CoonawarraThe Coonawarra wine region is in the bottom south east corner of South Australia, and is some 100 kilometers inland from the Great Southern Ocean. Penola is the main centre of the Coonawarra region and is nearly 400km from Adelaide, right up against the border with Victoria, and is in fact, at 450km, nearly as close to Melbourne.
The melodious sound of the name Coonawarra also has a suitably pleasant sense; in the language of the original inhabitants it means 'wild honeysuckle'.
The Coonawarra region has a history of doing things on a grand scale, beginning with its first European settlers, the Austin brothers, who in 1840 established a sheep run of over 100 square miles. This became Yallum Park, which was expanded still further after being bought by John Riddoch in 1861. Riddoch, towards the end of the 19th century, created the Penola Fruit Colony by subdividing some 2,000 acres of his Yallum Park property into small holdings of from 10 to 30 acres. His idea was to encourage people to settle and establish orchards and vineyards, which they did.
The Penola Fruit Colony was a great success and the vineyards established after 1890 prospered for many years. But as happened throughout Australia, the market for wine gradually reduced, leaving only some grape production for fortifieds. At one point the oversupply of grapes was so great that the government was offering a subsidy to land owners to pull up their vines and convert to dairy. Many did so, only to convert back again decades later, although the Redman family was one in the Coonawarra region that continued to produce table wine. The Coonawarra wine region is also noted for being one of the first in Australia to begin re-establishing its vineyards. It began doing this as early as the 1950s when Samuel Wynn established the Wynn estate around John Riddoch’s original cellars. Others, such as Penfolds, followed Wynn’s lead and the wine future of the Coonawarra region was assured.
The Coonawarra wine region is generally flat and at around 100 km inland from the sea relies on cloud cover as well as sea breezes from the Antarctic to moderate its climate. In general, Coonawarra's climate is cool, with cold, wet winters and frosts in spring. Summers are mild, while the autumns usually provide an extended ripening season. The result is a climate that encourages intense flavours in its grapes and is particularly suited to the growing of red varieties.
The most well-known wine of the Coonawarra region is undoubtedly its Cabernet Sauvignon, with such reds as Shiraz, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, and Merlot doing equally as well. White varieties are also plentiful and include Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon.
Among the Coonawarra region’s many wineries, Reschke Wines is based on a cattle grazing property that has been in the Reschke family for over 100 years. It was in 1989, that Burke Reschke began to plant vineyards, developing this side of the family operations until the Reschke estate now has some 360 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Merlot, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Although its history in Australia is not so long, the DiGiorgio family has an association with the making of wine that is very much longer. DiGiorgio Family Wines was established by Stefano DiGiorgio, who came from Italy to Australia in 1952. Stefano early began acquiring land in the Coonawarra region, even while working as far a field as Queensland. The DiGiorgio family now includes wife and mother Rita and their many children, while their operations cover sheep and cattle. It was in 1989 that the first four hectares of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon were planted. An experiment that was developed until over 125 hectares are now planted with such varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay. Part of DiGiorgio Family Wines is located on what was the Penola Fruit Colony, including some old shiraz vines that date from the plantings of that time.
Being so far from both Adelaide and Melbourne, the Coonawarra region does not rely of the day trippers that so easily reach the Barossa or Mornington Peninsula wine regions from Adelaide or Melbourne. Nevertheless, the Coonawarra region hosts events like the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebration and Barrel Auction, and the annual Coonawarra Cup at Penola Racecourse. Both are well worth the long distance tourist’s effort.
While in Penola the visitor can see Petticoat Lane, where can be viewed many historic timber and stone cottages. Not far from Penola town is Yallum Park, the Victorian mansion built by John Riddoch in the 1880s which still has many original features.
Penola’s other main claim to fame is its association with Australia’s only nearly saint, the now Blessed Mary MacKillop. It was here that she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph 1866 and still to be seen is the schoolhouse Mary MacKillop established and taught in. A Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre helps the visitor understand the nature of this great Australian.
Originally the Coonawarra region made its reputation on the production of great Shiraz but over time the Coonawarra region has developed so that it now best produces such classic varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc; these all have an intense fruit character and great flavours.
|
