Penola - Fast Facts

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 15 years ago

Penola - Fast Facts

Penola
Historic town at the southern end of the rich Coonawarra/Penola wine district
Located 388 km south east of Adelaide, Penola is in the heart of one of South Australia's most productive wine growing areas. To the north of the town lies the famous terra rosa soils of the Coonawarra which have produced excellent red wines for the past century. The town is also famous as the central location in the life of Mary McKillop, Australia's first saint.

Along the road from Penola to Coonawarra (a distance of only 7 km) there are a total of 21 wineries. [The two entries on Coonawarra and Penola are designed so that if you are heading south from Coonawarra the wineries are in the order you will experience them and if you are heading north from Penola they are in correct order]. This is the result of an extraordinary situation where there are beautiful red soils (terra rossa) stretching 14 km and lying on top of limestone. The town's name, although no one is exactly sure, seems to derive from an Aboriginal word meaning 'wild honeysuckle' although other sources insist it was a local Aboriginal word 'pena oorla' meaning 'wooden house' and referring to the first pub, the Royal Oak, built in the district.


Tourist Information

Penola-Coonawarra Visitors Centre
Arthur St
Penola SA 5277
Telephone: (08) 8737 2855
Facsimile: (08) 8737 2251

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading