Margaret River Wine Region

This Australian wine region is in Western Australia, about 300 km south of Perth. It is justly famous for its Chardonnay and its Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you want to stick to the classical varieties you should try Brookland Valley Chardonnay, Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay, or the Cullen Madeline (A Cabernet based blend) all of which were rated first or equal in their classes in a recent James Halliday’s Wine Companion. These are all world class wines...and there are plenty more where they come from.

There is some debate among wine writers and critics about whether Margaret River will soon be ahead of Coonawarra as Australia’s Premier Wine Region. Some claim it already is.

But, as we shall see, there are other treasures in the region. There are over a dozen alternative varieties grown in the region. A couple, notably Verdelho and Chenin blanc, are old Western Australian favourites but there is plenty of experimentation going on.

Margaret River Wines

“It remains to be seen as to how successful these areas could become.”

We can safely say that the jury has decided in this case.

There are now over one hundred wineries in the region. The best are achieving world recognition for the quality their Chardonnays and Cabernets. About a third of the wineries are using alternative varieties.

The most popular alternative varieties are the old stalwarts of Western Australian white grapes - Chenin Blanc and Verdelho. These are used either blended or as straight varietals to make a range of wines which are typically crisp but full flavoured.

Among the alternative red wine varieties the best known thus far is the Zinfandel made by Cape Mentelle. However there is increasing interest in other varieties as seen in the list below.

Alternative varieties in the Margaret River Wine Region

Adinfern Malbec
Amberley Estate Chenin blanc
Aravina Chenin blanc, Vermentino
Arimia Margaret River Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit verdot, Verdelho, Zinfandel
Arlewood Estate Marsanne, Roussanne
Ashbrook Estate Verdelho
Barwick Wines Viognier
Beckett's Flat Malbec, Verdelho
Blue Manna Chenin blanc, Verdelho
Blue Poles Vineyard Tempranillo, Teroldego, Viognier
Briarose Estate Cabernet franc
Brookwood Estate Chenin blanc
Broomstick Estate Petit verdot
Bunkers Tempranillo
Cape Grace Wines Chenin blanc
Cape Mentelle Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Viognier, Zinfandel
Carpe Diem Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Vermentino
Celestial Bay Malbec, Petit verdot, Ruby Cabernet
Chalice Bridge Estate Viognier
Chapman's Creek Vineyard Chenin blanc
Churchview Estate Chenin blanc, Marsanne
Cullen Wines Malbec, Petit verdot
Deep Woods Estate Verdelho
Eagle Vale Petit verdot
Evans and Tate Chenin blanc, Moscato, Verdelho
Fermoy Estate Chenin blanc, Nebbiolo, Verdelho
Flinders Bay Chenin blanc, Verdelho
Flying Fish Cove Barbera, Chenin blanc, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese
Forester Estate Alicante Bouchet
Gherardi Wines Viognier
Green Valley Vineyard Chenin blanc
Happs Bastardo, Cabernet franc, Carignan, Chenin blanc, Cinsaut, Furmint, Gamay, Graciano, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Muscadelle, Nebbiolo, Tinto Cao, Tempranillo, Verdelho, Viognier
Harman's Ridge Estate Grenache, Marsanne
Hay Shed Hill Wines Cabernet franc, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
Heron Lake Estate Verdelho
Higher Plane Malbec, Viognier
Howard Park Wines Carnelian, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
Island Brook Verdelho
Jarvis Estate Cabernet franc
Jerusalem Hollow Roussanne
Juniper Estate Chenin blanc, Tempranillo, Verdelho
Karri Grove Estate Verdelho
Kneedeep Chenin blanc
Knotting Hill Vineyard Verdelho, Viognier
MadFish Wines Sangiovese, Tempranillo
Marq Fiano, Gamay, Malbec, Tempranillo, Vermentino
Marri Wood Park Chenin blanc
Marybrook Vineyards & Winery Bastardo, Gamay, Grenache, Verdelho
McHenry Hohnen Grenache, Marsanne, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit verdot, Roussanne, Tempranillo, Viognier
Miles from Nowhere Petit verdot, Viognier
Moaning Frog Viognier
Moss Brothers Graciano, Grenache, Tempranillo, Verdelho
Olsen Verdelho
Peacetree Estate Tempranillo
Pennan Viognier
Plan B Tempranillo, Viognier
Redgate Cabernet franc, Chenin blanc, Verdelho
Rivendell Souzao, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Verdelho
Settlers Ridge Chenin blanc, Malbec, Sangiovese
Seven Ochres Petit verdot, Viognier
Stella Bella Moscato, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Viognier
Stellar Ridge Verdelho, Zinfandel
Swings & Roundabouts Chenin blanc, Graciano, Grenache, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Viognier
Swooping Magpie Cabernet franc, Chenin blanc, Verdelho
Tassell Park Wines Chenin blanc, Petit verdot
The Grove Vineyard Graciano, Tempranillo, Verdelho
Victory Point Wines Malbec, Petit verdot
Virage Gewurztraminer, Zinfandel
Voyager Estate Chenin blanc, Viognier
Watershed Wines Cabernet franc, Sangiovese, Viognier, Zinfandel
Willespie Verdelho
Wills Domain Vineyard Malbec, Petit verdot, Viognier
Windance Wines Chenin blanc
Windows Margaret River Chenin blanc
Wine By Brad Sangiovese
Wise Wine Sangiovese, Verdelho, Zinfandel
Wombat Lodge Malbec, Petit verdot
Woodlands Cabernet franc, Malbec
Woody Nook Chenin blanc, Tempranillo
Xanadu Viognier