Coonawarra, South Australia, is renowned for its cool climate and soil that produces grapes of exceptional flavour and intensity. The Hundred of Comaum vineyard is north from the town of Penola, within the “terra rossa” geological soil formation. Soils are deep red terra rossa loam over limestone on 50 hectares (150 acres) and the annual rainfall used to be 582mm (23 inches) however now is anyone’s guess...
The Hundred of Comaum -
at the heart of Coonawarra history...
South Australia was originally divided into land tenure maps called "Hundreds". In 1890 Scotsman John Riddoch planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the "Hundred of Comaum". He saw the potential of the rich red terra rossa soil and produced the first "Coonawarra" vintage n 1995 - described at the time as "of superior quality". Thus Coonawarra was created within the Hundred of Comaum. Riddoch died in 1901 before seeing his bold venture completed although in 1946 the property was renamed Chateau Comaum.
