Coonawarra
Coonawarra is the Limestone Coast region most closely associated with Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. Its best-known vineyards occupy a narrow band of red soil over limestone.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the useful starting point here. The local style combines dark fruit with a firm frame, while Shiraz remains important both on its own and in Cabernet blends. Merlot and Chardonnay also grow in the region, so the place name is more informative than a single-grape stereotype.
The famous terra rossa is a thin, iron-coloured soil over limestone. Cool nights and an ocean influence temper ripening, despite the sunny South Australian setting. On a label, Coonawarra identifies a defined origin; it does not promise that every vineyard shares the same soil or that every bottle needs long ageing.