The 2022 Coonawarra Vignerons Cup was unveiled during the official launch last week at DiGiorgio Family Wines.
The launch acknowledged 36 Degrees South Beef as Presenting Partner for a third year running and the 2022 race sponsors.
The unveiling of the cup was presented by Teys Australia Naracoorte Operations General Manager Sage Murray, Coonawarra Grape and Wine President Pete Balnaves and Coonawarra Cup Committee Chairman Luke Trotter.
The evening was hosted by Frank DiGiorgio and catered by the Coonawarra Store.
Coonawarra Vignerons patrons Doug Balnaves and Bruce Redman, Penola Racing Club President Mark Edwards, sponsors and other members enjoyed tastings of premium Coonawarra-produced 36 Degrees South Beef, paired with the Coonawarra wines on offer.
Coonawarra Vignerons Events and Marketing Officer Heidi Eldridge said the 40th annual Vignerons Cup will take place on January 13 at the Penola Racecourse and the trophy will make its way to each of the race-sponsoring cellar doors beforehand.
“The return of the 2022 Vignerons Cup is very exciting, given the event itself in its capacity did not happen last year,” Ms Eldridge said.
Ms Eldridge said the event had been modified to comply with COVID restrictions, with the capacity reduced to 450 to 600 guests.
“Being in January, I think people are really keen to get out and do something; obviously depending on how things proceed in the coming weeks with COVID, we can only hope that we will be able to go ahead,” she said.
“The best-case scenario is, of course, that we’ll be able to have that amount of people flowing in and out of the marquee with no restrictions.”
Mr Trotter said he could not wait for the upcoming event.
“It feels like it’s been a long time coming and there’s been a lot of work put into getting it to where we’re at,” he said.
Mr Trotter said the event would be a bit different this summer, presented as a cocktail-style event and a smaller marquee with an expansive outdoor precinct.
“It’s going to be different, but it’ll still have that same feel about it,” he said.
There will be an eight-race program with race number seven the much-anticipated 36 Degrees South Coonawarra Vignerons Cup feature race.
Julian “Jules” Schiller will be the MC, Adelaide DJ Pedro Moshman will bring the tunes, plenty of cocktail-style food will be available and, keeping with the Vignerons Cup tradition, there will be a Super Sweep, live auctions and a smorgasbord of wines.
