Raidis Estate Coonawarra

Raidis Estate is a family-owned cellar door at 15741 Riddoch Highway on the northern edge of Penola, right in the Coonawarra strip. It is one of the region's most welcoming stops for dogs, built around relaxed seated tastings at long shared tables and a generous lawn set among fruit trees and vines that suits an unhurried afternoon.

Dogs at the cellar door

Dogs are welcome across the lawn and outdoor seating areas, and the long-table format means a dog settles at your feet without being in the way. Indoor seating by the fire in winter is more variable, so check with staff on arrival if you are hoping to sit inside on a cold day. Bring your own water bowl and treats, as the setup is arranged for people rather than pets.

Pepsi: ask about the indoor fire corner in winter before committing to the lawn, staff will tell you straight whether inside works that day.

The vibe

Tastings cover the estate's Coonawarra staples: cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and a pinot gris that regulars come back for, alongside the kelpie-labelled reds the family is known for. Food runs to casual platters built on local produce rather than a full restaurant menu, lawn games keep kids busy, and the atmosphere is relaxed enough that a tasting easily stretches into an hour or two.

Getting there and parking

The estate sits on the Riddoch Highway a few minutes north of Penola township, with ample on-site parking directly off the highway. Opening hours run 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday, midday to 5:30pm Saturday and midday to 4pm Sunday.

Make a day of it

Other Coonawarra cellar doors line the same highway, so pairing visits is easy: Bellwether Wines and Redman Wines are both short drives up the strip. For an overnight base, Blue Lake Holiday Park at Mount Gambier takes dogs, and Blue Lake Loop makes a good morning walk en route.

More options are on the South Australia wineries guide and the Penola destination page.