VIVA LA ROSSA

From a narrow strip just 12km long and 1k wide comes some of Australia's - and the world's best red wines. Here's why Coonawarra's juicy exports are perfect for leisurely sipping.

- CHARMIAN LEONG

You may be forgiven for associating Cabernet Sauvignon with standout regions like Napa Valley and Bordeaux, but if you’ve been overlooking South Australia’s Coonawarra region for this popular grape variety, it’s time to take notice. Earlier this year, the 2021 The Pastorialist Cabernet Sauvignon from Riddoch Coonawarra was named the best in the world at the International Wine Challenge, beating out 6,000 entries from 52 wine-producing countries. The judges characterized the vintage as having a “classic” profile, featuring notes of blackcurrant, mint, and herbal cassis, while also noting its enduring fruitiness and crisp, refreshing finish.

A lot of a wine’s character comes from its terroir, and much of the Coonawarra region is blessed with “terra rossa” soil, or “red earth” in Italian, a clay-rich soil that is predominantly found in Mediterranean climates. With good draining and a fertile chemical composition, the reddish soil was found to be ideal for agriculture and viticulture, which is what prompted landowner and politician John Riddoch to plant the region’s first vines in the late 1800s.