Fine food & wine, fashion & fillies

THE 44th Annual 36oSouth Coonawarra Vignerons Cup has once again proven itself a standout on the Limestone Coast Summer event calendar, with the iconic event delivering a vibrant and successful day of racing, wine and celebration at the Penola Racecourse on Friday 16 January.

The Coonawarra Vignerons Marquee took centre stage at the summer race day, featuring as the ‘place to be’ for the ultimate day of indulgence with hundreds of guests gathering in the exclusive Platinum Marquee to celebrate one of the region’s most anticipated events.

Coonawarra Vignerons Event and Marketing Officer Heidi Guyett said the event exceeded expectations.

“The energy on course was fantastic from start to finish. The Friday format worked beautifully, the marquee was buzzing, and the feedback from guests, sponsors and participants has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mrs Guyett said.

The event attracted attendees from all over the country, with guests traveling to the wine region from as far afield as Darwin to join the festivities, featuring a sit-down luncheon showcasing locally sourced 36° South Beef, a six-hour Coonawarra wine package, live music, Fashions in the Marquee, and the ever-popular Imperial Wine Auction

Renowned Limestone Coast fashion specialists Kellie Nobes of Kellie Nobes Styling and Ashlee Kalantarian of A’EL ESTE Designs took on the role as judges for the Fashions in the Marquee contest, in what was a hotly contested competition.

“The level of effort and creativity displayed by all participants was truly remarkable,” said Ashlee Kalantarian. “It is always an absolute pleasure to judge this event along side Kellie, which keeps getting better year after year. The winners have set a new benchmark for elegance and originality.”

The 2026 ‘Fashions in the Marquee’ winners collectively took home $1000 worth of fabulous prizes and were presented with a sash for their respective category.

The tile of Best Dressed Female went to Limestone Coast local Sarah Eustace, with the 2025 winner Amber Garden of Darwin taking home Runner Up honours. Best Dressed Male went to Peter Guyett of Mount Gambier, while the Best Millinery title was awarded to Penola local Karly Honner. The People’s Choice category was hotly contested with the applause of the engaged audience determining the outright winner, with Heather Lorney of Whistle Post Wines.

Beyond the fashion, guests in the marquee enjoyed premium Coonawarra wines, delectable cuisine, and a spectacular view of the racetrack, cementing the Coonawarra Vignerons Cup as a standout event on South Australia’s social and sporting calendar.

The luncheon, catered by Adelaide-based catering company Blanco, was another highlight of the day. Featuring the premium product of major sponsor Teys 36oSouth Beef, the menu perfectly showcased the exceptional produce of the Coonawarra region. The pairing of this renowned beef with Coonawarra wines further celebrated the region’s diverse and premium offerings.

The height of the event was reached with the Imperial Wine and Barrel Auction capturing the attention of wine lovers in the marquee. Eight 6 Litre imperial wines from leading Coonawarra producers went under the hammer, attracting strong interest from collectors and reinforcing the region’s reputation for producing age-worthy, world-class wines. Each imperial was signed by the respective winemaker or producer on the day before being handed over to the purchaser

Balnaves of Coonawarra 2010 ‘The Tally’ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Wynns Coonawarra 2012 Michael Shiraz, and St Hugo 2012 Cabernet collectively topped the bids selling for $4000 and above. The remaining five wines averaged a sale price of $2,300, bringing the overall auction total to $24,000.

A nine-race program also delivered excitement for the punters, with the 36° South Coonawarra Vignerons Cup – Race 5 – taken out by Van Roy, ridden by Jockey Tom Madden.

Placings from 1st through to 3rd in Race 8 were rewarded richly in the Marquee, with the Coonawarra Vignerons Super Sweep awarding the successful first place ticket holder, Jackie Smith with $3000 in winnings thanks horse Shrama Princess crossing the line first. 2nd place runner Lady Lopera earned Rachale Triggs $1500, and third place runner Sanika saw Brenton James walk away with a tidy $500 cash.

Celebrations continued throughout the day with local Musician Shaun Brown keeping the energy going with a dance floor of epic proportion.

Coonawarra Vignerons Events and Marketing Officer, Heidi Guyett, was thrilled with the overall delivery of the event, which was well received from all in attendance

“It is so wonderful to be a part of this fabulous day. It has grown from such humble beginnings to feature as a major draw card event for our region. There is an immense amount of work that goes in to the preparations of an event of this magnitude, but it is very rewarding to see it all come together.”

“Not only is it a great day out, there’s also the added perk for punters to rub shoulders with Coonawarra wine royalty – the winemakers, viticulturists, winery staff and boutique winery owners. The event is a highlight for our entire wine community!” Mrs Guyett added.

The Coonawarra Vignerons extend their gratitude to all attendees, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the day.

PRESENTING PARTNER: 36°South Beef || DIAMOND SPONSOR: Grand Events Hire & Styling || PLATINUM SPONSOR: AP John Coopers || GOLD SPONSORS: Nutrien Ag Solutions Penola, Frost Boss, Bull Bros. + Hallet Concrete, South West Freight || SILVER SPONSORS: MCC Premium Label Solutions, Hahn Corporation, Mulbarton Compost, Hansen Design & Print, BOC Gases and Wattle Range Council || SUPPLIER SPONSORS: Veolia Mount Gambier, Vinpac International, Wagners Roses, Matthews Petrolium

The Coonawarra Vignerons now await the date confirmation of the 2027 event from Racing SA, and look forward to welcoming back guests for the 45th Annual Coonawarra Vignerons Cup next January.