Taking our world class wines on the road

The wines of the Coonawarra will be in the spotlight during a national showcase this month as its producers prepare to hit the road for the Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow. The national event series will be held in five capital cities, with up to 30 Coonawarra producers traveling across the country to offer wine enthusiasts the best of the region.

Spanning two weeks, the tour will feature tasting events in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, expecting more than 1500 wine lovers to attend nationwide. Coonawarra Vignerons events and marketing officer, Heidi Guyett, expressed excitement about the star-studded line-up of Coonawarra wineries participating in the events. Iconic brands such as Wynns Coonawarra, Redman Wines, and Katnook Estate, known for their premium red wines, will be presenting their finest drops at the roadshow.

Attendees will have a wide selection of wines to taste, with anywhere between 100 and 190 wines on the lists at the various events, offering an impressive range of varieties and styles. Coonawarra’s famous red wines, including Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, will be showcased, along with an outstanding selection of the region’s white wines, known for their crispness and aromatic profiles, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and more.

During the roadshow, attendees will not only be served by wine representatives but will also have the opportunity to interact with winemakers, owners, and family members of the brands, allowing for a more intimate experience. This close interaction will enable consumers and wine trade professionals to ask questions about the wines and gain insights into the winemaking process and cellaring techniques.

The Coonawarra wineries are enthusiastic about presenting their products to a national audience and value the chance to meet their customers firsthand, building on existing relationships and forging new connections. Brian ‘Prof’ Lynn of Majella Coonawarra, a long-time attendee of winery roadshows, described the Coonawarra Roadshow as a highlight in the event calendar for the Coonawarra Wine Industry, an institution of wine promotion for the region that everyone loves.

The 2023 Wine Tasting Roadshow will feature wines from the highly regarded and consistent vintages of 2018-2022, with wineries encouraged to bring along a mystery bottle, typically a back vintage or museum wine, to showcase the age-ability of Coonawarra’s reds. Among the wines on offer will be the recently acclaimed ‘Best International Cabernet’ 2021 – The Pastoralist Cabernet Sauvignon from Riddoch Coonawarra, highlighting the elegance, identity, and approachability that Coonawarra Cabernet is known for.

Tickets for the event are on sale and already in high demand, with 50% of tickets pre-sold across all states. Since there is only one event in each city, wine enthusiasts are urged to secure their tickets promptly to avoid disappointment. Each ticket, priced at $75, includes event entry, a souvenir Plumm Wine glass, three hours of unlimited wine tastings, the chance to meet the makers, and complimentary food offerings. To view the lineup for the closest city and book tickets, interested individuals can visit www.coonawarra.org.