First founded by Scottish immigrant John Riddoch in 1867, Katnook Estate is one of the oldest properties in the Coonawarra wine region, rich with history. The Indigenous word for ‘Fat Land’, Katnook refers to the fertile character of the famous terra rossa soil, which served Riddoch and his initial 140-hectares of planted vines back in 1890 and continues to serve the now 155-hectares some 130 years later.

Nestled in the heart of Coonawarra, just six kilometres north of Penola on the Riddoch Highway, a collection of restored limestone buildings forms the bones of this beautiful winery, offering a warm welcome to visitors. The historical woolshed where Riddoch made his first commercial vintage has also since been restored and serves as Katnook Estate’s barrel room, while the winery’s terra rossa pit profiles Coonawarra’s famous soil.

Across its thriving 155-hectares, Katnook Estate grows a large variety of wines, from cabernet sauvignon to chardonnay, while adopting sustainable production methods, ensuring the best for both the fruit and the environment.

Katnook Estate is internationally recognised for producing award-winning wines with great complexity and distinction. The estate has one wine in the prestigious Langton’s Classification of Australian Wines, two Jimmy Watson trophies and a 5-star rating in the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion.

Among Katnook Estate’s critically lauded wines are the iconic Katnook Limited Release Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon and Prodigy Shiraz, the flagship Katnook Estate range, and contemporary Katnook Founder’s Block label. Visitors can enjoy a free, personalised tasting of all wines, while selected museum wines can be purchased at the cellar door.

The cellar door is also the perfect place to enjoy a hosted wine tasting, or relax around the open fire in the lounge area with a glass of your favourite red or white. Katnook Estate’s cellar door even won the Best Tasting Experience in Coonawarra in the Australia Gourmet Traveller Wine – Cellar Door Awards 2019, and the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2019.