thumb|250px|Map of South Australia. The Coonawarra region just north of Penola.<!-- Placeholder awaiting a better map of the region-->

The Coonawarra wine region is a wine region centred on the town of Coonawarra in the Limestone Coast zone of South Australia. It is known for the Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced on its "terra rossa" soil. The name has been said to have originated in Bindjali, an Aboriginal language, meaning "wild honeysuckle". It is about south-east of Adelaide, close to the border with Victoria.

History

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The Aboriginal Australians living in the area when Europeans arrived were the Bindjali people, although this meaning has also been ascribed to Penola by the same source.

The first vines were planted by John Riddoch at Yallum, South Australia in 1890. Only the Redman family of Rouge Homme continued to produce table wine during this period, during which Shiraz was the main grape variety grown. Other wineries who use fruit from the Coonawarra include Yalumba and Penfolds.

See also

  • South Australian wine

Citations and references

Citations

References

  • Coonawarra Vignerons Association webpage