The Barossa marks the start of vintage with a traditional ceremony including the Barons of Barossa marching down the main street of Tanunda.
McLaren Vale gathers to rings a large bell at Wirra Wirra and Margaret River hosts a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.
As for Coonawarra, it gathers at the famous railway siding and plays music, smashes a bottle and of course has a drink.
This year’s ceremony began with the stirring sound of bagpipes played by Neil McLean alongside Coonawarra Vignerons Patron Doug Balnaves – honouring the Scottish heritage of Coonawarra’s founder, John Riddoch.
Guests then gathered for the ceremonial opening of vintage, including the symbolic transfer of freshly harvested grapes into barrels.
A highlight of the evening was the grape stomp, featuring three members of the region’s vintage workforce whose varied roles and backgrounds reflect the diversity of the modern wine industry – Chelsey Wilmshurst, Limestone Coast local and laboratory technician at Rymill; Cameron Ding, director of Hollick Estates and a Chinese national contributing international perspective to the Coonawarra community; and Jana Ramson of Estonia, a seasonal cellar hand at Wynns Coonawarra Estate undertaking her second vintage in the region.
The ceremony also featured the traditional bottle smash, conducted by Coonawarra Vignerons Patrons Greg Clayfield and Bruce Redman, who mark the occasion by smashing a bottle of Coonawarra wine – the previous year’s vintage – symbolising the conclusion of the 2025 season and christening the beginning of Vintage 2026.
Coonawarra Vignerons executive officer Heidi Guyett said, “Vintage is the culmination of months of dedication in the vineyard, and it’s always special to come together as a community to mark the start of harvest.
“Coonawarra has a proud winemaking heritage, and the vintage launch is a wonderful way to honour that history while looking ahead to the wines that will shape the region’s future.”
With vineyards across the district showing healthy fruit and balanced canopies, early signs indicate another promising season for the region.
Vintage is expected to commence later than average following a growing season that has progressed at a “measured pace”.
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