Coonawarra anyone? I can not believe it myself - I’ve never ventured down here. I wish I had more time to spend here, even a night so that I can explore. But I don’t.
Deb and I drive down in the morning, photograph for the afternoon, sleep, photograph from sunrise til near lunch, then drive back to Adelaide. Mighty effort. We are here to do a shoot for Hollick Wines. Everything from bridal shots to the restaurant to vineyard workings. I love it because I get to see and learn so much. That’s the beauty of my work - always learning different things about many different industries.
The Coonawarra is four to five hours drive from Adelaide.
A great pitstop is Keith and the excellent cafe, Henry and Rose, for coffee. If you have kids, the playground here is worth the stop. Kids scream their way along the metal monorail ride - it often has lineups.
On this trip, I also see the silo artwork at Coonalpyn. Wow. The tones and shadings leave me wondering how many times the artists had to clamber up and down the ladder to step back and see the progress.
But, getting back to the Coonawarra. Like any wine region, there are vines lined for miles. There are plenty of cellar doors. And a supply of accommodation. Smart move. Hollick Wines have just opened up their accommodation, just a few steps (literally) from their cellar door and restaurant, Upstairs. Handy. It’s a big house, well suited for a group of friends or a few families, but tonight, it’s just Deb and I. Sitting at the table on our laptops, we certainly don’t make use of the two living rooms, big farm kitchen and fireplace. It’s comfortable, and the best part? Breakfast, wine, beer, juice and bits and pieces are sitting in the fridge waiting for us to try. Complimentary. It’s the small things.
Just a few minutes away is the town of Penola. This town is Heritage listed with streets of old buildings. We take a drive down Petticoat Lane, dedicated to Mary MacKillop. It’s early morning, so nothing is open, but it’s great to see how well preserved it is, and how the town integrates around this history.
So, anyone wants to come to the Coonawarra for fun next time? A night or two?
