Community invited to celebrate start of vintage

The sounds of bagpipes will provide the soundtrack for the 2024 Coonawarra Vintage Launch as the tradition, which was only revived last year after a significant absence from the calendar, continues this year on March 6.

The bagpipes provide a nod to the past – the region’s founding father John Riddoch – and fittingly it is Coonawarra icon and Coonawarra Vignerons patron Doug Balnaves who will again bring his expertise to that role.

The launch will take place at the Coonawarra Railway Siding with community members, industry stakeholders, including grape growers, cellar hands, vineyard workers and machine operators, to lab managers, winemakers and vignerons, and dignitaries all on the invite list to raise a glass to the upcoming harvest.

Aside from the bagpipes, the launch event will also feature a traditional grape stomp and the christening of the new vintage with a bottle smash.

Coonawarra Vignerons executive officer Hugh Koch was looking forward to celebrating this significant occasion, and emphasises the importance of vintage, not only to the Coonawarra community, but for the entire district.

“Vintage in Coonawarra is more than when a wine’s grapes are harvested,” Mr Koch said. “It heralds the anniversary of a new year in Coonawarra, where we reflect and say goodbye to the previous season.

“As a community it is the commencement of the economic driver that sustains our economy, creates our jobs, gives us our services, drives our visitation, and continues to put us on the map as one of the most pre-eminent wine regions of the world.”

Coonawarra Vignerons president Dan Redman was anticipating great support from the local community.

“Last year we reintroduced the Vintage launch to the region. It celebrated the significance of the harvest bringing the whole community together, working in unison to ensure that grapes are picked for optimum quality and that winemaking teams can produce wines of a world class standing,” Mr Redman said.

“The Vintage Launch event will allow us to reflect on our past years, the people that have laboured and led the development of Coonawarra and acknowledge our Coonawarra Vignerons Patrons. It will also highlight the importance of Coonawarra’s contribution not only the local economy, but the national economy.”

During vintage, the region welcomes workers from across Australia and the globe, to assist and experience grape picking, pressing, crushing and production in some of the nation’s most well renowned wineries.

Community members are invited to attend the V24 Launch ceremony, which will take place at the Coonawarra Railway Siding, Giles Road, at 10am on Wednesday, March 6. The ceremony will be followed by a morning tea.

Guests are requested to register their attendance via Humanitix – https://events.humanitix.com/2024-coonawarra-vintage-launch