Margaret River (wine region)

Last updated

Margaret River
Wine region
Margaret River wine region.jpg
Margaret River Wine Region
CountryAustralia
Part ofWestern Australia
Climate region Mediterranean with strong maritime influences
Soil conditionsWhilst the unique Forest Grove ironstone soils are some

of the most acclaimed, the region’s diversity of soil types offer optimal conditions for a myriad of grape varieties,

styles and wine complexity.

Contents

Total area213,000 hectares (2,130 km2)
Size of planted vineyards5,840 hectares (14,431 acres) [1]
No. of vineyards215 [1]
Varietals produced Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Chenin Blanc
No. of wineries187 [2]

Margaret River is the major geographical indication wine region in southwest Western Australia, with 5,840 hectares under vine and 215 wineries as at 2012. [1] Margaret River wine region is made up predominantly of boutique size wine producers; although winery operations range from the smallest crushing 3.5 tonne per year to the largest around 2,500 tonne. The climate of Margaret River is more strongly maritime-influenced than any other major Australian region. It has the lowest mean annual temperature range, of only 7.6 °C, and as well as the most marked Mediterranean climate in terms of rainfall, with only 200 millimetres of the annual 1160 millimetres falling between October and April. The low diurnal and seasonal temperature range means an unusually even accumulation of warmth. Overall the climate is similar to that of Bordeaux in a dry vintage. [3] [4] Although the region produces just two percent of total Australian wine grape production, it produces over 20 percent of Australia's premium wine market. [5] [6] The principal grape varieties are split 40/60 between red and white; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Shiraz, Merlot and Chenin Blanc. [3] [7]

Sub-regions

There are no official Margaret River subregions, although in 1999 viticultural scientist Dr John Gladstones presented a paper suggesting there should be six subregions based on climate and soil differences namely: Yallingup, Carbunup, Wilyabrup, Treeton, Wallcliffe and Karridale. [8] [9]

Most widely harvested varieties by tonnes crushed

Vintage 2021
Sauvignon blanc 6,886
Cabernet Sauvignon 6,414
Chardonnay 5,371
Sémillon 5,284
Shiraz 3,739
Merlot 1,180
Chenin Blanc871

Wineries

Robert Oatley Chardonnay Robert Oatley Chardonnay.JPG
Robert Oatley Chardonnay

A sample of the wine producers in the Margaret River Wine Region include: [1] [3] [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vasse Felix</span> Vineyard and winery in Western Australia

Vasse Felix was the first vineyard and winery to be established in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. Founded in Wilyabrup in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, it is recognised as a pioneer of the region, and also features an acclaimed restaurant in Cowaramup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Park Wines</span> Winery in Western Australia

Howard Park Wines are Margaret River and Great Southern wine specialists and a family-owned winery owned by the Burch family, which is responsible for such brands as Howard Park, MadFish, and Marchand & Burch. With an established winery based in Margaret River, Western Australia and vineyards in the Great Southern, the Burch family are the first Australians to gain ownership in the production of a French Burgundian Grand Cru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Australian wine</span> Wine produced in Western Australia

Western Australian wine refers to wine produced in Australia's largest state, Western Australia. Although the state extends across the western third of the continent, its wine regions are almost entirely situated in the cooler climate of its south-western tip. Western Australia produces less than 5% of the country's wine output, but in quality terms it is very much near the top, winning 30 percent of the country's medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Southern (wine region)</span> Wine region in Western Australia

The Great Southern wine region is in Western Australia's Great Southern region. It comprises an area 200 kilometres (120 mi) from east to west and over 100 kilometres (62 mi) from north to south, and is Australia's largest wine region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cullen Wines</span> Winery in Western Australia

Cullen Wines is an Australian winery based in Wilyabrup, within the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Mentelle Vineyards</span> Western Australian winery

Cape Mentelle Vineyards is a wine estate in the Margaret River region, 274 km, south-west of Perth, Western Australia. The winery was founded by David Hohnen, a third-generation farmer who studied wine making and viticulture in California in the 1960s, and his brothers Mark and Giles. Cape Mentelle is one of the ‘founding five’ wineries in Margaret River, was established in 1970, and came to prominence by winning the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 1983 and 1984 for their Cabernet sauvignon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moss Wood</span> Winery in Western Australia

Moss Wood is an Australian winery based at Wilyabrup, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. It is widely regarded as one of the best estates in the region.

Voyager Estate is an Australian winery located in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. James Halliday gives the winery his highest ranking, five red stars, in his "Halliday Australian Wine Companion". According to Ray Jordan, wine writer for The West Australian, the winery produces excellent wines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brookland Valley Estate</span> Winery in Wilyabrup, Western Australia

Brookland Valley Estate is an Australian winery at Wilyabrup, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. Australian wine writer Ray Jordan has described its vineyard as one of Australia's showpieces; another writer, James Halliday, considers its Flutes Café to be one of the best winery restaurants in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandalford Wines</span> Western Australian winery business

Sandalford Wines is a privately owned Australian winery business based at Caversham, in the Swan Valley, the focal point of the Swan District wine region of Western Australia. Sandalford owns and operates wineries and vineyards both in Caversham and at Wilyabrup, in Western Australia's Margaret River wine region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankland Estate</span>

Frankland Estate is an Australian winery based at Frankland River, in the Frankland River wine region of Western Australia. It is particularly well known for its Riesling wines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hay Shed Hill Wines</span>

Hay Shed Hill Wines is an Australian winery at Wilyabrup, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capel Vale Wines</span>

Capel Vale Wines is a privately owned Australian winery business based at Capel, in the Geographe wine region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodlands Wines</span> Winery in Western Australia

Woodlands Wines is an Australian winery at Wilyabrup, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. Established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson, it held its first vintage in 1978, and by the end of 1982 had won trophies at wine shows in Mount Barker, Perth and Canberra with its "Andrew" Cabernet Sauvignon 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stella Bella Wines</span> Western Australian winery

Stella Bella Wines is an Australian winery based at Margaret River, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenton Brae Estate</span> Western Australian winery

Lenton Brae is an Australian winery at Wilyabrup, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driftwood Estate</span> Winery and restaurant at Wilyabrup, in Western Australia

Driftwood Estate is an Australian winery at Wilyabrup, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. The winder was established by Tom and Helen Galapoulos in 1989, on what had been a country retreat. The winery received acclaim when its first wine, a semillon produced in 1993, won a special commendation in a British competition. In 2009, leading Australian wine writer James Halliday rated Driftwood Estate as one of the best wineries in the Margaret River region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wise Wine</span> Winery in Western Australia

Wise Wine is an Australian winery at Eagle Bay, near Dunsborough, in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. It was established in 1992, when the then Geographe Bay Estate, founded in 1983, was acquired by the owners of the nearby Eagle Bay Estate and combined with it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salitage Wines</span>

Salitage Wines is an Australian winery at Pemberton, in the Pemberton wine region of Western Australia. Established in 1989 by John and Jenny Horgan, it has been described by prominent Australian wine writer James Halliday as "... the showpiece of Pemberton."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Picardy (wine)</span>

Picardy is an Australian winery at Pemberton, in the Pemberton wine region of Western Australia. It was established in 1993 by Dr. Bill Pannell, his wife Sandra and their son Daniel; Bill and Sandra Pannell had previously founded the pioneering Moss Wood winery in the Margaret River wine region in 1969.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Margaret River Wineries". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Wineries in the Margaret River". James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 James Halliday (2009). The Australian Wine Encyclopedia. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN   978-1-74066-774-6.
  4. ↑ Campbell Mattinson, 'Why the French hate us', Hardie Grant Books 2007
  5. ↑ "The Region". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. ↑ The Australian and New Zealand wine industry directory, 27th Annual edition, 2009, Winetitles.
  7. ↑ Oz Clarke, 'Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guides', Harcourt 1 November 2002
  8. ↑ James Halliday (2006). Wine Atlas of Australia. Hardie Grant Books. pp. 235–236. ISBN   1-74066-348-9.
  9. ↑ Gladstones, John (2016). Viticulture and Environment Revised Edition. Tanunda, South Australia: Trivinum Press. ISBN   978 0 9945016 1 5
  10. ↑ Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson (2007). The World Atlas of Wine. Mitchell Beazley; 6th Revised edition. ISBN   978-1-84533-414-7.

Sources

Web sources
Books
  • Andrijich, Frances; Forrestal, Peter; Jordan, Ray (2003). Margaret River. Fremantle, WA: Fremantle Arts Centre Press. ISBN   192073161X.
  • Clarke, Oz (2004). Oz Clarke's Australian Wine Companion: An essential guide for all lovers of Australian wine. London: Websters/Time Warner Books UK. pp. 6–33, 122–141. ISBN   0316728748.
  • Forrestal, Peter, ed. (1999). Discover Australia: Wineries. Milsons Point, NSW: Random House Australia. pp. 12–27, 247–263. ISBN   0091837898.
  • Forrestal, Peter; Jordan, Ray (2017). The Way it Was: A history of the early days of the Margaret River wine industry. Witchcliffe, WA: Margaret River Press. ISBN   9780648027539.
  • Halliday, James (1985). The Australian Wine Compendium. North Ryde, NSW: Angus & Robertson. pp. 473–477, 490–507. ISBN   0207151377.
  • Halliday, James (2008). James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia (rev. ed.). Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. pp. 234–239. ISBN   9781740666855.
  • Halliday, James (2009). The Australian Wine Encyclopedia. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN   9781740667746.
  • Hardy, Thomas K. (1997). The Australian Wine Pictorial Atlas. Linden Park, SA: Vintage Image Productions. pp. 294–331. ISBN   187630300X.
  • Jordan, Ray (2002). Wine: Western Australia's Best. Osborne Park, WA: The West Australian. pp. 50–99. ISBN   0909699887.
  • Scott, Jane; Negus, Patricia (2011). Stories from the Cellar Door: Fifty Margaret River Wineries Tell Their Tales. North Fremantle, WA: Cape to Cape Publishing. ISBN   9780980333763.
  • Wiltshire, Trea (2000). Margaret River. Australian Wine Regions series. Singapore: R. Ian Lloyd Productions. ISBN   9810426747.
  • Zekulich, Michael (2000). Wine Western Australia (all new ed.). Perth: St George Books. ISBN   0867780614.

33°57′18″S115°04′30″E / 33.955°S 115.075°E / -33.955; 115.075

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.