Boutique Coonawarra Winery and Organic Vineyard
A Family Owned Organic Vineyard and Winery in Coonawarra.
We produce a range of high quality award winning wines. In 2019 we were awarded James Halliday’s 5 star Black Winery and The Real Review Certificate of Excellence, placing us in the top wineries of Australia. Today myself (Dru), Nicole and our girls live in the family homestead surrounded by our vineyards.
Visit us at our Cellar Door, or Order our Wine Online!
WINES OF THE MONTH
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QuickviewKoonara Mixed 6 Pack – Free shipping
Monthly Wines, Our WinePick and mix 6 of your favourite Koonara Wines and get free shipping anywhere in Australia.From: $113.70Pricing per bottle of wine:
$18.95 – Flowers for Lucy Moscato $19.95 – Emily May Rose + Angel’s Footprints Sauv Blanc $20 – Lucy & Alice Pinot Gris $24.95 – Guardian Angel Sparkling Chardonnay + Cape Banks Pinot Noir + The Golden Orb Sparkling Shiraz $25 – A Song For Alice Riesling + Cape Banks Chardonnay + Wanderlust Cabernet + Angel’s Peak Shiraz $40 – Ambriel’s Gift Cabernet + Ezra’s Gift Shiraz $100 – The Head Honcho Cabernet + The Big Guns Shiraz -
QuickviewRouge Vintner Wine Glass Gift Box (set of 4 glasses)
Glassware, Monthly WinesThe Rouge Vintner glassware range is for the wine obsessed. Designed by our very own Dru Reschke, after 20 years in the wine industry he wanted to create a glass that was not only beautiful but practical. Each glass has been coated with potassium salt which typically gives the glass 5 times the strength of a normal glass – this makes them suitable for use in domestic and commercial dishwashers. The rim has been cold cut and polished, this allows each glass to not only be fine and lightweight but also very strong and durable. Each gift box contains 4 glasses and makes an excellent wedding, engagement or Christmas present.$49.95Dru's checklist:
Why has it been so hard to find a wine glass that’s just right for both red and white? One that is big, but can still fit in the dishwasher. One that gives precisely five glasses from each bottle without needing a line. One with a fine rim, but 5 x stronger than normal glass. When I couldn’t find that glass, I designed it myself.Glass features:
- A fine cold-cut lip
- 5 x stronger than normal glass
- Ideal for both red & white wine
- The widest point is 150ml (5oz) for maximum aeration
- Exactly 5 glasses from every bottle
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QuickviewAngels Footprints Sauv Blanc 2018
Monthly Wines, Our Wine, White Wines$19.95♥ Vegan Friendly ♥ Low in sulphur ♥ Dry wine
“Friends are angels that lift you up when your wings have forgotten how to fly. Many people walk through your life, but true friends leave footprints in your heart.” So raise your glass - here’s to friends.
Mount Gambier is even cooler than Malborough in NZ, so the long growing period allows the grapes to develop an abundance of flavours without losing the crisp freshness of true cool-climate grapes.
Single vineyard. Crisp apple and gooseberry notes, perfect for natural oysters, fresh salmon sashimi or chicken salad.
Download tasting notes PDF - 2018 vintage Download tasting notes PDF - 2016 vintage Download tasting notes PDF - 2015 vintage -
QuickviewEmily May Rosé, Limestone Coast 2019
Monthly Wines, Our Wine, White Wines$19.95♥ Vegan Friendly ♥ Low in sulphur ♥ Dry wine
Koonara is the name of our property in Coonawarra which has been in our family for over 100 years, and where my Gran - Emiline May Reschke - lived until she was 99. Accomplished dressmaker and designer, teacher, bridge and scrabble guru, and professional floral artist. Here’s to you Gran. “Oh, spectacular sangiovese. The Italian red variety was treated with the love and respect it deserves in this demure rosé. It’s an alluring pale pink, pretty, poised, playful, and complex - like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Delicate waves of strawberries and cream, cherry and raspberries dance around a sturdy, dry backbone. The wine is named after Dru Reschke’s gran, Emiline May Reschke - a fitting tip of the hat to a woman who lived until the ripe old age of 99.” 5 stars, Katie Spain, Wine Writer, The Adelaide Advertiser, 2019 Trophy for 'Norlift Best Rosé in Show’ at the Cairns Wine Show 2019 Download tasting notes PDF for 2019 vintage Download tasting notes PDF for 2018 vintage Download tasting notes PDF for 2017 vintage -
QuickviewEzra’s Gift Coonawarra Shiraz 2016
Monthly Wines, Our Wine, Red Wines$40.00♥ Organically grown ♥ Vegan Friendly ♥ Low in sulphur ♥ Dry wine ♥ No residual sugar
Koonara is the name of our Coonawarra property, where our family have lived for 100 years. When wine is aged in fine oak barrels, a portion of it evaporates - winemakers call this the ‘Angel’s Share’ - the rest is their gift to us. It was on this sentiment the Koonara angel was born. Ezra is the angel that encourages writers, and helps people unlock their abilities and self expression. Grown at a tiny 1 tonne per acre, and aged in the finest French oak 300 litre Hogshead barrels for 18 months before bottling. Strengthening our vines through nutritional balance and bringing in beneficial bugs means no pesticides or herbicides have been needed or used in our Coonawarra vineyards for over 10 years.“Deep red colour with strong purple tints. The bouquet is mineral and metallic, with a stony crushed-rock note. It has chocolate and concentrated black fruits on the palate. Some warmth and afterglow from elevated alcohol. A big wine with lots of ripe flavour and richness. Satisfying! A very powerful Coonawarra shiraz.” - 96 points, Huon Hooke 2019
This wine will age well until 2030 and beyond. We are very proud of our wines - we hope you enjoy them. Our 2016 vintage was awarded:Download 2016 tasting notes PDF Download 2012 tasting notes PDF- 96 points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
- 92 points - Mike Bennie, Wine Writer
- Silver - Australian Small Winemakers Show
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QuickviewWanderlust, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Monthly Wines, Our Wine, Red Wines$25.00♥ Organically grown ♥ Vegan Friendly ♥ Low in sulphur ♥ Dry wine ♥ No residual sugar
We love the people who make the journey to come and visit our cellar door in Coonawarra; they have Wanderlust. They are the daring explorer, the lover of life with tales of adventures and experiences from their many trips. This wine’s for you, intrepid travellers... Decanting this wine for an hour will allow you to see the true depth of flavour, but also show you that this wine is almost unique at this price - in that it will get better over 10 years. No residual sugar, below organic levels of sulphur, and organically grown. The dense fruit and the soft tannins with allow this wine to age well until 2030."Inky in colour pungent fruit aromas with a hint of cigar box cedar adding to the complexity, a big palate with lashings of tight restrained flavours, which will burst forth in due time, and it has a lovely, lingering tight finish. To really enjoy it now, please decant it, or have some patience as in time this will become a REALLY SUPERB WINE!!" Dan Traucki, wine writer
Download tasting notes PDF – 2016 vintage Download tasting notes PDF – 2015 vintage Download tasting notes PDF – 2014 vintage -
QuickviewCape Banks, Pinot Noir 2016
Monthly Wines, Our Wine, Red Wines$24.95♥ Vegan Friendly ♥ Low in sulphur ♥ Dry wine ♥ No residual sugar
Cool growing conditions, rocky mineraly soils, and low-yielding vines have helped create a complex bouquet awash with true Pinot characters. It has hints of vanilla and fresh tobacco over spicy cherry notes. Mount Gambier is the perfect spot to create really good Pinot. The temperatures between Mount Gambier and the most famous French Pinot Noir region – Burgundy are extremely similar. If you add all the temperatures of the growing season together (minus 10 degree base temp), it gives you the Biological Effective Degree Days (BEDD). For 1st Cru Areas of Burgundy, the BEDD is 1242 and 1245 for Mt Gambier. Named after the Cape Banks Lighthouse, which is only 30mins drive from our vineyards, near Carpenter Rocks on South Australia’s rugged South East coastline.
Food match: Tea smoked duck breast and roast potatoes with truffle salt. Download tasting notes PDF for 2016 vintage Download tasting notes PDF for 2015 vintage Download tasting notes PDF for 2013 vintage“There is a buzz around pinot grown in Mount Gambier and there’s a good reason for it. Cool growing conditions, rocky, minerally soil, and low-yielding vines contribute to the hints of vanilla and fresh tobacco over spicy cheery notes. This is a more-ish tribute to the local landscape and begs for foggy evenings, an armchair and plenty of time to waste.” 4 Stars, Katie Spain, Wine Writer Adelaide Advertiser 2019
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QuickviewAmbriel’s Gift, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Monthly Wines, Our Wine, Red Wines$40.00Ambriel is the angel of communication and guides us to truth and clarity. The Ambriel’s Gift vineyard sits behind our house in Coonawarra, and is grown at a tiny 1 tonne per acre (the average for Coonawarra is 3.5 - 4 tonnes). The grapes were grown with minimal intervention, with only 4 organic sprays for the season. No pesticides have been used in this vineyard for over 10 years. No expense was spared to make the best wine possible: it was aged in fine grain French oak 300 litre Hogsheads for 26 months before bottling. It contains below organic levels of sulphur, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Our 2015 vintage was awarded:♥ Organically grown ♥ Vegan Friendly ♥ Low in sulphur ♥ Dry wine ♥ No residual sugar
“The nose is leathery, earthy and tarry with fruit in the cassis spectrum. Silky smooth in the mouth with powerful oak characters sitting on top of an abundance of varietal fruit.” Equal Top In Category, Winestate Magazine 2018
Download tasting notes PDF – 2015 vintage Download tasting notes PDF – 2014 vintage- Equal Top In Category, Winestate Magazine 2018
ALL THE FABULOUS PEOPLE - SOCIAL IMAGES
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5Koonara Wines Winter Warmer ‘Retro’ Fiesta 2019
Thank you to all 400 guests who attended our secret location/warehouse party in Mount Gambier, on Friday 5 July. Everyone…
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Ballarat Ladies by the Lake – Mother’s Day 2019
Around 160 guests attended the sold-out Ladies by the Lake cocktail evening to celebrate Mother’s Day on Friday 10 May.…
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Platinum Marquee – Mount Gambier Gold Cup May 2019
We had an amazing day at the 2019 Scott Group of Companies Mount Gambier Gold Cup. Thanks to all 370…
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Mt Gambier Food & Wine Pop-up Bar 2019
Thanks to everyone who came along and supported us at this years Mount Gambier Food & Wine pop-up. We had…
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS
Wine Tasting & Tapas – Daylesford Bowling Club, Saturday, 17 August
Read moreJoin Koonara Wines owner Dru Reschke for a fabulous afternoon of wine tasting and tapas. Whilst enjoying perfectly paired food and wine guests will also get…
Join our team: Marketing & Design Manager (1 year contract)
Read moreAbout us Koonara Wines is a fast growing wine label in Coonawarra. We produce a wide range of delicious wines that are available across the country,…
Cellar Dwellers Aged Beauties and homemade Brownies, Coonawarra, All July
Read moreDuring the month of July, Coonawarra wineries delve into the depths of their cellars to reveal age-old treasures, offering visitors a rare opportunity to taste and…
Bottleshop promotion: Win two bottles of our Velvet Collection
Read moreHead into one of the participating stores and when you buy any bottle of our wine you’ll go in the draw to win a set of…
Adelaide Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit – Friday 19-20 July
Read moreThe winter event is a boutique take on the annual March event, and will bring cool winery vibes to the heart of Adelaide. Enjoy two days…
Coonawarra Wine Festival in Mount Gambier – Sunday 21 July
Read moreSpend an afternoon at Jen’s Hotel in Mount Gambier with Rymill, Bellwether, Zema, Blok, Hollick, Patrick, Raidis, and Koonara as we pop-up at Jens Town Hall…
Over 100 Years in Coonawarra
The quality of your barrels and winemakers. We believe quality is paramount in creating a wine which is not only good, but consistent and age worthy.
Our red wines are aged in French Oak. All of our reds are aged in 100% fine-grain French Oak Hogsheads barrels. Some cheaper wines are produced with oak substitutes such as chips, planks and dominos.
Low yields, small grapes and big flavour. Both our Coonawarra vineyards yield 2 tonnes of fruit or less – the average for Coonawarra is 3.5 – 4 tonnes. We grow small grapes, which are about the size of a pea. This allows us to get more skin per litre of juice. Because the colour and flavour in wine comes from the grapes skin, we can get big colour and flavour in our wines.
Great winemaking team. Peter Douglas the former Wynns winemaker is our winemaker, and one of the most respected winemakers and wine judges in Australia. Both Peter, Dru and Nicole take a collaborative approach to producing award winning wines each year. If you’re looking to visit Coonawarra Wineries, Koonara Wines should be on your list!
In 2017 our Coonawarra vineyards were certified to Australian Organic standards, and no pesticides have been used on the property for over 10 years.
VISIT OUR CELLAR DOOR - 44 CHURCH STREET, PENOLA
