There is nothing quite road tripping to some of South Australia’s most gorgeous wine regions in Spring. The vines are in budburst, the flowers are blooming, the warmth of the sun brings us out of our winter hibernation, and a wine festival is the perfect catalyst to bring these amazing things together.
The Coonawarra Wine Region knows all about giving us a reason to get out and about, and it’s set to host the anticipated Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations from 1st October through to 20th October.
It also happens to line up perfectly with the Spring School Holidays, which run from September 28th to October 13th.
Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations, which is highlight of the South Australian food and wine event calendar, will feature a rich program of over 50 events across the region’s cellar doors and wineries. The festival aims to celebrate and showcase the region’s signature variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its elegance, drinkability, and aging ability.
This year, the celebrations have been adjusted to span three weeks, packed with diverse activities featuring Coonawarra’s Cabernet in various forms.
Heidi Guyett, the Events and Marketing Manager for Coonawarra Vignerons, shared that there will be numerous opportunities for wine aficionados, food enthusiasts, and families to engage with the region and enjoy its offerings. She said, “Coonawarra has long held a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest Cabernet wines, be it as a single variety, blend, sparkling wine or otherwise. The program includes over 50 food and wine experiences, designed to celebrate, educate, and activate one’s senses.”
The events include high-end wine dinners, casual pizza days, vertical tastings, blending sessions, winery tours, masterclasses, and long lunches. Guyett highlighted the unique aspect of the celebrations that allows attendees to meet the makers and families behind the wines. “Aside from tasting the exquisite wines, festivalgoers can dine and meet with winemakers, viticulturists, and boutique winery owners, go behind the scenes, and even sample upcoming releases, all while learning about the passion behind Coonawarra’s famed wines,” she added.
The October Long weekend marks the first weekend of celebrations with the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations Golf Day opening proceedings Friday October 4th, followed by a weekend of family fiesta themed activities to coincide with the spring school holidays.
Popular long weekend events include Pizza and Tunes at Raidis Estate, Turk Bey Street Food at Katnook Estate, Table of 10 Dinner at Bellwether Winery and Family fiesta at Majella Winery, along with a series of food and wine tasting experiences. Many of the wineries have expansive and stunning lawn areas which are perfect for the kids to have a run around while the adults kick back and relax with a glass of wine.
One noteworthy addition to the 2024 program is a performance by Australia’s popular singing cook, Michelle Pearson, at Brand’s Laira Coonawarra. Her show, Comfort Food Cabaret with a touch of Cabernet, combines live music, cooking, and storytelling. “We are very excited to have Michelle return to Coonawarra as a part of the festival,” Guyett stated. “Audiences will enjoy live music and storytelling that celebrate South Australian produce and award-winning wines.”
Another new event, the DOWN TOWN FIESTA, will take place at the Penola War Memorial parklands, featuring food, wine, and music accessible to all ages, along with children’s activities. Visitors will have no problems filling their itineraries on the third and final weekend of the Cabernet Celebrations with winery events galore, including the ever popular sparkling cabernet breakfast at Balnaves of Coonawarra, International Cabernet Masterclass hosted by the Coonawarra Vignerons and Combined Wineries Cabernet Decade[nce] Tasting where 15 Coonawarra producers will come together and showcase a current release alongside a wine 10 years or older, followed by a dinner at award winning Ottelia Restaurant.
The Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations are supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission through the Regional Events Fund. Visitors can access the region easily with a shuttle bus hop-on, hop-off service available each weekend, and can book their tickets online in advance.
For more information and to view the complete schedule, visit the festival’s page at https://coonawarra.org/cccoctober-2024/.
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