Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers 1-31 July 2026
There are dozens of events to savour at the annual Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers wine and food festival from 1-31 July 2026. Here's some of the highlights.
Daily 1-31 July
9am-4pm Monday-Friday, 11.30am-4pm Saturday-Sunday
Visit Cellar Dwellers at Balnaves of Coonawarra throughout July and enjoy a tasting of Balnaves 2016 Cabernet Merlot, released exclusively for Cellar Dwellers. Rich, elegant and beautifully aged, it is the perfect wine for fireside evenings on a cool winter’s night. Your $5 tasting fee will be donated to the RFDS for all wine tastings. Bookings recommended for groups of more than six. Call Natalia or Tilli on 08 8737 2946 or email cellar@balnaves.com.au.
11am-2.30pm
Seasonal Slow Cooks invites you to warm up by the fireplace with a tasty bowl of slow cooked soup and locally made artisan sourdough, matched with a glass of Parker Estate’s wine. The paddock to plate menu changes each week. Cost: $35 with glass of wine. Call 0439 986 830 or email info@parkercoonawarraestate.com.au
10am-4pm
Try a self-guided Chocolate & Wine Experience at Patrick of Coonawarra. Here you'll pair a tasting of their current release Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon, with Red Cacao Chocolate and notice the differences with milk, raspberry and dark chocolate to melt in your mouth. Cost $25 per person. Book your tickets here.
10.30am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm
What's A French Classic With French Inspired Wine Pairing? it's the Croque Monsieur, the classic indulgent French café toasted sandwich of ham, cheese and béchamel paired with five V&A Lane wines from Wynns Coonawarra Estate. The richness of melted cheese and savoury ham beautifully complements the structure of these reds. Cost $40 per person. Book your tickets here.
Saturday & Sunday 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 July
11am-4pm
Every weekend at Hidden Gems @ Brand's Laira you'll discover gracefully aged Coonawarra wines that you can pair with homemade soup and pastries, tasting plates or pre-ordered ploughman’s platters as well as a tasting of the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon each weekend. 4-5 July: One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, 2016, 2018. 11-12 July 11-12: Blocker’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, 2014, 2015. 18-19 July: One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, 2016, 2018. 25-26 July: Sparkling Cabernet vertical tasting 1991, 1995, 1996. Call the cellar door on 08 8736 3260.
11am-5pm
Unlock Back Vintage Weekends at Hollick Estates of carefully aged bottles that tell the story of time, terroir, and craftsmanship. Cost $10 per person. Call the cellar door on 08 8737 2318 or email cellardoor@hollick.com
11am-3pm
Go on The Aeration Journey at Raidis Estate. Using the world’s 4th Generation Adjustable Electric Wine Aerator, you will see how wine is transformed from zero to up to 240 minutes minutes of aeration. It’s a precise and illuminating exploration of a single wine, offering an unparalleled insight into the premium wines complexity and character. Cost $95 per person. Call Hannah Timms on 0488 165 170 or email events@raidis.com.au.
Rymill Coonawarra's Mulled Wine, Bubble Tents & Firepits captures the joy of winter wine festivals. Enjoy a delicious glass of mulled wine (made by the Limestone Coast Pantry using their Dark Horse Shiraz) inside the cellar door, or outside in a bubble tent, or by one of the firepits. Cost $10 per person. Email events@rymill.com.au.
Friday 3 July
6-9pm
Enjoy stellar wine and a starlit night at Constellations & Cluny at Zema Estate. Begin your evening with a warming bowl of soup and a glass of Cluny wine in the barrel hall, and then join local astronomy enthusiast and photographer Ockert Le Roux who guides you through the stars above, sharing his knowledge of the constellations, supported by striking astrophotography captured in the region. Continue your experience among the vines, where the clear night skies of Coonawarra offer a rare opportunity for stargazing. Cost $49. Book your tickets here.
Saturday 4 July
6-10.30pm
Who doesn't love a Good Old Fashioned Quiz Night? Put your Coonawarra knowledge to the test at Ottelia's first quiz night, preceded by an early two-course dinner at the old Coonawarra School House. Teams must be between 4-8 people. Cost $65 per person including dinner. Call 08 8736 3170 or email hello@ottelia.com.au.
Saturday 11 July
6.30-10.30pm
Banter and laughs are in store at The Three Stooges Dinner, hosted by the winemakers from Raidis Estate, Patrick of Coonawarra and Redman Wines. You'll enjoy a three-course winter long table feast, thoughtfully paired with wines from each winery, while their larger-than-life winemakers share the stories, personalities and moments along the way. Cost $120 per person. Book your tickets here.
Friday 17 July
2-4pm
Discover how brandy is made From Still To Sip: Brandy Behind The Scenes with Brian “Prof” Lynn as he guides you through the art of brandy making at Majella Wines. The first brandy distilled in Coonawarra in over 70 years, our small-batch spirit is crafted from Majella’s award-winning wines. Learn how brandy develops its character in barrel, and enjoy tastings from different barrel batches alongside the finished product. Along the way, enjoy a brandy snap and a specially curated brandy cocktail. Cost $50 per person. Call 08 8736 3055 or email admin@majellawines.com.au
5.30-9.45pm
Join up to 15 Coonawarra wineries in one location at Cellar Dwellers Back Vintage Tasting & Dinner. Explore beyond the region's signature variety Cabernet Sauvignon, and discover how the characteristics of red and white wine varieties change and develop over time, matched with a two-course dinner. $10 Bus transfer from Penola. Cost $150 per person plus $10 bus transfer from Penola. Book your tickets here.
Friday 17-Sunday 19 July
11am-4pm
Explore the depth and character of Leconfield’s cellar with a curated Museum Tasting experience. Showcasing five carefully selected back vintages, highlighting classic Coonawarra varietals and the region’s renowned ageing potential, the tasting includes 2020 Riesling, 2021 Chardonnay, 2016 Merlot, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the iconic 2016 Sydney Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. A rare opportunity to delve into Leconfield’s museum collection and experience the evolution of these beautifully cellared wines. COST $30 per tasting. Call Jenny & Natalie on 08 8737 2326.
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