Wineries toast Cellar Dwellers success

About 3,000 people from across Australia ventured into Coonawarra wineries throughout July as part of the region's annual Cellar Dwellers event.

The festival is in its 10th year and has a focus on aged, special release and back vintage wines.

Sarah-Jane Arnold from the local vignerons' association says winter weather did not deter people from going to the variety of events on offer.

"I myself went along to the Stormin of Bastille dinner at Rymill which was sold out," she said.

"I believe the 30-year celebration at Redman was equally as enjoyable and DiGiorgio and Bowen Estate had their fantastic Italian and degustation dinners as well."

She says the association has already received a lot of interstate inquiries about some of the wines and that is as a direct result of good attendance at the events.

"I'd like to think that over the month we got close to about 3,000, which is really good," she said.

"Obviously the weekends are a lot more popular but even during the week cellar doors were reporting some really good visitation.

"People were just willing to rug up and once you get into the cellar door, it's really cosy."

Hospitality awards

Meanwhile, the south-east has taken out two gongs at this year's state hospitality industry awards.

The Restaurant & Catering SA annual awards for excellence were held last night in Adelaide.

Pipers of Penola received a Regional Hall of Fame Award and the Barn Steakhouse at Mount Gambier won Best Steak for the second year running.

Source: ABC News, 31 July 2012