Margaret River Wine Region

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

But there is more for the savvy visitor to this region ...

In more recent years a range of new varieties and styles have been made, with considerable success.

You will now find Italian varieites as well as the classic port varieties from the Iberian peninsula.

As the big, robust and highly tannic red wines characteristic of Rutherglen have become less popular a few wineries have begun making sparkling red wines. This style has not attracted universal approval, but it certainly has its enthusiasts.

Visitors to a vineyard in Margaret River. Photo from Margaret River Discovery Co

History of the Margaret River Region

The wine region is relatively new, even by Australian standards. The first plantings took place in the 1960’s.

Len Evans in his 1973 opus  Australia and New Zealand Complete Book of Wine refers to trial plantings in the region and predicts

“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.

A prediction from half a century ago

There are now well over one hundred wineries in the region. The best are achieving world recognition for the quality their Chardonnays and Cabernets.

Soon after the region was established Zinfandel and the old stalwarts of Western Australian white grapes - Chenin Blanc and Verdelho were comonly grown.

In more recent years Sangiovese, Tempranillo and other Mediterranean varieties have made their appearance.

Alternative varieties in the Margaret River region

• Adinfern Malbec
• Amato Vino Arinto, Bastardo, Carignan, Fiano, Graciano, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Tannat, Teroldego
• Aravina Chenin blanc, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Arimia Petit verdot, Zinfandel
• Arlewood Estate Nebbiolo
• Blind Corner Aligote, Chenin Blanc
• Blue Poles Vineyard Fiano, Tempranillo, Teroldego
• Brookwood Estate Chenin blanc
• Bunkers Tempranillo
• Cape Grace Wines Cabernet franc, Chenin blanc, Malbec, Petit verdot
• Cape Mentelle Marsanne, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Zinfandel
• Carpe Diem Malbec, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Vermentino
• Celestial Bay Malbec, Petit verdot, Ruby Cabernet
• Chalice Bridge Estate Savagnin
• Churchview Estate Chenin blanc, Marsanne, Zinfandel
• Cloudburst Malbec
• Credaro Estate Fragola, Gewurztraminer, Sangiovese
• Cullen Wines Malbec, Petit verdot
• Deep Woods Estate Nebbiolo
• Della Fay Vermentino
• Dormilona Chenin Blanc, Tempranillo
• Fermoy Estate Chenin blanc, Nebbiolo
• Flying Fish Cove Barbera, Chenin blanc, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Vermentino
• Forester Estate Alicante Bouschet, Fer, Malbec, Petit verdot
• Gralyn Estate Pedro Ximenez
• Green Valley Vineyard Chenin blanc
• Happs Bastardo, Cabernet franc, Carignan, Chenin blanc, Cinsaut, Furmint, Gamay, Graciano, Marsanne, Muscadelle, Nebbiolo, Tinto Cao, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Hay Shed Hill Wines Cabernet franc, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Higher Plane Fiano, Malbec, Tempranillo
• Howling Wolf Wines Sangiovese
• Island Brook Malbec, Tempranillo
• Jarvis Estate Cabernet franc
• Juniper Estate Fiano, Malbec, Tempranillo
• Kneedeep Chenin blanc
• L A S Vino Nebbiolo, Souzao, Tinto Cao, Touriga,
• Larry Cherubino Arneis, Counoise, Fiano, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Mencia, Pinot blanc, Prosecco, Sauvignon gris, Tempranillo
• Las Vino Chenin Blanc
• Lenton Brae Pinot blanc
• Marq Fiano, Gamay, Malbec, Petit Manseng, Tempranillo, Vermentino
• Marri Wood Park Chenin blanc
• McHenry Hohnen Marsanne, Malbec, Petit verdot, Roussanne, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
• Mr Barval Fine Wines Marsanne, Nebbiolo
• Night Harvest Alicante Bouschet
• Peacetree Estate Tempranillo
• Plan B Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Redgate Cabernet franc, Chenin blanc
• Risky Business Malbec, Prosecco, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Rosabrook Tempranillo
• Settlers Ridge Chenin blanc, Malbec, Sangiovese
• Smake and Herring Tempranillo
• Stella Bella Moscato, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Swooping Magpie Cabernet franc
• Tassell Park Wines Chenin Blanc, Petit Verdot
• tripe.Escariot Malbec
• Victory Point Wines Malbec, Petit verdot
• Watershed Wines Sangiovese, Zinfandel
• Wills Domain Vineyard Scheurebe
• Wise Wine Fiano
• Wombat Lodge Malbec, Petit verdot
• Woody Nook Chenin blanc, Graciano, Tempranillo
• Xanadu Graciano, Malbec

Want to learn More About Australian Wine regions?

De Long's Wine Map of Australia

Click on the images above and right to find out more about these resources

James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia

Pictures from WA WIneries

visiting the Margaret River region

The Margaret River region consists of an area of land bounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean and Southern Oceans.

It is about a hundred kilometres from north to south, and about thirty east-west. The major towns are Busselton in the north, Margaret River in the middle and Augusta in the south. . Much of the Indian Ocean frontage of the region is protected by National Parks.

As well as being a great wine region to tour there are plenty of other attractions in the area. There are ample opportunities for surfing, coastal and bush walking, forest drives, whale watching and other outdoor pursuits.

Two lighthouses define the region.  In the north is the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse overlooking Geographe Bay.

In the South is the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse marking the boundary between the Indian and Southern Oceans. Cape Leeuwin was named in honour of the Dutch ship Leeuwin which passed by in 1622. 

There are many accommodation options in the region. These range from resorts, to motels cottages and camping grounds. Many vineyards have accommodation and dining facilities.

Use the box below to find the best deals on accommodation in the region

2 bottles each of some stunning alternative reds.

Sagrantino, Barbera, Touriga and more. 

Just $16.25 per bottle.