Margaret River
The spectacular, winding Caves Road has enough stops for drops to quench the thirst of wine lovers from all cultures and creeds
Few destinations serve up a tasting platter of experiences as enticing as Margaret River. The West Australian wine region combines acclaimed wineries, world renowned surf breaks, laid-back locals, gourmet cuisine, adventure sports, ancient caves and bush beauty — and the list is growing.
Take the emergence of new craft breweries, cideries and distilleries elbowing their way into the wine scene. Whether you’re a hipster dreaming of wine touring in a Kombi van, parents with the kids in tow or a couple after a romantic mini-break, here’s how to tailor the perfect trip to the sun-drenched pocket of southwest Australia. Best wineries and breweries for hipsters The hipster set have arrived — and they are putting a cork on the snobbery of wine tasting.
Cellar doors don’t come cooler than Snake + Herring, housed in an unassuming Colorbond building on the vineyard-choked Caves Rd.
With descriptions such as “dead sexy” in the tasting notes and wines named after the winemaker’s favourite songs (think Tainted Love, Black Betty), the duo behind Snake + Herring are intent on putting the fun into vineyard hopping. The walls are filled with trendy prints on wood and tiles, and songs from the wine labels crank out of a vinyl turntable.
Visit during a long weekend, and pop-up stalls dish up delectable offerings including duck pawpaw salad with a glass of rose, or slow-cooked beef cheeks with chunky mash.
Take a gamble on nearby House of Cards and you won’t be disappointed, with its playful take on the winemaking game. Giant, Instagram-worthy playing cards greet visitors to the modern cellar door, where single vineyard wines have names like Queen of Hearts Chardonnay and King Cabernet Sauvignon. Visitors can browse through art and jewellery by local and Australian artists and wander through the manicured gardens.
If beer and cider are more your taste, an original working dairy farm in Metricup has been reincarnated as The Beer Farm brewery, retaining many rustic features. Beer lovers can taste to their heart’s delight in the old hay shed, which overlooks a herd of grain fed cattle. You can even saddle up for their annual rodeo if you time the trip right. Best family wineries Wine tasting might sound like an adults-only adventure, but you don’t need to leave the little people behind.
At the rollicking Cheeky Monkey Brewery, also home to Killerby Wines, there’s a kids’ menu and a fenced playground situated close enough for parents to supervise from their table. A visit to Swings & Roundabouts in beautiful Yallingup offers games like giant Connect Four, cricket, totem tennis, bocce, pick-up sticks and football, as well as a tire swing and drawing materials.
Nearby, the luxurious Estate features a host of attractions for adults and children alike including a European-designed playground, a sports car gallery, a kitchen garden, orchards and degustation menus.
An inflatable bouncy castle, tree house, playground, kids’ menu, sports equipment and croquet at Howling Wolves at Rivendell Estate are enough to keep the children entertained all afternoon. They can let their imaginations run wild in the “enchanted” gardens, with secret pathways, manicured hedges, fountains and statues. Best wineries for romance Take a stroll around the lake or channel your inner Romeo in the 1000-bush rose garden at Robert Oatley Margaret River (formerly Laurance), where the picturesque grounds and sprawling lawns are as much of a drawcard as the wine.
If you want to take things to the next level, the Greek-style amphitheatre at Driftwood Estate provides the ultimate backdrop to pop the question as the sun sets.
The fragrant, flower-filled Secret Garden at Brookland Valley Estate is a magnet for weddings while Fraser Gallop Estate, with a stately Georgian-style private residence on the edge of a dam, looks like something out of The Sound of Music. Best with a view At the up-market Wise Wines, the outlook from the balcony and restaurant are just as sublime as the wine.
With sweeping views over Geographe Bay and Meelup Regional Park, it’s little wonder the sandstone winery is a hotspot for weddings and special events. The cellar door staff add an element of intrigue with a game of blind tasting and there’s even a rack of Asian/deco inspired clothes in the corner to browse through.
For a more relaxed feel, Eagle Bay Brewing Company is just around the corner, where you can drink in the expansive bushland and glimpses of the sea while sampling a tasting paddle of beers.
Or while away an afternoon with Indonesian-inspired cuisine at Black Brewing Co, which sits next to a large dam with impressive water feature.