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Wineries in the Margaret River Region |
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Abbey Vale |
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| This list covers a large selection of Wineries in our region. We are constantly adding new wines and Wineries. Please come back again if you can't find the one you want. Be Sure to check the Wine List as it has all the Wineries and their Wines. |
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Established in 1984, Moss Brothers is the quintessential Margaret River winery - owned and run by the family - parents, Jeff and Fay together with sons Peter and David and Roseworthy graduate daughter Jane. Prior to establishing the family vineyard, Jeff had worked as Viticulturist for Houghtons in the Swan Valley overseeing the modernisation of their vineyards. Jeff is therefore one of the few in the region who can boast of a considerable career in the industry before establishing in Margaret River. With the vineyard now coming to maturity, the wines from Moss Wood continue to impress with the power of their fruit and consistency of style. Moss Brothers produce a premium range of classic wines and others for those consumers who look for easy drinking wines at budget prices. Their 2000 Shiraz, a part of our Sheraton Awards Dozen 2001 (Silver), this wine has been re-entered into the 2002 Sheraton Show and won Gold! A lovely rich wine this is a great example of Margaret River Shiraz. Wine Catalogue here Moss Wood is both the most exciting and frustrating winery in the Margaret River region. Exciting because they simply make the very best wines. Frustrating because the wines are made in such small quantities. An ever increasing list of eager consumers pursue wines that are virtually unavailable except on the auction circuit at which you will pay up to double the release price. Be that as it may, sometime in your life do try and find some, the effort will be very rewarding! The wines are made to uncompromising standards by Keith Mugford. Just four wines all from estate grown fruit - Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Semillon. This quote from James Halliday in his Australia & New Zealand wine companion typifies the respect that Keith and his wines command. Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon "First made in 1973, and has established itself as one of the classic wine styles not only of the Margaret River region, but of Australia. The wines have a distinctive suppleness and softness which sets them apart from other Margaret River Cabernets, and which Dr John Gladstones firmly attributes to the particular terroir of the vineyard." Wine Catalogue here The Pierro Chardonnay is the flagship wine of this innovative winery run by medico Michael Peterkin. This wine has won many awards over the years and is well entrenched in the top 10 Chardonnays of Australia. No mean feat by someone who at one stage of the vineyard development was regarded as a crank for his innovative practices in vine planting and canopy management. Practices which today are being copied by many others in the region! As good as the Chardonnay is, look to the whimsically named Blanc de Blanc (a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin) and the Semillon Sauvignon Blanc LTC (stands for Les Trois Cuvee or a Little Touch of Chardonnay! - depends on who tells the story). Both wines are great examples of flavoursome crisp blends and a superb reflection of Mike Peterkin’s skill as a winemaker. Look also to the Pierro Cabernets (a blend of the traditional Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) and also the Pinot Noir, one of the better examples of this most difficult of all grapes. Wine Catalogue here Redgate Wines is a boutique winery, set in the heart of the Margaret River region. One of the earlier wineries to be established in the region, Redgate has quietly established a reputation for producing consistent, premium quality wines with a varied range of styles. The winery has not always been called Redgate but as the original Redgate was concerned with the dispensing of illicit grog, this was considered an apt name for the operation. After the first
vintage in 1981 a farmhouse style Cellar Sales area was established
which has proved to be the backbone of sales with visitors coming
from all over the world. Not long after opening, Redgate won their
first major wine award, the Montgomery Trophy which put Redgate
on the map. The wines have gone on to win extensive awards in national
shows since then. Wine Catalogue here Ribbon Vale Estate offers you a selection of excellent wines with their very own distinctive character. The bird on the wine label is the beautiful Splendid Wren. Ribbon Vale gets its name from its shape - just 185m wide and 1.3km long allowing for virtually every one of its 10,000 vines to be given individual care. The first vintage was made in 1982 - a fresh fruity Semillon. They now plant Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a small quantity of Cabernet Franc. Winemakers Jan and Mike Davies, who perfected their skills in the Coonawarra, have now made 10 vintages at Ribbon Vale. The consistency in Ribbon Vale’s wines, encouraged Moss Wood to purchase the estate in March 2000. The blue wren will be replaced with the distinctive Moss Wood label and title of Ribbon vale Estate. Look forward to more great wines from this unique winery. Wine Catalogue here One of the comparatively few vineyards established south of Margaret River, Rosa Brook now produces a range of quality wines at comparatively bargain prices. The range includes Shiraz, Cabernet Merlot and Merlot in the reds and Semillon, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and a botrytis Riesling in the whites. All wines sell for less than $20 and represent great value. Current production is quite low but planned expansion aims for production of 150 tonnes by the year 2000. Along with the increase in production has come an increase in quality, thanks to the ever maturing vines and the wine making expertise firstly of Dan Pannell and more recently, Simon Keale. Wine Catalogue here Sandalford’s history is inextricably linked with the earliest developments of Western Australia’s internationally renowned wine industry. In addition to the Swan Valley, Sandalford is a major player in the wine regions of the South West and Great Southern, sourcing fruit from Margaret River, Mount Barker and Pemberton. Margaret River’s temperate maritime climate, with it’s generous winter rainfall, subdued summer temperatures and frost free spring, provides the ideal growing conditions for the production of outstanding premium varietal wine styles. Vines are grown on undulating land in some of the best soils in the area - red/brown, well drained gravelly loam's Senior Winemaker Paul Boulden (formerly of Killerby), has taken the approach that if you have the best fruit in the region don’t mess with it. His approach has resulted in the stunning 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2001 Chardonnay. Both exciting example of the styles in Margaret River. Wine Catalogue here A lifelong commitment to a better environment coupled with a love of fresh food and fine wine led Peter and Lyn Serventy to establish their organic vineyard in 1984. Each Autumn, hundreds of tonnes of home made compost and mulch are spread through the vineyard, with good measures of organic manure and earthworms turned in. Over winter, seaweed and fish fertilisers are produced from the resources of the nearby ocean to provide supplementary Spring feeds. No herbicides or poisonous pesticides are applied. In accordance with centuries old vineyard tradition, mild applications of sulphur and lime sulphur are used as fungicides. The resulting grapes have a flavour and vitality that are immediately apparent and they are certified A level organic by N.A.S.A.A. (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture of Australia). With time, good oak and an adherence to traditional winemaking practices, the grapes evolve into award winning wines. Egg whites are used to soften the tannins of the reds, milk to fine the whites, and an edible clay called Bentonite to eliminate unstable proteins. A minimal amount of sulphur dioxide (about 15% of the amount used in non organic wines) is added to ensure the purity of bottled wines. The range of organic wines includes Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Wine Catalogue here Every now and then a winery pops up that has that slightly rebellious nature to it. A winery that really wants to have fun. Owner/Winemaker Steve Hughes exhibits all the traits of the Aussie “Good Bloke” and it shows in the wines he makes. From the blended “Shed Red” to a subtle Pinot Noir and vibrant Verdelho, Grove wines have a distinctly fun edge to them. The uniqueness of the wines extends to the bottles used. Sourced from France, the bottles are as beautiful and intriguing as the wine. Recently Steve and the gang have experimented with the “Shed Red Stubby”. A smaller bottle traditionally linked with beer.
The Grove also has a lovely café and is home for Yahava KoffeeWorks, which offers tasting's of different coffees at “about one” each day. Also look out for the Chocolate Room! The fun of the winery extends to the café where paper adorns the table and crayons are provided for those repressed artists. Wine Catalogue Here. Visitors to Treeton Estate will be met by a great "character" - Ralph, the Border Collie will be waiting by your car door when you arrive and will be there to say good bye when you leave. During your stay he will entertain you with his own array of tricks including the favourite "hide in the barrel". Everyone loves Ralph, and as you quickly get to know his owners, David and Corinne McGowan, so you will appreciate the sheer hard work that has gone into this winery. No manicured grounds here, the spartan winery attests to a long battle, ensuring that every dollar earned is reinvested into another piece of equipment in their quest for quality. Their range of wines includes Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling and a lovely Rose` named Petit Rouge, crisp and dry, just perfect served chilled on a summers day with a cheese platter. Wine Catalogue here Vasse Felix was the first commercial vineyard and winery to be established in the Margaret River region. Vasse Felix was founded in 1967, by Dr Tom Cullity, with the aim of making the best possible wine. Thirty-five years later, the Vasse Felix team still share the same philosophy, which is reflected in the show successes and consistency of quality. The vineyard took its unusual name from an early event in the district. Vasse was a French seaman who drowned last century when his longboat overturned near the site of Busselton while exploring the coastline on the ship Geographe under Captain Freycinet. Paradoxically, Felix is the Latin word for fortunate or lucky, thus the name refers to a favoured place in Australia discovered by the French. The Vasse Felix red wines are some of the very best in Australia, Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are produced and these wines continue to win trophies in all wine shows they enter. Indeed, the 1996 Shiraz not only won the best dry red at Adelaide in 1997, it won the Best Wine award at our own Festival Wine Show held for the first time in November, 1997! The range of Vasse Felix wines is impressive, apart from the reds there is everything from a sparkling Brut right through the classic white varieties to a Noble Riesling dessert wine. All wines produced by the talented team at Vasse Felix are made with great style and panache. Wherever you see the distinctive falcon emblem of Vasse Felix, buy the wine, you will not be disappointed. Wine Catalogue here The Credaro family of Carbanup Estate market their premium wines under the Vasse River label. The vines grow on the flat gravelly loam soils of Carbanup, once ideal for potato growing, now given over to the grape. Indeed these rich soils present a problem of a somewhat different nature than that of most vineyards in the region - too much growth! Apart from this very welcome problem, the Vasse River wines have enjoyed early show success with a silver medal for their Chardonnay at the 1993 Mt Barker wine show. Big rich flavours of melons and tropical fruit almost mask the unwooded character of the wine - the Chardonnay drinkers Chardonnay! Another interesting wine is the Ruby Red made from grapes planted by Cesare Credaro many years ago to provide home made wine for his own consumption. A red wine with rich sweet fruit flavours and a touch of spritzig. Wine Catalogue here Of all the wineries in the Margaret River region, none has been talked about as much as Voyager Estate. Formerly Freycinet, which was established by the Gheradi family in 1978 and purchased by Michael Wright in 1991, the manicured gardens and striking Cape Dutch style of the magnificent tasting rooms together with the biggest flag pole this side of Canberra, make a statement in no uncertain terms that Michael wanted to be different! Given all the money spent on rose gardens and pretty stuff, there has been a quiet revolution in the vineyard and winery that are achieving some pretty impressive results in the quality of the Voyager wines. The Cabernet Merlot and Chardonnay in particular are fine wines, very much in the classic Margaret River style. Their Shiraz and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc are also being hailed amongst the best in the region. Added to these great wines is the establishment of their restaurant, which offers a magnificent view and feeling of pure luxury. Executive Chef Saul Atkinson has created a marvellous menu. Bookings are strongly recommended. An interesting postscript to this story is that Michael Wright, for all his enthusiasm and knowledge of the industry, will never get to savour the fruits of his labour. He is a teetotaller! Wine Catalogue here Willespie was established in 1976 by Kevin and Marion Squance. The area selected for this vineyard lies on the gravelly loam slopes in the Willyabrup section of the Margaret river region. The vineyard is sheltered by natural Jarrah and Marri forests and being just eight kilometres from the western shores it benefits from the moderating influence of the Indian Ocean. The major plantings is in an area known to the previous owners as the "rock paddock" and is totally un-irrigated All these factors combined with appropriate viticultural care contribute to the intense varietal fruit characters which are evident in the wine produced. Wine Catalogue here From the lofty restaurant and tasting area at Wise Vineyards, visitors can sometimes watch whales at play while they enjoy the Chardonnay. The Wise family Vineyard is blessed with one of the most spectacular outlooks in the world for enjoying good food and estate-grown wines. Wise Vineyards now enjoys an impressive reputation for quality wines resulting in a number of award winning wines during 1997. Wise Vineyards combines the best of local and international knowledge with dedicated, skilled staff to ensure that the wines are of the highest standard. The range of wines include Semillon, Chardonnay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc in the whites and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache Shiraz, Classic red and Pinot Noir in the reds. All wines have delightfully individual Café style labels very much fitting the sub region in which they are made All wines have delightfully individual
Café style labels very much fitting the sub region in which
they are made. Wine Catalogue here Woody Nook was established by the Gallagher family in 1978. Since then they have been producing a wonderful selection of wines designed for any palate. The winery sits on gravely loam with a clay sub-soil and current production is about 5,000 cases. Woody Nook are looking to increase that, with further development of their winery. In May 2000, Peter and Jane Bailey invested significantly into Woody Nook. Woody Nook is famous for their “Nooky Delight” Port. The slightly risqué label doesn’t distract from a wonderful Shiraz Port. The success of this Port has been recognised in a local fudge makers “Nooky Fudge”. Also their café is a great value, top quality establishment, perfect for weekend lunches. Woody Nook’s success has not been limited to their port. The 2001 Sauvignon Blanc picking up Gold at the 2001 Sheraton Awards, as well as their white-blend “Classique”. The “Gallagher’s Choice” Cabernet Sauvignon and their Shiraz are also great examples of the dedication of this team. Look also to their “Killdog Creek” Cabernet Merlot – despite the title, it’s a delight. Wine Catalogue here Until quite recently, Xanadu Wines was a family concern. Established in 1977 by John and Eithne Lagan, Xanadu operated from a tiny tasting room amidst a glorious vineyard. In 2001 Xanadu successfully floated on the stock exchange. The new tasting room is now an impressive feat of architecture. It incorporates a first rate café and offers family facilities and playgrounds. Winemakers Jurg Muggli (a Swiss winemaker and viticulturist) and Glenn Goodall, oversee the production of Xanadu’s three labels: Secession, Xanadu and the premium Lagan range. The Secession wines are placed in the budget range of wines and have some cheeky appeal (bottles carried gold medals with awards like “Best White with Cobbler and Min. Chips). The Xanadu label has produced an impressive range of wines. The 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon being such a wine. With the Lagan Reserve as their flagship, this rounds out an impressive stable. This wine has an extremely tight structure when young but promises great potential for ageing, a wine with silky smooth tannins and rich sweet fruit with loads of plum and cherry characters to the fore. Buy some to put away, this is a wine that will be eagerly sought in time to come. Wine Catalogue here
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Last Page Update was on the 26 July 2004 |
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