From little acorns grow great oaks and from simple ideas, driven by a love of region and wine, unique concepts grow and flourish.

In 1996, we opened our doors as the Margaret River Regional Wine Centre in Cowaramup to be the first uniquely appellation specific wine merchants for the Margaret River region.

In fact, we’re pretty sure we were the first such wine merchant in Australia.

At that stage Margaret River already had an excellent reputation for award winning Cabernets and Chardonnays.

Since the first significant planting of vines in 1967, the Margaret River wine region has grown to become regarded as one of the great wine-producing regions of the world.

While being one of the largest wine regions in Australia -- stretching some 100km from north to south and about 27km wide in parts -- it contributes just three per cent of the country’s wine grapes, but commands over 20 per cent of Australia’s premium wine market.

When we opened our doors 10 years ago, there were only a few wineries in the region, probably around 35 if owner Ron Macfarlane’s dwindling mental capacity can be relied on, which is debatable.

And even then, many pundits in the area were thinking the region was already in excess of capacity.

The Leeuwin Estate concert had already been going for 10 years and had become one of WA’s “must see” events, generating a huge increase in tourist numbers to the region.

Howard Park’s Leston Vineyard was still in its infancy, but would not take long to become one of the most visited wineries in the region with its unique architecture designed around feng shui principles.

Innovation has never been a stranger or inhibitor to Margaret River’s development.

All the time, the list of new wineries was growing, providing the region with some outstanding new wines that have stood shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the region.

Continued..

The MRRWC Team Celebrating 10 Years
at Pinocchio's Restaurant .

Wineries such as Thompson Estate, Lenton Brae, Suckfizzle and Arlewood Estate have embellished the real story that is the Margaret River wine region.

Boutique operations, frequently family owned and operated, showed the world a vast array of varietals that maintained and lifted to greater heights that distinctive Margaret River style wine lovers have come to cherish.

Now there are over 100 wineries in the region, more than 120 labels available and over 3,000 hectares under vine.

Will it end? We keep wondering ourselves, but be assured we’ll continue to keep you up to date with the latest from this world class region.

Throughout most of Margaret River’s growth and incredible change, we have been here, either as a wine purveyor and unabashed regional promoter or, as in Ron and Kaye’s case, for a much longer time in another pre wine centre life.

It has been a fantastic experience for all of us at the wine centre to meet our clients on their journeys through the region. Over the years, we’ve established long friendships and relationships with our clients and it remains an exciting experience to meet new wine travellers from all over the world, then getting to know them better over the ensuing years.

We look forward to much more of the same in the years ahead.

Always know that everyone at the Margaret River Regional Wine Centre will be here to welcome you and help you catch up with latest on what is happening in the region and provide a taste of Margaret River.

Cheers