Wine touring in Margaret River

If you’re toying with the idea of taking a wine tour while you’re holidaying in WA’s South-West, you are supremely lucky to be on the doorstep of one of the world’s most outstanding winemaking regions: Margaret River.

The heart of Margaret River is the Wilyabrup region – the golden triangle – and this is where you’ll find many of the top wineries. To sit back and simply enjoy the experience, consider joining a tour. Or, for more control over your day, organise your own itinerary and drive yourself around or hire a private charter. If you’re a guest of Private Properties, our concierge service can take care of this for you.

Organised wine tours

Eliminate stress and book an organised tour with experts who know the ins and outs of the industry and area.

• The Flying Corkscrew. For something extra special, splash out with a helicopter tour that includes private tastings and a degustation lunch. Or, book their small group tours to award-winning wineries or a private charter for you and your friends. Find out more.
• Top Drop Tours. This award-winning outfit offers three different experiences: a set itinerary, customised tours and private tours. Some excursions also include stops at the chocolate and cheese factories. Find out more.
• Cheers Winery Tours Margaret River. Along with half- and full-day excursions, Cheers includes stops to the Chocolate Factory, Venison Farm, Cheese Factory and Nougat Kitchen. Find out more.
• Grape Escapes. Aside from three different wine experiences and private charters, Grape Escapes also offers pet-friendly tours to wineries, breweries and cafes in the area. Find out more.
• The Margaret River Discovery Co. This is ‘the wine tour for people who don’t do tours’. Canoeing, hiking, luxury 4WDing and a very special lunch experience in a working winery hosted by WA Guide of the Year – Sean Blocksidge. Find out more.

A girls’ weekend or a couple’s escape is the perfect excuse to embark on a wine tour. If you want to plot your own itinerary, taking in your favourite grape varieties, stunning properties and amazing food, there are many excellent options.

On the casual end, the best choices are Hay Shed Hill, Wills Domain, Clairault Streiker Estate and Howard Park Wines. On the higher end, you might like to add Cape Mentelle, Cullen Wines, Voyager Estate, and one of the oldest and most celebrated wineries in the region, Vasse Felix.

The winegrowers here make, arguably, the best cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in the country, and have established a worldwide reputation for both. The region also has a knack for creating stellar Semillon sauvignon blanc, blending the two grape varieties to perfection.

Wine novices, if you’re not sure what you’re looking for or what you should do, have a read of 10 wine tasting tips for beginners.

If you want to drink … cabernet sauvignon

This was the pioneer grape variety of the Margaret River wine industry and shows no signs of waning. The “cab savs” here are well known for dark berries and big bodies, with a perfume nose and quality French oak. They also have long drinking lives, with some having up to a 30-year drinking window.

The following are a must-visit:

• Cape Mentelle Vineyards
• Xanadu Wines
• Cullen Wines
• Vasse Felix
• Voyager Estate
• Woodlands Wines

If you want to drink … chardonnay

“Power” is often how this region’s chardonnays described, particularly when compared to Eastern States’ versions. The Margaret River varieties are more full-bodied, with a distinctive bouquet. Drop by these cellar doors to sample some of the finest drops in the country:

• Pierro
• Vasse Felix
• Leeuwin Estate
• Voyager Estate
• Devil’s Lair (the 2015 9th Chamber Chardonnay was awarded WA’s White Wine of the Year and Chardonnay of the Year in Ray Jordan’s The West Australian Wine Guide 2018).

If you want to drink … Semillon sauvignon blanc

With a reputation as being the élite of this blended variety in Australia, Margaret River has perfected the combination of perfumed fruit, acidity and a long palate.

Try the excellent SSBs at these outstanding estates:

• Pierro
• Cullen Wines
• Stella Bella Wines
• Cape Mentelle Vineyards
• Hay Shed Hill Wines

If you want to drink … shiraz

Margaret River isn’t particularly well-known for shiraz, but in recent years the cool-climate medium-body shiraz has taken off. It is more delicate and refined, not dissimilar to the shirazes of Southern France and the Adelaide Hills.

Sip shiraz at:

• Cape Mentelle Vineyards
• Juniper Estate
• Amelia Park Wines

Enjoy your stay in the premier wine region of Western Australia. It will be an experience you won’t forget, and you’ll return home with an armful of prized bottles to savour later on.

Browse our list of stunning properties for your next wine getaway in the Margaret River region. Or, get in touch with our friendly bookings team on (08) 9750 5444 or bookings@privateproperties.com.au