A NUMBER of Coonawarra wineries have been awarded for excellence in the Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine’s 2020 Best Cellar Door awards.
Six wineries from the terra rossa strip won gold at this year’s prestigious awards, with Wynns Coonawarra winning best large cellar door and The Blok Coonawarra winning best accommodation.
Balnaves of Coonawarra beat tough competition to win the best tasting experience, while Raidis Estate won the best additional experience category.
The star cellar door was awarded to Bellwhether wines and Drink Ottelia and Eat Fodder won the cellar door with best food.
Ottelia winemakers Matilda Innes said the awards provided wineries with a much-needed positive boost.
“It is really great to win the award and have a little bit of positivity considering the situation we are currently in by having our hands tied with having to close,” Ms Innes said.
“It is lovely to have these positive reinforcements and even though the timing is quite funny, it is really nice and is adding to that little light at the end of the tunnel.
“It speaks about the team and how we work together too and gives us more of a reason to try and keep everyone together as well.
“It lets us know that we are doing the right thing and it is the right moment for us to receive the award.”
