Foraging & Feasting.
A burgeoning epicurean scene awaits those who venture here, featuring six incredible wine regions, unique regional dining experiences and a growing number of producers serving up fresh delicacies.
Six incredible wine regions.
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.
For wine aficionados, there are six great reasons to keep coming back to the Limestone Coast.
World-famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and with over 21 cellar doors packed into a compact wine region, Coonawarra is the perfect sized wine-tour destination.
At Padthaway, the unique terroir produces some of the finest Shiraz and Chardonnay in the country, with a renowned flavour and intensity that reflects the richness of its soils. In between corduroy rows of vines you’ll find ample spots to kick back with a glass of the finest and enjoy a little down-time.
The Mount Benson wine region is one of the Limestone Coast's newest official wine regions, boasting more than 600 hectares of vines and seven cellar doors. The moderate climate, together with its loam-based terra rossa soil produce premium Cabernet, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Robe wine region is new and exciting. Robe has always been a popular coastal getaway but in the mid 1990s its vines started to flourish. Now the region is making up for lost time and features a range of boutique wineries.
No longer the wine industry's best kept secret, the Wrattonbully wine region bats well above its weight, and is finally becoming recognised for its stunning red varietals.
While plenty of grapes are purchased by vineyards in the Coonawarra and Padthaway, the Mount Gambier wine region is also home to a range of boutique wineries that use the grapes in their own varieties.
With character-laden wines and stories as distinctive as the terroir underfoot, travellers seeking connection over big bold reds and elegant whites need not look any further.
Breweries & Distilleries.
In case you didn’t know, Gin’s a thing and hey... we can’t get enough of it!
St. Mary’s Wines in Penola has been busy transforming their age-old vineyard into a spirit-lover’s sanctuary. This family-owned boutique winery recently caught the judges’ eye at the 2021 GinNation Awards, which was no surprise to locals.
Hidden away on private farmland south of Mount Gambier, the crystal-clear limestone-filtered water in the Kilsby Sinkhole has become a key ingredient in spirit newcomer Sinkhole Gin.
Craft beer lovers will also find plenty of effervescent amber goodness all across the region, starting with Robetown Brewery and Loophole Brewing Co. at Cape Jaffa Wines and Little Rippa Brewing Co. and Woolstore Brewery also pouring in Mount Gambier.
Local Foodies.
As one of South Australia's most premium and diverse agricultural regions, the Limestone Coast offers clean and pure foundations to grow gourmet goodness, with fruit and vegetables, meat, fish (including the legendary Southern Rock Lobster) and dairy produce just a few of our local specialties.
You'll also find fresh produce is at the heart of our many restaurants, cafes and cellar doors, along with providores like the Limestone Coast Pantry and regular farmers markets across the region.
Burgeoning Regional Dining Scene.
Loosen those belt buckles folks. When you come to the Limestone Coast, it's time to shelve your diet plan...
If fine dining with a stunning city backdrop sounds like your bag, you’d be tough-pressed to go past Thyme at The Lakes, which is magnificently perched on one of the highest points in town.
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 roast Jerusalem artichoke tortellini to seared whiting and Coffin Bay oysters.
For something more casual, take a stroll to The Royal Oak Penola, whose locavore line-up will have you back for seconds.
The legendary Mayura Station is home to the nation’s only full-blood Wagyu beef, and a genuine culinary celebrity in every sense.
If you've still got an appetite for more, feast your eyes on the Limestone Coast's Best Lunch Spots with a View or maybe even get a pizza fix with A Slice of Italy on the Limestone Coast.
Stories & Travel Tips.
WE KNOW THERE IS NOTHING LIKE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING A HOLIDAY, SO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE CAREFULLY CURATED STORIES AND TRAVEL TIPS TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP!