellar door facility. The complex incorporates a restaurant, 'Upstairs at Hollick', which showcases modern Australian cuisine using regional produce. The limestone building features red gum benches and stairs with floor to ceiling windows to allow views overlooking the vineyard and into the barrel shed. An extensive selection of Hollick wines are available for tasting at all times including wines that are exclusive to cellar door. As well as the outstanding wines on offer, visitors can purchase local produce, Hollick merchandise and fine glassware. Restaurant is open for lunch from 12pm to 2.30pm Wednesday to Sunday, and from 6.30pm on Saturdays for dinner.

We welcome you to Blok Estate Cellar Door where you'll feel right at home. Housed in a beautiful old country style homestead in the heart of Coonawarra, take advantage of our crackling fires in winter, or leafy picturesque gardens in summer. You'll want to spend time wandering around our gallery, enjoying a cheese platter from internationally known cheese master or a homemade wine taster's lunch in the cosy dining room or courtyard after tasting our full range of award-winning premium Coonawarra wines. The gallery features regional artists with works ranging from red gum sculpturing to landscape painting and modern styles. Honey, from our extended family is also available for tasting, 'fresh from the hive' - a special treat for the kids or grown-ups with a sweeter tooth. Our goal is to make visiting us and enjoying Blok Estate wines an experience to remember.

The Leconfield Winery and Cellar Door is situated amongst vineyards, four kilometres north of Penola on the main Coonawarra 'Terra Rosa' strip. Built in 1974 by Sydney Hamilton, and now owned by his nephew, Doctor Richard Hamilton, the distinctive Limestone winery building handles the production and contains the entire barrel storage for the company. There is a small and intimate tasting room inside the winery where visitors can sample the wines while watching the winemaking team at work.

This self guided walk or drive is a great way to explore the town and the marvels of Penola. Penola is widely recognised as an historic town and many of its buildings are listed on the South Australian State Heritage Register and identified by the National Trust. This walk includes such attraction as Petticoat Lane, with original cottages dating back to the 1850s, a lavender and herb farm, churches, galleries and much more. The Walk with History brochure and more information about the walk is available from the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre, 27 Arthur Street, Penola.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate is the district's pre-eminent wine producer, with the longest established vineyard sites. Under the guidance of winemaker Sue Hodder, Wynns produces an annual collection of red and white wines acclaimed for their consistent quality and depth of flavour, including two flagship reds - John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon and Michael shiraz.. Visitors can enjoy tastings of current and back vintage wines in Wynns' tasting room and new interpretive centre. Wines by the glass, cheese platters, espresso coffee plus an extensive offering of back vintage wines and magnums for sale make a visit to Wynns' cellar door a must. Also try your hand at out unique 'Make Your Own Blend' (MYOB) tour experience, where you can take a personalised bottle home of your favourite blend. This is a fun and interactive tour where you become the winemaker for the day. Bookings required. Cost AUD55.00 per person. Groups welcome by prior arrangement.

Penola Conservation Park protects a remnant of the River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) lined swamps that were widespread in the southeast of South Australia. Located 10 kilometres west of Penola, this park contains a wide variety of plant associations and bird habitats, with 370 plant species and 97 bird species being recorded. Spring is the best time to visit the park to see native plants in flower, however there is always something of interest to see or hear. The car park has two rustic picnic tables formed from giant River Red Gum trees. You can sit and enjoy the quiet or explore the park along the nature trail. The two and a half kilometre trail takes you through several different plant associations and over the swamp across a boardwalk. Interpretive signs explain some of the features along the walk. Pets are not permitted.

The Coonawarra Centenary Sculpture in the town's park commemorates the beginnings of the fruit colony. One section of the park is known as the sculpture park because in 1991 a sculpture made from red gum and limestone called the Terra Rossa Tree Wall was unveiled along with three bronze busts. The first bust is of John Riddoch the founder of Coonawarra. The second bust is of David Wynn the revitalizer of Coonawarra and the third is of Bill Redman the sustainer of Coonawarra. On the wall of the public toilets a map of the wineries has been placed along with the history of Coonawarra and a map of the original fruit blocks.

Majella makes some of the finest wines in Coonawarra. Famed for our reds, we have also gained a reputation for our wonderful Sparkling Shiraz and more recently for one of Coonawarra's finest Rieslings. By late 1995 we realised that Majella needed a Cellar Door Sales and office facility, so Mount Gambier architect Stephen Herbert was charged with the responsibility of coming up with a concept that looked good, was functional and didn't cost an arm and a leg. Our production level soon reached the stage where our own winemaking facilities were warranted, and enough high tech winemaking equipment was installed to keep us poor for years to come!

Yallum Park is said to be the best preserved Victorian House in Australia in its original condition. Situated eight kilometres west of Penola on the Millicent Road is the magnificent two story homestead, built for John Riddoch in 1878-1880. Original William Morris wallpapers, gasoliers, acid-etched and stained glass windows, Italian marble mantlepieces, golf leaf, antique furniture and a number of extremely old pieces of glass, porcelain, silver and brass are some of the features. All decorations date from 1879. The garden, established in 1880, is planted with trees from all parts of the world. Purchased by the Clifford family in 1914, the homestead is still retained as a private farmhouse and is open for public view by appointment. Please call for tour times. Cost and admission times are subject to change.

The DiGiorgio Family has left no stone unturned in their pursuit of excellence in viticulture at their Lucindale and Coonawarra vineyards in the Limestone Coast, which is highly regarded for their production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. The family believes that you cannot make great wine from ordinary grapes. The commitment to lower yields and fruit flavours is the secret to the production of their range of wines. The DiGiorgio family had a vision to produce the highest quality wines from their extensive vineyards (140 hectares) and in March 2002 acquired the second oldest winery in Coonawarra. This has provided the family with a wonderful production facility and a centrally located cellar door in Coonawarra. The winery holds enormous importance within the "winescape" of Australia. It has a blend of new and old technology allowing the family to produce premium hand crafted wines.

Bowen Estate is owned and run by the Bowen family. Established in 1972, the first vintage from Bowen Estate was in 1975. Tasting and cellar door sales facilities were opened to the public in 1977.

Our 33 hectares of vineyards are situated on beautiful Terra Rossa soil in Coonawarra. In the vineyard at Bowen Estate, all vines are individually pruned by hand to ensure each vine produces maximum quality. Hand pruning enables us to restrict the crop size, resulting in wines that are fuller in body and have greater depth of colour and longevity.

All Bowen Estate wines are made on site at Coonawarra, using only the estate's grapes. All the varietal wines are one hundred percent true to varietal.

Buses and groups by appointment only.

Associated with the region since 1855, our family established its vineyard on the Coonawarra's Terra Rossa strip in 1975, and produced its first wines under the Balnaves of Coonawarra label in 1990.

Our unique cellar door overlooks a pond, and is surrounded by over 1,000 beautiful rose bushes. Relax on the deck or use our lawns to enjoy a picnic lunch and try our award-winning wines by the glass.

We are committed to 'hands-on' involvement and look forward to sharing our passion with you.

Penley Estate was established in 1988, when the three Tolley Children, Ang, Bec and Kym continued the winemaking heritage of their families, Penfolds and Tolley. The traditional elements of Penley Estate have been a driving force in Penley’s existence, creating rich and robust wines. Our vineyards located in the famous Coonawarra winemaking district in the South East of the state of South Australia. Coonawarra is the Limestone coast area of South East of South Australia. It features cool, temperate climate with maritime influences from the sea some 60km away. The soils are rich Terra Rossa soils over limestone. The combination of climate, soil and management is the unique signature of Coonawarra.

Penley Coonawarra Estate wines reflect the cool climate which creates fresh and more vibrant red currant and blackberry (cassis like) flavours. These vibrant berry fruits with a touch of minerality and a hint of mint set the resultant wine flavours aside from the more over ripe warm climate wines. These climatic conditions also create well-structured wines of fine tannins, acidity and flavour.