Vineyards

Benefiting from the cool climate of its far southerly location, the Coonawarra region is now home to some of the most expensive viticultural land in Australia. It has played a key part in the development of Australia's reputation around the world for producing regionally distinctive fine wines.

What makes Coonawarra so special is the terra rossa, or red earth, soil found in the region. This consists of about a foot and a half of red clay loam that lies over a limestone shelf. Below the limestone lies a permanent water table.

The vines stress to reach this water and consequently produce less leaf and more concentrated fruit, creating impressively focused flavours in the resulting wines.

Coonawarra produces most of Australia's great cabernet sauvignons. Fruit flavours are concentrated and luscious, and the wines delicious and complex with great cellaring potential.