5 Great Wineries to Visit in Margaret River, Western Australia's First Eco Destination
Jamie and Lara McCall, photo credit Burnside Organic Farm
Western Australia's Margaret River is synonymous with words such as world-class, picturesque, and a must-visit, but now it can add "first eco-destination for WA" to its repertoire. Perched upon verdant hills are award-winning wineries, accessed via roads winding through timber forests, along coast lines home to well-known surf breaks, and past ancient caves. Although the three-hour drive from Perth is enough to convince you you're in a wild place, wait until you taste the wine.
12% of the region's vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, making Margaret River a premier destination for low-fi, preservative-free wines. There’s even a Margaret River Organic Wine Trail. Here are five to seek out on your next visit.
Lara and Jamie McCall run Burnside Organic Farm. The pair quit their corporate life to live off the land in 1997 and have since become pillars in the region's organic farming community. At Burnside Organic, they produce zinfandels from grapes they planted in 2001. Every March, the fruit is handpicked, then wild fermented in open vats until it's ready to sit in a combination of new and old French oak barrels.
While their zinfandels are legendary, Burnside offers more than just wine. On-site, visitors can stay in the bungalows for a country escape and spend their days picking vegetables from the garden, trying Lara's homemade cheeses, and immersing themselves in the organic farm life.
Settlers Ridge is another small, family-owned winery, sitting on 101 acres in the heart of Cowaramup's dairy country. This winery doesn't follow convention, making it a unique destination and making its wines memorable. They've won several awards and competed in mainstream wine shows to dispel the noise around organic methods compromising quality.
Port is a rarity in the region, but it shows that the organic method of growing yields results. Even Naturopaths are recommending their organic wine range. Visitors can expect to taste three top wines: a Sangiovese, a Tawny Port, and a red blend named Blend 51.
Although winery tours aren't a regular offering, you can visit the cellar door for a tasting. It's part cafe, part bike store, part community space, and of course, part wine tasting. Meet the producers and get friendly with the locals of Cowaramup.
The dirt in the Wilyabrup pocket of the Margaret River region tells the story of a storm that blew down a tree and 20-year-old vines restored. More importantly, this is the story of Stormflower Vineyard, an organic winery producing the best wine from a small block.
In the mid-1990s, vines were planted on the property but were restored with natural vineyard management when Stormflower took over. Today, you can sip on unique, hand-crafted wines from sparkling to cabernet shiraz and an Aurora Pet Nat.
A wet and cold season, fungal disease outbreak, and humid conditions forged the Aurora Pet-Nat. Still, the result is delightful pale peach in color wine, with pink grapefruit aromas and guava on the palate.
Visit the cellar door for a tasting and witness the long central timber table crafted from a Marri Tree, brought down by a storm in 2013. Enjoy the picnic tables outside during balmy summer afternoons and wander through the gardens.
Blind Corner
Photo credit Blind Corner
Some are baffled by the skate ramp at Blind Corner, but those who know winemaker Ben know he's an occasional skater, and the ramp is for the kids. Ben drives the wine side while his wife Naomi is busy building her biodynamic vegetable patch and beekeeping.
Together they run Blind Corner, a small, organic winery and cellar door, offering a five-star experience. Guests are invited to peek behind the fermenting rooms, see the bottling line, and can walk through the vines.
As for the wines, Blind Corner pioneered the Petillant Naturel, producing natural wines and styles the region hadn't seen before: all from a shed. Today, visitors can taste a petillant, described as unicorn tears to Chenin Blanc, and a Bernard, which is a crowd-favorite.
Cullen Wines
Cullen Wines, photo credit Cullen Wines
Cullen Wines celebrated 50 years of existence in 2021. For reference, the Margaret River region is said to be around 50 years old. They are the only biodynamic and carbon-positive winery in the region. Not to mention, Cullen Wines is also one of Australia's most awarded wineries.
One of their most iconic wines is the Diana Madeline range, which has won international awards. The 2020 Diana Madeline vintage produces small berries and low-yielding, so numbers are limited, but the product is an elegant wine with balance and perfume. It costs $150 per bottle and is worth every cent.
Another notable bottle coming out of 2019 is the Legacy Series Fruit Day Malbec, harvested from Mangan Vineyard on March 20: a full fruit day on the biodynamic calendar.
Visitors can stay at the Cullen Homestead, which has six bedrooms, and is only a 15-minute drive to the beach and a short walk to Cullen Winery for lunch and a tasting. The Cullen Biodynamic Wine Room echoes its organic philosophy by serving dishes prepared using fresh, biodynamic, and organic produce from the Estate's garden.
It's a relaxing place for lunch and a tasting, overlooking the historic verdant vineyard.