Grapes of Mirth
Grapes of Mirth Grapes of Mirth

Penola Racing Club,
Coonawarra, SA

Join host Merrick Watts and his funny friends; comedy, music, food, wine – everything you could possibly wish for.

An entire afternoon of entertainment, as lovers of comedy and wine gather at the Penola Racing Club, with twelve Coonawarra wine producers on hand to sort out your wine needs.

Buy Tickets

$60 – $70 + Booking Fee

When

1 – 7pm

Sat 18 Jan

Where

Racecourse Rd, Penola SA 5277

What’s Pouring

  • Balnaves of Coonawarra, Banks Thargo Wines, Brand & Sons, DiGiorgio Family Wines, Hollick Estates, Katnook Estate, Patrick of Coonawarra, Parker Coonawarra Estate, Raidis Estate, Redman Wines, Zema Estate, The Blok Coonawarra

What You Need to Know

  • This is an 18+ event
  • Strictly no BYO food or beverage
  • All tickets include a take-home wine glass
  • This is indoor (marquee) seated event, with easy outdoor access
  • Free bus shuttle service running from Penola (you must register here)
  • Return bus tickets available from Mt Gambier and Naracoorte

What’s Cooking

  • Chef Kirby Shearing from Soul Projects and the Royal Oak Hotel Penola is bringing his A-Team to cater our event. They’ll be joined by a food truck TBA. For those with gluten intolerance, you’ll be more than covered, as will our vegan friends; we don’t discriminate, we’ll leave that to the comedians.

Prohibited and Unprohibited Items

  • Allowed: sealed bottles of water, empty water bottles, soft cooler bags
  • Not Allowed: food and beverages (other than water), eskies, professional photography equipment, chairs

Lineup

Peter Helliar has been one of Australia’s favourite comedians since his first appearance on our TV screens on Rove back in 1999. Pete has performed stand up for more than twenty years, selling out shows right across the country, where he makes the difficult business of being funny look dead easy.

Peter Helliar

Over the last decade, Claire has been captivating audiences and touring brilliant solo shows across the country to critical acclaim. She’s also co-host of ‘The Great Australian Bake Off’ for Foxtel’s LifeStyle Channel alongside the seriously funny Mel Buttle, as well as judges Maggie Beer and Matt Moran and their fourth season aired in 2019.

Claire Hooper

Nazeem Hussain has fast become one of the biggest stars of Australian comedy, and a much loved television and radio personality. Glam Adelaide reckons “This man embodies comic genius” and we couldn’t agree more.

Nazeem Hussain

Thorno is, without question, Australia’s best MC. He will be steering the ship at the Grapes of Mirth comedy Galas. You’ve seen him on your TV and heard him on the radio, but on the main stage is where Dave belongs.

Dave Thornton

A slightly deranged girl, known for her dark and twisted everyday observations and stories, and returning to her hometown of Townsville! Winner of the ‘Best Newcomer’ award at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Danielle also appeared as ‘Ranger Danny’ alongside stars Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney on the show everyone fell in love with – “GetKrack!n” for ABC TV.

Danielle Walker

The “Merric” from Merrick and Rosso. Mez, as he is affectionately known, has worked at almost every radio and TV station in the country. You might have seen him recently getting smashed in the face on SAS Australia, Australia’s REAL reality show. Mez loves wine, so much so that he’s a qualified sommelier, with dreams of retiring to a big Chesterfield, smoking a cigar and drinking Cabernet.

Merrick Watts

Coonawarra

The Mighty Coona’

Coonawarra is arguably the home of Australia’s best Cabernet Sauvignons – with over 120 years of grape growing history and its ancient terra rossa soils which give their Cabernets the edge. But, more than that, it’s a region that seems to operate like one big happy family – probably dysfunctional at times, like all families, but with an underlying sense of community and care for one another, and the land in which they grow their wines. It is this sense of community that bring Grapes of Mirth to the Penola Racing Club. With the help of the Coonawarra Vignerons, we’re able to not only bring you 6 of Australia’s best comedians but also 12 of the Coonawarra’s best wine producers too, all in the one location.

We’ve Got A Big Marquee!

Through the great support of the Coonawarra Vignerons, we’ve been given access to a giant air-conditioned marquee at the Penola Racing Club, it’s HUUUGE (at least twice as big as Donald Trump’s hands). So, we’ll be protected, whatever the weather conditions on the day. If the weather is mild and sunny, there will be plenty of breaks to enjoy the outdoors with food and beverage in hand.

Graze & Sip (if you can stop laughing)

Enjoy some delicious locally sourced produce throughout the event with a glass or three of Coonawarra wine. Plenty of food will be on offer for the day, with both hot and cold options available – gourmet grazing at its best! The Penola Racing Club bar will be stocked with local beers, cider, soft drinks and we’ll even have a coffee truck on hand.

Spoilt For Wine!

You’ll have the opportunity to enjoy wine on the day, from not one, but from TWELVE WINE PRODUCERS! Joining us are DiGiorgio Family Wines, Banks Thargo Wines, Katnook Estate, Hollick Estates, Patrick of Coonawarra, Parker Coonawarra Estate, Balnaves of Coonawarra, The Blok Coonawarra, Brand & Sons, Raidis Estate, Zema Estate, Redman Wines.

Experience

We’ve Got Prizes To Win!

Just like last year, we’ll be giving away a few prizes on the day. One lucky couple will get the opportunity to come back to Coona’ for a half-day tour with Coonawarra Experiences touring the local wineries including a lunch platter with wine, all tasting fees and plenty of local knowledge and photo opportunities.

DJ Pedro Moshman

We have a travelling DJ, his name is Pedro Moshman, we never leave home without him – he’ll keep the festival vibe going between sets and after the comedy show. Bring your dancing shoes, you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Our Partners

Coonawarra Vignerons
Novatech
Private: Penola Racing Club

Penola Racing Club is a thoroughbred horse racing club in the picturesque surrounds of Coonawarra vineyards, part of the Limestone Coast Racing group of clubs.

Grand Events

Based in Warrnambool, we are the region’s largest stockist of marquees, tables, chairs and catering equipment for the DIY event or fully catered function. Grand Events Hire & Styling can assist you in making a lasting impression at your next event with a full styling service to set your event apart from the rest.

Private: Wattle Range Council

Wattle Range Council in the Limestone Coast of South Australia is one of the most economically diverse Local Government regions in South Australia, stretching from the sea to the border.

Penola Racing Club, Coonawarra, SA

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