Connect With Us:     Share
 
Corporate and VIP Tastings

Get Your Fix

Handcrafted VIP Gifts
 
Facebook 
 
Wine Finder:
GO
Home » Wine » Regions » Margaret River, WA

Margaret River, WA

Image of Margaret River, WA

Drive about 3 hours South of Perth and you will discover WA’s most famous wine region – Margaret River. Although reasonably young, (even by Australian standards) it has the potential to become one of the world’s great wine producing regions. It contributes only 3% of our country’s wine grapes but commands over 20% of the premium wine market.

Margaret River extends from Cape Naturaliste in the North to Cape Leeuwin in the South, a dramatic boundary of cliffs and the Indian Ocean to the West. The region is 100km long and 30km wide and has approximately 5500ha under vine within 215 (2008) mostly boutique wineries.

Margaret River has no officially recognised sub-regions, but in 1999, to indicate the diversity of the soils and microclimates, viticultural scientist Dr John Gladstone assigned 6 wine precincts to the region. They are: (listed from warmest to coldest) Yallingup, Carbunup, Wilyabrup, Treeton, Wallcliffe and Karridale.

Surrounded on 3 sides by the ocean, not surprisingly Margaret River has a mostly maritime climate, but it can also be described as Mediterranean in terms of rainfall, with usually only 200mm of the annual 1160mm falling between October and April. The region is not affected by extreme summer and winter temperatures and humidity levels are ideal during the growing period. This combination of factors creates fruit of consistently high quality and flavour. The climate of Margaret River would be most like that of Bordeaux in a dry vintage.

The landscape of Margaret River consists of many small creeks and gentle valleys with a profusion of trees, shrubs and flowers. This flora is critical to supplying some degree of protection from the winds coming in from the ocean.
A ridge that runs from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin contains the region’s most common soil type, formed from underlying gneissic rock and granite. The soil is mostly gravelly or gritty sandy loam which when wet is highly permeable but if sites are sloping any moisture soon dissipates.

In the 50s, there was concern that the Swan Valley wine industry was in trouble due to nematodes and disease and that finding an alternative region was necessary. In 1961, Dr John Gladstone from the University of WA published a paper after much dedicated research. The paper suggested that the climate of Margaret River indicated that it should be considered as a wine producing area.

In 1967 Dr Tom Cullity a cardiologist, paid $600 for 8 acres of land on Harman’s Rd South and planted the first vines on Margaret River soil. He named the property Vasse Felix and it is still called that today. This planting was soon followed by those at Moss Wood, Cape Mentelle, Cullen Wines and Sandalford Wines, the beginnings of a burgeoning wine industry.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely harvested variety in Margaret River and the wine on which the regions reputation was founded as it has been highly awarded. It is often blended with Merlot and is a well built wine with slightly earthy or gravelly tannins – a reflection of the terroir.

Margaret River also produces an outstanding and unique Chardonnay, a complex wine that is very concentrated, tangy and viscous without being heavy or cloying. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are also popular as the single varietals, or as a blend which is establishing a reputation as an intense, pleasantly grassy and elegant wine. Margaret River Shiraz is now gaining
plaudits along with Zinfandel.

Judge the quality of Margaret River wines for yourself at one (or three or four) of the more than 60 cellar doors scattered through the region – enjoy! - Daniel Jess

View wines from Margaret River, WA


 

Wines from Margaret River, WA