Just you, your bestie(s) and an appetite for adventure…
Good times and great wines go hand in hand, and if your local bottle-o is as close as you’ve been to a Coonawarra Cab Sav then it’s time to take your taste buds on holiday.
But before setting your out-of-office and disappearing into vino utopia, you’ll also want to loosen your belt and ditch those bathroom scales. Every kilo counts, and travelling here on your tummy shouldn’t be taken lightly!
More than a mouthful.
Sure, wetting your whistle comes pretty easy around here. This is hallowed ground, and the rich soils of wine country are laced with legends who’ve been plying their trade for generations. If you’re keen to dig a little deeper (and maybe even get your hands dirty) there’s a barrel-load of possibilities around every corner.
At DiGiorgio Family Wines, tour the ancient terra rossa and 100-year-old vines before sipping from the barrel and feasting on Nonna’s famous meatballs. Oh, and how about a pasta making lesson and lunch with the family? Prego!
At Raidis Estate, a long lunch with winemakers includes a guided tasting, while their amazing vineyard dinner is totally next-level, with four sumptuous courses served under starry skies and matched to top-notch vino.
At Bellwether Wines, there’s always something to dig your teeth into, from private tours and tastings to making their famous sourdough and even helping in the garden – where you’ll bag an armful of organic goodies for your next meal. Budding vignerons can also combine glamping with grapes over one huge week of hands-on vintage action in March.
Turn the dining experience up a notch with lunch at Ottelia Tasting Room + Restaurant. Located in the heart of Coonawarra, this highly acclaimed family-run establishment showcases the finest local produce. It's the ideal spot to refuel between tastings - and you can't go past their irresistible woodfired pizzas!
On the Italian theme, Upstairs at Hollick have curated an authentic Italian menu that will have you drooling. Celebrating the simplicity and bold flavours of Italian food, their pasta dishes are crafted from scratch using traditional recipes. Paired with a glass of red and overlooking the picturesque vineyards, you can't go wrong.
Food, glorious food!
Shelve your diet plan. We’re home to some of the most sought-after produce in the country, and if you’re keen to find the fat of the land there’s lots to devour in between drinks...
At Pipers of Penola you’ll find some of the best chefs in the country. This Coonawarra icon is a mecca for foodies nationwide, dishing up anything from local lamb and wild venison to seared scallops and Spencer Gulf prawns. For something more casual, take a stroll to The Royal Oak Penola, whose locavore line-up will have you back for seconds.
For something completely out of the ordinary, Elementary by Soul Co in Mount Gambier is a truly immersive dining experience. With an inconspicuous exterior, guests enter a dim-lit, intimate space centerd around an open plan kitchen. Up to 23 diners can enjoy front row views of their six-course meal being prepared and chat to the chefs freely throughout the service. With most food locally grown and foraged, this palce is a must next time you're in town. Elementary was named in the Top 10 SA in the Gourmet Traveller's Annual Restaurant Awards (2024).
The legendary Mayura Station is home to the nation’s only full-blood Wagyu beef, and a genuine culinary celebrity in every sense. Feeding their highly prized cattle a high-fat diet of anything from chocolate and jellybeans to lollies and biscuits, the end result is a paddock-to-plate dining experience that’ll take you straight to carnivore heaven.
Meat freaks (and their less carnivorous friends) will also love The Barn Steakhouse in Mount Gambier for it’s menu of grain-fed goodness and over 700 different wines. Better still, it’s just a short stagger to their stylish on-site accommodation, making reaching for that second (okay, third…) bottle all the more palatable.
On the coast you’ll find all things aquatic, with Robe’s classy Sails Restaurant dishing it up in style. If you’re after a Southern Rock Lobster caught fresh this morning, this is the spot to do it, or for something more low-key just ‘do as the Robe locals do’ and visit Sky Seafoods to bring home the catch-of-the-day. Beachport’s The Lobster Pot also dishes up local crustaceans either fresh-cooked or live, but really... how about a Build-Your-Own Lobster sandwich or picnic box to take away? Twist our arm. Check out our Ultimate Seafood Experiences guide right here.
Consume by the calendar.
Of course, this is the land of plenty so our culinary calendar also tips the scales. With a smorgasbord of local wine events we'll keep you well fed and watered across the seasons.
Some of the more notable ones to plan for include the official Coonawarra Vignerons showcases, namely Coonawarra After Dark (April), Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers (July) and Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations (October).
A few local wineries are also known to turn it on, so just keep an eye on their socials. Raidis Estate’s Pizza and Tunes day is a staple throughout the year!
For more salt, vines and good times it’s also worth a trip to the Mount Benson and Robe wine regions for the Cape Jaffa Seafood and Wine Festival (January), where you’ll wash down some of the area’s most succulent local seafood with regionally distinct wines.
If you’re after something truly unique, hop on board a tour with Coonawarra Experiences and relish in a day amongst the vines. Along the way, you’ll unravel the riches of the region while setting your own pace, meeting local vignerons, tasting incredible tipple and feasting on local knowledge. After being chauffered to all the best wineries, end the day with a four-course degustation at Mayura Station where you'll be treated to priority seating at the Chef's table!
Alright. Food coma. Where to stay?
You’ve drunk all the wine and eaten all the food. Let’s finish what you started! At the end of a day’s gluttony there’s a comfy bed with your name on it, and some of the very best options start in the vines…
With panoramic vineyard views, sun-drenched timber floors and wall-to-wall glass, Coonawarra’s Punters Vineyard Retreat just oozes class and character. With four luxurious bedrooms and all the mod-cons, this is a place to bring your mates, or just soak in a romantic rendezvous.
Down the road, The Menzies Retreat is perched in a sea of vines, with Yalumba’s equally tasty Menzies Wine Room conveniently on site (open by appointment).
How about a million-star hotel? Sure, we’ve got you covered.
The amazing Bellwether Wines isn’t just plonked in the heart of Coonawarra wine country, it’s also home to some pretty amazing glamping tents to cosy up in after a big day of indulgence. Drift off to the crackle of the campfire and rise to the chatter of birds before hopping back in the saddle at the adjoining cellar door.
So you’re not a camper? That’s cool. Let’s try settling into a grand country manor instead. Mount Gambier’s super-refined and ultra-luxurious Delgattie Estate delivers boutique elegance that few other places can match. With cushy cribs and stellar city views, you’ll also score a private dining hall and billiard lounge just to dial up the decadence.
If you’re keen on the coast, it’s hard to go past Robe Lifestyle Properties whose chic holiday houses range from total beachfront luxury to quirky little retreats, each with their own distinct personality. With over thirty houses in the portfolio, expect stunning décor, the very best views and luxe furnishings to match even the pickiest traveller’s tastes.
If you're craving a little luxury, be sure to check out our guide to the best luxury lodgings in the Limestone Coast right here.
Savour the Limestone Coast
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