The Coonawarra Wine Region plays host to a full calendar of exciting events throughout the year. From Summer to Autumn, Winter to Spring, Coonawarra's Wineries are actively involved in delivering a range of events to showcase their premium wines, for which Coonawarra is renowned, along with the fabulous produce of the Limestone Coast region.

Discover the annual events of our region, with this overview of the feature events and festivals hosted throughout the year.

For more events and to see what's on when you're visiting, be it this weekend or later in the year, check out our live events calendar.

Held in January at the picturesque Penola Racecourse, the Coonawarra Vignerons Cup is one of the major tourist drawcards to the region.

Each year, the Coonawarra Vignerons hosts a premium trackside marquee, welcoming over 600 guests from all parts of Australia to enjoy a fully catered day out featuring gourmet food offerings with a smorgasbord of Coonawarra premium wines, live entertainment and thoroughbred racing action.

The Marquee event is known as one of the most extravagant race day events in South Australia, starting with a sparkling breakfast and continuing on for a day full of food, fashion and fun, with a live imperial wine auction a highlight of the day.

THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2024
📍 PENOLA RACECOURSE

Bringing the whole Coonawarra Community together, the Vintage Launch is a celebration of the upcoming harvest. Hosted by the Coonawarra Vignerons, it heralds the new year, as growers and producers farewell to the season that was.

From the cellar hands, vineyard workers and machine operators, to lab managers, winemakers and vignerons.... and everybody in between, it is a significant time of the year and an occasion to be celebrated!

THURSDAY 16 MARCH 2023, 10AM
📍 COONAWARRA SIDING

When darkness falls the fun begins!

Experience the thrills, excitement and the lights of vintage as Coonawarra wineries open their doors to visitors at the peak of grave harvest (vintage) across two nights in April.

Join in the annual grape stomp at DiGiorgio Family Wines, experience ever popular Greek Feast at Raidis Estate, enjoy top-notch wines, fabulous foods and dance the night away as harvesters buzz around the vineyards well into the night.

Celebrate the region’s rich history and artistic talents over four days in May with working artists, performances, exhibitions, workshops, walking tours, fabulous food and fine wine.

Celebrating the literary and arts heritage of Penola, partnered with Coonawarra’s fine wines and regional premium produce, the event is one of regional Australia’s leading arts festivals, drawing artists and visitors from across the country.

Coonawarra Vignerons are proud Festival Partners of the PC Arts Festival

Visit Coonawarra during July and be treated to a rare opportunity to taste and buy “back vintage”, cellared wines.

Experience for yourself the superior ageing ability of Coonawarra wines, as wineries dust off rare cellar treasures that are otherwise not available for day to day tasting. Choose from over 50 events and activities, including exclusive wine tastings, degustation dinner events, long lunches, chocolate & wine pairing, cooking classes and high tea sessions. All aim to showcase the breadth of beautiful wines, our emerging food credentials, and the warmth and hospitality that is so … Coonawarra.

Free and ticketed tastings and events 1-31 July in various venues.

Each year in August, Coonawarra's Producers set off around the country to bring the metro-centres of Australia a taste of Coonawarra.

Hosted by the Coonawarra Vignerons this series of events showcases over 100 wines, from up to 28 Coonawarra producers in 5 capital cities. The Wine Tasting Roadshow events are a fabulous opportunity for and wine lovers, trade and media alike to meet the makers and taste first-hand the premium wines of the Coonawarra Wine Region.

2023 ROADSHOW SCHEDULE

Friday 11 August - Adelaide
📍 National Wine Centre

Sunday 13 August - Perth
📍 Aloft Perth

Wednesday 16 August - Melbourne
📍 Arts Centre Melbourne

Friday 18 August - Sydney
📍 Sydney Masonic Centre

Sunday 20 August - Brisbane
📍 The Calile Hotel

Each year in October the Coonawarra Wine Region celebrates its iconic wine variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, with a month long wine festival.

Featuring a program of over 60 events, the festival boasts 5 weekends of bespoke tasting experiences and special events, including an Ambrose Golf Day, combined regional tasting (featuring Coonawarra Cabernets from the cellar alongside the current release), winemaker dinners, Sunday sessions and an iconic masterclass.

Wine, dine, blend, taste and graze your days away with fabulous food & wine events, music, winery tours, family activities and more at cellar doors and wineries across the region.

There is barrel loads of fun to be had with free and ticketed tastings and events happening all month long!

For lovers of golf and wine, the annual Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations Golf Day is a guaranteed great day out.

Held on the Friday of the SA Labour Day October Long weekend, teams of 4 are invited to register for an all-inclusive Ambrose event at the picturesque Penola Golf Course. Enjoy fabulous food and world-class wines, as teams hit the green with the who’s who of the Coonawarra Wine Region.

Hosted by the Coonawarra Vignerons, the event is proudly presented by the Limestone Coast's SAFM + TripleM radio stations.

Following the success of Cooanwarras first Running Festival in November 2022, the Coonawarra Running Festival will return in 2023.

Offering 1km, 6km, 12km and half marathon events, along with a 'wobbly winery walk' the event is an all-inclusive, all-abilities fundraising event for Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation.

In addition to the running/walking events, a show n'shine vehicle display and producers/ homemakers market runs in conjunction with the event. providing entertainment for all ages and an opportunity to enjoy Coonawarra's fine wines.

Coonawarra Vignerons is a proud sponsor of this event.