About the Margaret River region

Margaret River is one of the most reliable wine growing regions in Australia and its monotonously glowing vintage reports can bring tears to the eyes of long-suffering vignerons in regions less favoured by Mother Nature.

Surrounded by ocean on three sides - Geographe Bay to the north and the Indian and Southern oceans to the west and south – the main climate risk is wind, which can cause poor fruit set and otherwise harass vines. But the sea breeze is also the vine’s great ally, bringing with it cool air to moderate the long summer days. The climate is Mediterranean, with reliable winter rains and dry, warm summers. The region is about 100km long and 30 km across and soils vary greatly, though all are low in nutrients and thus well-suited to wine growing. The extended season of warm, dry days and cool nights seems perfectly designed to bring out the best in the late-ripening Cabernet grape. Margaret River is also noted for fine Chardonnay wines and full-flavoured blends of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

As harvest draws near and if conditions are right, as they so often are, nearby forests of majestic karri trees will burst into flower, drawing flocks of hungry birds to their nectar so that the vigneron’s crop can ripen in peace.

Margaret River is as kind to tourists as it is to grape vines and its pageant of rolling hills, soaring forests and deserted beaches is complemented by a growing gourmet food and wine tradition..