This small scale cellar door is often over-looked but Brands Laira makes a few of the most…read moreimpressive reds from the region. Brands is a family company which has, unfortunately become a subsiduary of the McWilliams brand in recent years. I suppose the benefit in this is that Brands continues to survive and there are lots of alternate and interstate wines available for tasting at this cellar door. They sell chocolate there too, hooray!

One of the modern cellar door features you'll find in Coonawarra and the only restaurant you'll…read morefind in a Limecoast winery. You can taste a wide range of Hollick wines here plus the Frizzante and Pinot Noir which are only available at the cellar door. The restaurant aptly named 'Upstairs at the Hollicks' lends a panoramic view of Hollick "Neilson's Block" vineyard and stunning Coonawarra landscape. Diners can only catch the winemaker in action in the barrel store as they enjoy their meal. This year the Hollick picked up an award for the Best Restaurant in a Winery at the 2011 Restaurant & Catering Awards! A must visit when you are touring the vineyards in this Limecoast region. Check out their Vineyard, Winery and Lunch tour on their website.

Well known for its private functions and wedding affairs, Katnook Estate offers a friendly wine…read moretasting to the cellar door. At the entrance of the cellar door, look out for a deep pit which shows visitors the famous terra rosa soil profile. Information from the website shows that approximately 90,000 cases are made annually under the Katnook Estate (20 000 cases), Katnook Founder's Block (40 000 cases), Riddoch (10 000 cases) and export labels. Katnook Odyssey Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Prodigy Shiraz are both iconic wines under Katnook Estate's labels. Expect a premium drop when you pick up a bottle of Katnook Estate.

Fourth and final winery of the day because let's face it, any more than four or five and your no…read morelonger tasting, you're just drinking!! Combine this with the tough drink driving laws in Australia and it's not worth overdoing it (note: it NEVER is, regardless of local laws!!) Katnook was my absolute favorite stop of the day! In the parking lot there is a fenced of section of ground that has been excavated away to show the various geological layers of the region, giving visitors a good indication of why the Coonawarra region is so special (hint: it's the soil). Upon entering the rating room you are invited to take a seat at the bar and the server is happy to walk you through as many or as few of their available tasting bottles as you like!! This is the only winery we tasted that had various vintages and estate wines available to taste and we did vertical tastings of one or two wines as well as tasting of the same grape at various estates which really demonstrated how different the same grape can be depending upon growing conditions. Most surprisingly, your also welcome to taste their two premiere wines, Prodigy and Odyssey, a Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon respectively that retail for $100 and are Langton V classified as excellent and outstanding again respectively. Very happy with our experience at Katnook! Don't miss this one if your tasting in the area!!

Second stop of the day and although the winery and grounds are gorgeous (think large leafy trees,…read morehuge expanses of grass and ponds filled with goldfish) the wines unfortunately didn't really impress me all that much although the price points were very reasonable. If I was spending the day wine tasting in the region again this is the place I would stop by at lunch time with a picnic (either pre-organized or bought at the winery) and then set up a blanket on the grass and enjoy a decent priced bottle of wine and the breeze with a loved one or good friends.

Rymill is a great Coonawarra Winery, in fact, it's one of the best!…read more I go here everytime I'm in the area. The stallions statue out the front of the uniquely designed building provides some amazing photo posing opportunities. The staff are happy for you to take your wine to the balcony and enjoy the view across the estate. There is a large space on the ground floor for tastings and a good selection of both whites and reds are usually available. Make sure you book if you're going with a group!

Excellent food and great reds to be had here. Showcassing the best of Coonawarra wines, pair your…read morereds or riesling with a delightful array of tapas or the lamb dish or my favourite Stuffed Roast Chicken breast with bacon, vintage cheddar, raspberries and sweet orange brandy sauce! Too good I tell ya! They have an excellent menu here, with fresh produce thrown in and with the best meat in town. The prices are affordable and parents take note, kids under 5 eat for free! Expect to see some Coonawarra beauties here from the numerous labels like Patrick 2010 Wrattonbully Riesling, 2008 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and more! A perfect place to pick up lunch or dinner when you're staying at a nearby B & B before you head out on the Coonawarra great wine adventure!

Third stop of the day and this winery like others was pretty quiet... Guessing Wednesday is not a…read morebusy tasting day here in Coonawarra which I guess makes a lot of sense since the area is 4+ hours from either Melbourne or Adelaide!! Zema was another friendly winery with a nice and relaxed atmosphere and a good number of wines available for tasting. Again, little to no tasting notes or history provided for any of the wines (starting to think this may be an Aussie thing) and tasting servings were tiny, barely a splash but we were invited to revisit anything we had a particular liking for. In the end, we bought a bottle of the Family Estate Shiraz which was bold in flavor and quite peppery and I'm very much looking forward to drinking a glass in the hotel in my pajamas later this afternoon!!

We love Zema Estate. We've been visiting here for years. The reds are extraordinary. It's a no…read morefrills place that weirdly never seems that popular. There's never much hype about the place despite the very serious quality of the wines which are reasonably priced. Perhaps it's because the family are usually a little brusque in my experience. There's not much ceremony or affability here. You just go in, taste their wonderful wines, don't engage in much small talk essentially due to indifference, purchase then leave. But as an old time customer, you'll thank the almighty when you pull the bottles out again as the wine is delectable. There's an honesty about the whole thing and it's more efficient than other cellar door visits. Long live Zema Estate. We love 'em.

You probably need 2-3 days to enjoy the bevy of cellar doors in Coonawarra plus take in the…read moredelights and sights of this amazing Limestone region. Grab your friends or bring your interstate friends and hire a bus, and discover the thrill of Coonawarra and the region's best loved reds. A family run winery using only estate grown vines, they produce the flagship Patrick of Coonawarra range, Estate range and Mother of Pearl range which carries a unique and maritime influence. Beautiful and exquisite drop- a must visit!!

I'm a wine geek - a buff, a connosieur if you will allow me to toot my own horn a little. Patrick…read more(used to be called Patrick T) is a stand-out boutique winery in Penola. If you're a fan of Australian style red wine this is unmissable, although they have a range which could easily be considered must-try for just about any palette. My friends love the Mother of Pearl range which appeals to their bargain hunting insticts, however I'm dedicated to the Patrick of Coonawarra label. Every Cab Sauv I've tried on this label has blown my socks off. The tastings are conducted around a semi-circular bar which was just magic for our group of 10 last time, as it created an intimacy and communal experience you just don't acheive in a conventional line. You may overlook this one in favour of the famous names in this region, but if it's about the wine this will definately make it into the itinerary!

As in all family run boutique wineries in Coonawarra, expect warm and friendly wine tastings…read moresessions here amidst fruit trees and grape vines. Run by Chris Raidis and his family, they offer member invite food tastings cooked in their much loved Hojas oven, paired with their home grown wines. Marked with the Billy Goat icon on their wine bottles, Raidis produces the following wine range to match your gastronomical affair: 2011 Cheeky Goat Pinot Gris- sweet notes of apple, pear, cinnamon, spices, and floral aromas. 2011 The Kid Riesling- A stready whiff of white flower, apple, spice, and stone fruit. 2009 Billy Cabernet Sauvignon- Breathe in aromas of caramel, spice, stewed berries, earthiness, cloves, mint, and leather.