Coonawarra will be bursting with activity when the 19th annual Cellar Dwellers Festival kicks off this weekend.

Coonawarra winemakers will delve into their cellars during July to offer tastings of rare, aged treasures and a program of more than 40 events and tasting experiences will delight food and wine lovers alike.

There will be plenty to tempt tastebuds throughout the month-long event, with exclusive wine tastings, degustation dinner events, long lunches, chocolate and wine pairing, cooking classes and more.

Coonawarra Vignerons Events and Marketing Officer Heidi Guyett said Cellar Dwellers was an ideal time to discover what Coonawarra had to offer, particularly showcasing the aged wines that cellar beautifully.

“Coonawarra is renowned for producing world-class wines and wines that have exceptional ageing ability,” Mrs Guyett said.

“We are not just showcasing our Cabernet Sauvignon, of course that is a champion variety in our region, but we are also looking at reds in general, merlot, shiraz, our whites, how beautiful rieslings and chardonnays can age.”

Cellar Dwellers is a ripe opportunity for people to cosy up in Coonawarra cellar doors during the winter weather while savouring the flavours of aged wine.

“Day to day at cellar doors there are some great bespoke offerings, so really unique tastings that would not otherwise occur during the year,” Mrs Guyett said.

“In addition to those special tastings, our wineries are working hard to really deliver some fabulous dinner events and lunches along with food and wine pairings in cellar doors.”

Coming up on the program this weekend includes Bowen Estate’s 17th Annual Symbiotic Siblings Degustation Dinner, a Merlot Vertical Tasting at Brand’s Laira Coonawarra, and Hollick Estates’ Old Vs New Tastings, featuring their 2017 and 2022 ‘The Nectar’ dessert wine.

“Cellar doors will be pouring their usual current releases as well, so take the opportunity to taste the whole spectrum from what’s on offer now versus that comparison with how these wines can evolve, that is probably the special part,” Mrs Guyett said.

Mrs Guyett said the Coonawarra Back Vintage Tasting Showcase on July 14 was also an event to mark on the calendar, where 15 producers come together at Hollick Estates to showcase a range of back-vintage wines.

The Cellar Dwellers passport program is running again this year, where guests who get stamps at five participating wineries will go in the draw to win a case of wine.

Visit coonawarra.org to book tickets and view the full program.