Koonara is a boutique Coonawarra producer with an unusual philosophy: it doesn’t release its top wines until they are between five and seven years old. One standout I’ve tasted is the 2004 ‘Ambriel’s Gift’ Cabernet Sauvignon, but this won’t be available for several years as the 2000 vintage has just been released.

However, you can buy the Angel’s Peak entry level reds - a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Shiraz from the 2004 vintage. The Shiraz has spicy clove and ginger aromas, is tautly structured and nicely balanced for drinking young or over five or six years. The Cabernet is chocolatey and berry-like, with elegance and refinement. These are not big, rich, blockbusters, but subtle, cool climate reds, and very typical of Coonawarra. Take a bow, Peter Douglas.

The Girls Pick up Bronze in Melbourne
Our newest range picked up their first medals the other day. We are sending them to critics soon, so expect to see a few more write-ups...

Koonara goes underwater
The $5 Million restaurant Hilton in the Maldives is 9m long, and made up of three 5 metre transparent arches made from acrylic 125mm thick and sits under a couple of metres of water at high tide. From there you can drink Temptress and Seductress while watching fish and sting-rays swim around you.

Click below for a presentation of the restaurant...
Seafood Restaurant

The West Australian thinks Koonara is "the smallest & Best"
"One of the smallest and best wineries (in Coonawarra)is Koonara, run by Dru Reschke, whose wines are made by former Wynns man Peter Douglas. The fruit is sourced from the heart of Coonawarra's terra rossa solis and sold through a neat little outlet in the middle of Penola.
      Reds like the deliciously fragrant Ambriel's Gift cabernet sauvignon and Ezra's Gift Shiraz show the impact of  very low-yielding, highly concentrated fruit, while preserving the essential elegance, fragrance, and balance of the region. A real highlight and a must to check out." - Ray Jordan - The West Australian

Koonara 2004 Angel's Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
"There aren't too many bargain-basement Coonawarra cabernets around, but this is one of them, making it well worth snapping up a bottle or two. There's a gorgeous nose, lovely balance, bone dry berry flavours and some nice softness on the palate. A great wine for everyday drinking. Versatile, too. It would work with everything from a fillet steak to a lamb chop. $15. "

4 Gold!!!


Our Sofiel's Gift Coonawarra Riesling has won Gold in Bathurst, Cowra, Melbourne, and equal 3rd in the International Riesling Challenge.
As much as I love to take the accolades, all the kudos goes to our winemaker Peter Douglas. A very talented winemaker, and we are very lucky to have him.

Wineorama.com.au:
"91 Points" - Koonara Cupra's Gift 2004,
"91 Points" - Angels Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
"91 Points" - Angels Peak Shiraz 2004 - All awarded 91 points by

"Outstanding drink now value.'

http://www.winorama.com.au/?p=1806

Winestate Magazine:

"" - Ambriel's Gift Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
"" - Ambriel's Gift Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
"" - Ezra's Gift Coonawarra Shiraz 2000
"" - Ezra's Gift Coonawarra Shiraz 2002
"" - Ezra's Gift Coonawarra Shiraz 2003
"" - Cupra's Gift Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
"" - Koonara Angel's Peak Shiraz 2004
"" - Sofiel's Gift Coonawarra Riesling 2005
"1/2" - Opiel's Gift Chardonnay
 

Ambriel's Gift
2000 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

"...this new release is a stunner. It’s a blend of ninety percent cabernet sauvignon fleshed out with a splash of merlot and cabernet franc. Big, bold and immensely enjoyable, you’ll have trouble putting your glass down! Fantastic value for a six year old wine."

http://www.food-fun-wine.com.au/wine.php?id=080601

Ambriel's Gift
1999 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

“"Winemakers Pat Tocaciu and Peter Douglas have conjured up a debut beauty, chock full of flavour, but of excellent balance"
- Winsor Dobbin, the Sun Herald, Sydney May 2004

"Pick of the Koonara releases is the delicious, savoury 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, although the elegant 2000 Shiraz is also good value for money"
- Jeff Collerson, The Daily Telegraph, April 2004

All Ambriel's Gift Cabernet Sauvignons so far - "Four Stars"   - Winestate Magazine

All Ezra's Gift Shiraz's so far - "Four Stars" - Winestate Magazine

Ezra's Gift
2000 Coonawarra Shiraz

"Definitely worth a serious sampling. 4.5 out of 5"
–- Paddy Kendler, Herald Sun, Melbourne, May 2004

"I could spend time explaining this branding name which sounds suspiciously like it has been dreamt up over a long lunch, but instead I'll cut to the chase, as this recently released red is toatally lip smacking and really delicious. After all, it what's in the bottle that counts, not the label.

"The result is a dense black/crimson in colour and a bouquet showing masses of blackberry and pepper. The palate is rich and lucious with voliumous blackberry and mulberry plus intergrated soft spice from 18 months maturation in fine grain French & American oak. Elegant and very seductive. Drink now or over the next couple of years.”
- –Graeme Andrews, SA Life Magazine May 2004

2003 Cupra's Gift Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
"a heavenly delight..it's angelic aromas begin with ripe blackberries coated in dark chocolate, while extra characters on the nose include memories of cottage garden mint and the sniff of old cigar box."
                                 - Grahame Whyte, Courier Mail, Ballarat

Bronze Medal - Adelaide 2007