Get yourself trackside this thursday

In what is a highlight on the South Australian racing and social calendar, the 42nd annual 36o South Coonawarra Vignerons Cup will run this Thursday at the Penola Racecourse.

With favourable weather conditions forecast (28oC) , it’s looking to be a cracker of a day for racegoers to hit the track and enjoy a day out.

The Coonawarra Vignerons Cup Marquee takes centre stage at the January 11 event, featuring as the place to be for the ultimate day of indulgence.

Organisers are preparing to entertain more than 500 guests, from all around Australia, in airconditioned comfort at a premium trackside marquee event, combining food, wine, fashion, fun and live racing action.

Coonawarra Vignerons events and marketing officer Heidi Guyett was looking forward to hosting the trackside celebrations and emphasised the uniqueness of the event.

“There are very few race day events, especially in country racing clubs, that can pull off an event as extravagant as the Coonawarra Cup Marquee,” Mrs Guyett said.

“The event starts with a sparkling breakfast, followed by a seated luncheon and afternoon tea, and combines all the best elements of a race day – fashions in the marquee, super sweeps, imperial auctions, live entertainment and of course a smorgasbord of Coonawarra’s premium wines.

“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.”

For the fifth consecutive year local brand 36oSouth (Tey’s Australia premium State SA brand) have partnered with the Coonawarra Vignerons to present the renowned event.

Marquee guests will be treated with a gourmet menu featuring the premium homegrown beef from the pastures of the Coonawarra region, to be paired with none other than Coonawarra’s world class wines.

No race day is complete without the Fashions on the Field – or in this case Fashions in the Marquee – which has become a hotly contested affair for guests over the years.

The stakes are again said to be high this year with guest judges Kellie Nobes and Ashlee Kalantarian partnering to select the most stylish male and female, along with Best Millinery with more than $800 worth of prizes to be won across four categories.

The 4th category, introduced last year, will be the People’s Choice award – with the title going to the contestant with the most public nominations!

Back by popular demand, Australian radio and TV presenter Jules Schiller will lead the event as MC in the marquee.

Another highlight of the day for marquee guests is the Imperial Auction, featuring eight 6-Litre bottles of wine, presented in a bespoke Jarrah box.

Wines ranging from 2002 to 2021 will featuring in the impressive auction catalogue, with the acclaimed ‘Best Cabernet in the World’ – Riddoch 2021 Pastoralist, anticipated to fetch a tidy sum following its recent string of accolades.

Riddoch Coonawarra chief winemaker Tim Heath will be on hand to present the imperial and looks forward to personally signing the prized bottle of wine for the lucky purchaser.

“The 2021 vintage is nothing short of exceptional,” Mr Heath said. “The person who takes home this award-winning wine, I hope will have great satisfaction in drinking it in the short term or even for a special occasion years down the track.”

The imperial auction will take place at approx. 2.45pm ACST on Thursday 11 January, with external bids accepted via prior registration. The Imperial Auction Catalogue is available to view on the coonawarra.org website.

A nine-race program will run on the day, with general admission tickets available at the gate for public. The Marquee package commences at 9.30am with the first race is scheduled to commence at 12.20pm.

For more information and to purchase Marquee tickets to the 36oSouth Coonawarra Vignerons Cup Day Marquee event head to coonawarra.org: https://coonawarra.org/coonawarracup2024/ and there are shuttle bus services running from the Penola/ Coonawarra township, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte and Robe.