Perth Wineries Overview
Western Australia is blessed with over 150 wineries.
The vast majority of them are located in one of the four main
regions, namely the Swan
Valley, Margaret
River, Coastal,
and Great
Southern. If you would like to see a list of wineries in
a specific region click on the region name. Coastal, Great Southern, Margaret River, Pemberton, Perth Hills and
the Swan
Valley
Prepare to surrender your tastebuds to a tantalising
line-up of crisp, dry Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, fruity
Verdelho and Chenin Blanc, full-bodied Shiraz and rich, golden
Chardonnay, and that's just the beginning... More good news
- with a good quality bottle of wine at very affordable prices,
you don't need to spend a fortune learning to love Western
Australian wines. You don't have to spend much time, either,
as the wine country starts just a 30-minute drive from Perth in
the beautiful Swan
Valley.
Western Australia's wine tradition is almost
as old as the Swan River Colony itself. As soon as settlers
moved into the Swan Valley they began planting grapevines,
and the earliest known vineyard was established at Guildford
in 1829. The vineyard still operates today, and its stone cellar
is one of Australia's oldest. Rich alluvial soil, a warm climate
and proximity to the ocean all contribute to the distinctive
character of the wines produced in this area. Many of the wineries
are family-run, some still operated by descendants of the area's
original winemakers.
Another historic wine-growing region, the Perth
Hills wine area is situated in the Darling Range just
30 kilometres (19 miles) east of the city. The steep slopes
and valley of the hills area, its soils and climate, and
elevation above seas level all contribute to the characteristic
flavours and bouquets of the wines produced here. Head for Mundaring and Kalamunda to
sample these wines at the cellar door.
Southward bound, it's an easy 45-minute drive
to the Peel region,
a must-stop spot for wine-buffs en route to Margaret
River, another three hours further to the south. From small
beginnings in 1967, the Margaret River-Busselton winegrowing
region has flourished and now boasts more than fifty vineyards,
stretching from Busselton to Margaret River in picturesque
locations throughout the Cape
Naturaliste-Cape Leeuwin area. One of the world's great
winemaking regions, the area's coincidence of favourable climatic
conditions and talented and passionate winemakers consistently
result in varietals and blends of great appeal.
A few hours to the east of Margaret River - or
an easy four-hour trip south from Perth - lies the Great Southern region,
equally legendary to Margaret River for the consistently high
quality of its vintages. Set your sights on Mount
Barker, Albany, Denmark and
the Porongurup Range, when you visit this region.
Pemberton,
roughly midway between Margaret River and Albany, is a relative
newcomer to the Western Australian winegrowing scene, and another
mandatory stop on any wine explorer's map. Wineries range from
small and atmospheric to big and bold. Most welcome cellar
door sales and many offer stylish dining as part of the winery
experience.
The Swan
Valley
The Swan Valley is a 30 minute drive from Perth. In the region you will find
wildlife and historical parks, bushland, arts and crafts, and most importantly,
several wineries. Like
the wineries in other regions, many of the Swan Valley wineries also
offer fine cuisine with restaurants that are part of the winery. The Swan Valley
is especially known for its fortified wines, produced with help from the hot
Perth Summer. The Swan Valley is also breathtakingly beautiful in wild flower
season. So make a Spring day of it and drift from winery to winery. Click here to more
information about the Swan Valley and
a map
of the Wineries in that region.
Margaret
River
The Margaret River region is world renowned for its excellence in viticulture.
The Region was only discovered as perfect for vine growing about 30 years ago.
Today, you can find dozens and dozens of fine wineries within
a few kilometres of one another. The Margaret River wineries love
to welcome visitors for wine tastings, meals in their first class restaurants,
and a stroll around their beautiful grounds. "Margarets" is famous
for its prize winning cabernets, but you can sample the full range of wines
in most of the wineries. There is also plenty of other things to do in Margaret
River, like swimming at the pristine beaches, surfing at the world famous surf
spots, and visiting the many arts and crafts shops.
Coastal
region
The Coastal region runs from Wanneroo to Busselton. The wineries are not
grouped, so you will need to be prepared to drive a little. However, with wineries like Capel
Vale and Peel Estate, it certainly is worth it. Why not pop in on your way
down to Margaret River?
Great
Southern Region
The Great Southern Region describes the region formed by the Albany/Denmark/Mount
Barker triangle. The Great Southern Region is
less established than Margaret River, with the advantage of being unspoiled
by too much tourism. The region has produced extraordinary Rieslings, and make
sure you sample Wignall's award winning Pinot.
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