South Regional TAFE Margaret River campus offers a range of short courses including forklift operation, barista, first aid, evaluate wines and AusChem.
Find courses here.
If you wish to discuss any skills / training requirements for your business please contact [email protected]
Further information on what skills / training is already available may be found at this here
Busselton – 30 & 31 May
Tourism Council WA is hosting four workshops, a Walking on a Dream Brand Briefing and Tourism Connect networking event.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to upskill your business and gain a competitive edge by learning how to make your brand stand out. Tourism Council WA members receive a 50% discount on workshop tickets, and two free tickets to the Tourism Connect.
Tourism Council WA invites members and the wider tourism industry to attend a Tourism Connect industry sundowner. Hear the latest industry news from Tourism Council WA and enjoy drinks and nibbles while connecting with your tourism network. Each Tourism Council WA member is entitled to two complimentary tickets. Please click this link to register.
Click here for Margaret River Wine 2023 to 2024 Marketing Opportunites.
Published May 2023.
The IWSC is bringing its international awards to Western Australia, in partnership with the Margaret River Wine Association.
The IWSC is delighted to announce it will be taking a panel of international experts to Margaret River to judge local wines ‘in situ’ in August. The IWSC’s same stringent judging process will take place, but producers will benefit from a more convenient, local delivery and the opportunity to bring their wines to the global stage.
IWSC’s CEO, Christelle Guibert commented, “We are thrilled to be taking our international awards to Australia this year. We have seen the success our immersive judging has had in other countries, including Georgia, Turkey and South Africa, and are sure to see the same triumph in Margaret River in Australia. Both the IWSC and Margaret River’s wines’ history date back over 50 years, and we look forward to joining forces and sharing these world-class wines with our community.”
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland said she is so excited to have retailers, sommeliers and key media from the IWSC, one of the world’s most highly regarded international wine competitions, coming to Margaret River.
“We believe judging Margaret River wines in Margaret River will immerse the IWSC judges in the region, giving them lasting impressions, as well as providing our winemakers an opportunity to meet and create relationships with key buyers and influencers.”
“Partnering with the IWSC will help us showcase some of the best wines from our beautiful region to wine industry professionals and wine drinkers through a program of events and publicity of the awarded wines,” say Whiteland.
Our team of international judges will be fully immersed in the region as they join local Australian judging experts. Members of the judging panel will be announced in the following weeks. The judging will take place from 29 August and results will be announced the following week on 4 September.
Award entrants will benefit from:
Entry to the IWSC’s awards is open now. Delivery information will be shared soon. Entry for the IWSC’s Wine Judging in Margaret River closes on 17 July 2023.
Proudly supported by WA Wines to the World; an industry-led Export Growth Partnership coordinated by Wines of Western Australia, co-funded by DPIRD.
2023 proved an extended yet very rewarding vintage in the Margaret River Wine Region. Optimal, dry weather conditions paired with the absence of any significant climatic challenges or disease pressure set the scene for a moderate season, ideal for gentle, consistent ripening across all varieties.
A slightly cool, delayed start
Winter temperatures were lower than average, which made for a quick senescence and sound dormancy for the vines. There was markedly less-than-average rain; however, the vineyards received sufficient supply to recharge soil moisture levels, paving the way for a promising growing season ahead.
The growing season began with a late budburst after a relatively cold winter that pushed vine development back by about 2-3 weeks. Spring saw less rain and cooler conditions than usual, resulting in a slow start to canopy growth and an extended flowering period for early bloomers like Chardonnay. Good fruit-set across most varieties resulted in generally higher yields than average.
Consistently warm, dry summer
Low November rain slowed into an even drier December, January and February, with less than 2 mL of rain falling collectively across the summer season. January brought consistently warm, sunny days, which saw vines start to catch up nicely on their development. Veraison was delayed by 2-3 weeks for whites and one week for reds. February, dry with plenty of sunshine and no extreme heat, provided perfect ripening conditions and harvest starting around the middle of the month.
Cold southerly breezes blowing off the ocean and cool mornings, evenings and nights helped retain natural acid in the fruit. At the same time, short periods of peak heat during the day were ideal for slow, even ripening across all varieties.
Disease pressure was minimal in the region due to seasonal consistency and dry conditions stretching from January until the middle of April. The Marri tree blossom was scarce this year, which made grapes an easy target for the native birds, and as a result, bird netting and monitoring were vital.
Reds roll off gracefully
The warm, dry conditions that kicked off the season continued for most of the reds, with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon rolling off the vine gracefully. Temperatures were a bit cooler in April, meaning it took longer for tannins to soften and for flavour to develop fully. However, the sunny, dry weather that held out until mid-April meant the fruit could remain on the vine until it was ready. Some heavy rains in mid-late April pushed out the red harvest slightly for some later ripening vineyards.
Alex Miller, Technical Viticulturist at Voyager Estate, explained, “What started as a slow burn in spring for the viticulturists resulted in a glorious summer of optimal temperatures, rewarding us with classy fruit befitting our regional reputation. April evolved into a typical patchy weather pattern as producers raced against the season’s end. Fortunately, Cabernet Sauvignon berry skins are sturdy and can withstand the dip in temperature and the odd shower. All round, another epic vintage in the bank.”
2023: An Excellent Vintage
Despite minor weather events towards the end, 2023 proved a fantastic vintage. As winemakers taste the wines as they finish fermentation, they can already see the incredible quality of what has come off the vineyards. The region’s hero varieties, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, stand out for vintage 2023. The Chardonnays are elegant and fresh with lovely natural acidity. The Cabernet Sauvignons are inky and dense, showing great intensity and a very fine tannin structure.
The region’s volume is estimated to be approximately 34,000 tonnes this year, and 6% higher than the 5-year average. The increased yields and superb quality across the region bode well for the 2023 vintage wines.
“In summary, 2023 will be remembered as an excellent vintage in Margaret River.” writes Glenn Goodall.
Sustainability Surged in 2023
For Vintage 2023, Margaret River vineyards and wineries participating in Sustainable Winegrowing Australia grew significantly to 96 members.
The 47 Certified Vineyards Members account for 1,876 hectares or 32% of Margaret River’s vineyards. An additional 22 vineyards are working towards certification. Margaret River also boasts 13 Certified Wineries that crushed 14,641 tonnes last year.
Margaret River Wine Association CEO Amanda Whiteland said, “Our Association’s Sustainability Plan was established out of a conviction to fulfil our custodial responsibilities. It recognises the importance of protecting our region’s rare biodiversity, exceptional environment value and capacity to produce some of the world’s best wines.”
“A major focus of the plan is onboarding our members to the national Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on soil, water, people, biodiversity, energy and waste. Kate Morgan, MRWA’s Sustainability Officer is working with members to achieve certification and build additional value for their wines.”
A New Voices Story by Leah Clearwater
Next time you venture into a vineyard, ask which grape clones are planted there and you’re bound to hear a series of unfamiliar codes that sound a bit too “sciencey” to be related to the romance of wine. Most wine lovers are content to have a solid grasp on what the main grape varieties are, such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc, and so on. However, an understanding of grape clones and the important role they play towards wine style adds another intriguing dimension when considering the wine in your glass.
If Wine was Marvel, the Greatest Grape Clones would be the X-Men
Clones are essentially the “X-Men” of the wine world, mutants of the Vitis Vinifera species. Each clone has a gene sequence which imparts uniquely sought-after qualities, or ‘superpowers’ in wine. They are generally named after their place of origin, a research field code, or a combination of both.
Originating from a special ‘mother vine’, clones are reproduced via nursery cuttings which are used to plant vineyards. No-one knows exactly how many clones exist, as natural genetic changes can occur spontaneously, and new clones are identified and released by universities every year. You will also find that each wine region has its own favourites due to the suitability of particular clones to the soils and climate of the area.
The Clonal Kings of Margaret River
Despite the wide range of wines coming out of Margaret River, Chardonnay and Cabernet reign supreme as the flagship wines of the region, and receive the most acclaim internationally. Their status is firmly associated with two heritage clones; Gingin for Chardonnay and the Houghton selection for Cabernet.
The Gingin Jedi
Introduced into Western Australia in 1957, the first Gingin cuttings were sent to Australia by Professor Harold Olmo who originally imported the clone as a grapevine virus indicator. Introduced to Margaret River in 1975, Gingin quickly became recognised for its iconic quality attributes and low-yielding nature. Today, Gingin is the most widely planted clone in the region.
Gingin is the preferred clone of many winemakers due to a phenomenon colloquially referred to as ‘hen and chicken’ and technically termed ‘millerandage’. The poor ability of this clone to set fruit results in small, loose bunches made up of a mix of large (hen) and small (chicken) berries. This distinctive feature creates wines in which ripe fruit characters and rich acidity coincide.
Clone Wars – Chardonnay
The main clonal players in ‘Battle Chardonnay’ are Gingin and the Dijon (Burgundian) clones 95 and 96. Although Gingin wins the war regarding percentage of vineyard area, the jury is out on which is the better clone, with winemaker preference being the greatest influence.
Cliff Royle, winemaker at Flametree Wines, prefers to use Gingin fruit to create his award-winning Chardonnays.
“Gingin is all about concentration, freshness, purity and acid. There’s plenty of flavour in the big berries and lots of acid and concentration in the little ones. I love the line of citrus, stone fruit and dried pear in the fruit profile and the naturally balanced juices we get to create wines from. This clone gives texture and complexity that no other clone can compete with”.
Dijon clone vines are higher yielding with more uniform bunches and entirely different acid and flavour attributes, which lean toward finer, more savoury and mineral elements in the wine.
When Stuart Pym, owner and winemaker at Flowstone Wines, had the opportunity to compare Chardonnay clones, it was Dijon that won the day.
“For me, it was clones 95 and 96 that really stood out. They offered lovely textures and flavours, but still an open nature to the palate that allowed further complexing elements. Not as focussed as Gingin, but more subtle and textural. So, for me, the Dijon clones 95 and 96 allow Chardonnay to be textural, elegant and complex. As such, my Chardonnay vineyards are planted to these clones, and the wines certainly demonstrate this.
So, who wins this clone war? In the case of Margaret River Chardonnay, I think we’re all happy to declare a truce. The advantage of having two outstanding genetic players in the region is that winemakers can create a diversity of styles and are able to utilise the individual characteristics of each clone to craft complex and layered blends.
The Houghton Heroes
The history of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon is founded on vine cuttings loosely referred to as ‘Houghton clones’. No-one took much notice of these until the 1930’s when vignerons were prepared to overlook the low-yielding nature of the clone due to its outstanding quality. This is when Jack Mann, WA winemaking legend and founder of Houghton Wines, took cuttings from the old bush vines located throughout the Swan Valley near Perth and established the “Houghton Cabernet Block”. Cuttings from this block became the vineyard planting material for the pioneers of the Margaret River Wine Region.
Many people mistakenly refer to a singular Houghton clone, when in fact there is a collection of different clones. Their commonality is found in that they were selected from the most superior vines in the original Houghton Cabernet Block.
Clone Wars – Cabernet Sauvignon
After an initial flurry of plantings in the early days of the Margaret River wine industry, the vines in the Houghton Cabernet Block were neglected from the mid 70’s through to the 1990’s. During this period all the focus was on the new kid on the block, clone SA-126 from South Australia. It is not clear why this clone flourished so greatly in comparison, as it is higher yielding and tends to produce lighter, more tannic wines.
So, who is the winner here? Vasse Felix winemaker Virgina Willcock, weighs in on the discussion,
“Houghton Selection appears to be synonymous with a Margaret River Cabernet style. It is our heritage clonal material, and it imparts beautiful succulence and transparency, allowing the regional characters of forest, ocean and red gravel to show through in the wine. Clones from this selection offer lightness and freshness of red fruit and a fine tannin profile, bringing an amazing balance to the wine in a savoury context. We find Houghton clone wines have less tomato leaf character than SA126 and have greater ability to retain elegance and finesse while still holding the power of great Cabernet”.
Keith Mugford of Moss Wood sees the merits of both clones while acknowledging the specific requirements for getting things right with SA-126.
“The Houghton clones produce fruit aromas in the blue and black spectrum, giving a nose with blueberries and mulberries, combining with lifted almost floral scents like violets and roses but retaining the complex background of cedar and tar. Houghton clone wines are quite different to those made with SA-126. The Houghton clones have a more rounded tannin structure and give a generally softer “feel”, while SA-126 has more concentrated, drying tannins and needs to be picked riper to achieve good balance”.
Although both sets of clones can create Cabernets of distinction, regional tastings held over the years have established a clear preference for the lower-yielding vines from the Houghton clonal selection. Further validation has been achieved through clonal trials and research projects comparing the vine and wine characteristics of numerous Cabernet clones, where the ‘Houghton Heroes’ prevail every time.
A Universe Unfolds
The battle of the clones has been raging across the world for centuries now, with each global wine region treasuring their specific collection, and each individual winemaker optimizing their style via clonal choices.
At just 54 years old, the Margaret River Wine Region has a comparatively small library of clones at its disposal and is very young by international standards. Yet, in a very short period it has established itself as a serious star in the universe of wine and much of this can be credited to the X-Men at play.
Tuesday 13 June, 10am (AWST)
People Leadership: How to get the best from your team
Recently awarded HR Director of the Year, Pernod Ricard’s Christian Campanella will share with us his insights into some of the most important issues facing sector leaders. Christian will cover off topics including transitioning into leadership, keeping teams motivated in a tough environment, and keeping a focus on health and well-being.
Presented by: Christian Campanella, HR, Communications and S&R Director
REGISTRATION: This webinar is free to ALL WCA members, non-members will be charged $50 + GST to access.
Wednesday 31 May, 8.30am – 2pm
Stella Bella, Luminosa Vineyard, 191 Gnarawary Rd, Margaret River
Join agroecologist/viticulturist Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and Regional On-ground Coordinator, Kate Tarrant, Lower Blackwood LCDC, who will host a National EcoVineyards Program practical soil health field event with special guest presenter Mark Tupman, Productive Ecology, to discuss composting and soil health indicators. Learn more and register.
Friday 12 May 2023
8:30am to 12pm
Australia’s wine industry is already feeling the effects of climate change. Our weather is becoming increasingly variable, with more frequent extreme weather events affecting vine productivity. Summers are becoming steadily hotter and drier, leading to changes in vine phenology, with grapes ripening earlier and over a shorter period. This can result in vintage compression and grapes being harvested at increasingly high sugar levels. In the longer term, we may start to see changes in pest and disease pressures, increased water restrictions, changes in suitability of traditional winegrape varieties in some regions, and trade restrictions related to international carbon tariffs.
This workshop will take an in-depth look at the climate change projections for your region and their impact on grape production. It will then discuss key climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for the vineyard.
Margaret River Education Campus
Lot 272 Bussell Hwy
Margaret River WA 6285
Cost: $35 per person, inc. GST
Including morning tea
Thursday 20 April 8.45am – 1pm
Lower Blackwood LCDC Office, 403 Kudardup Road, Kudardup 6288
1/2 Day Workshop & Site Visit
Replanting the banks of a creekline has many advantages for the health of the stream and the river or estuary it runs into. With proper planning, revegetation can not only protect water quality, but can reduce erosion, improve biodiversity & habitat for native flora & fauna, and provide shade and shelter for stock.
Want to access some or all of those benefits for your property? If your answer is yes then make some time to come to our next Talkin’ After Hours event – Steps to Successfully Revegetate Your Creekline. Presented by Revegetation Practitioner Jarrad Sherborne from Tranen Revegetation Systems, this workshop aims to provide landholders with tips and tricks on how to successfully revegetate their farm waterways.
Find out more and register here
A sea change from Perth in search of world-class wine, unspoilt coastlines and beautiful forests led Samantha Bradley to quit her engineering job in Perth and buy a house in Margaret River. As a long-time customer and big fan of Xanadu Wines, it was the first place she contacted for a job after completing her wine studies and the rest as they say is history.
A daughter of a wine merchant in the UK, Sam always had a strong interest in wine and food, with Champagne and smoked salmon blinis or Vermentino and ceviche as some of her favourites at the moment. Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley is on her travel bucket list, but it is Chardonnay, particularly from Margaret River, more specifically Steven’s Road, that she really finds exceptional.
With some wine studies and two years as the Cellar Door Assistant Manager at Xanadu, Sam has not looked back!
We asked Sam a few Q’s to share with us:
Lastly, the Cabin Fever & Fine Vines Festivals events are in full planning mode, these are always exciting times of the year for us. Watch this space.
With Easter long weekend just around the corner, the Margaret River Wine Region is busy getting ready to welcome an influx of guests from Western Australia, interstate and overseas. Every year, the region attracts a staggering 1.5 million overnight visitors, who are drawn in by the appeal of the 100-plus cellar doors that range in style from quaint owner-operated tasting sheds, through to many of Australia’s most coveted winery destinations.
There is no denying that the Margaret River Wine Region has cemented itself as Australia’s principal region for wine tourism. This status attracts some serious wine aficionados, but the region prides itself on catering to all levels of wine lovers with a range of experiences for you to explore. That being said, navigating a wine-tasting can often feel overwhelming for newbies so we thought we would lay out some helpful tips to consider when visiting the many wineries our region has to offer.
Make a booking
To avoid disappointment, it is always best to book ahead. As mentioned above, the Margaret River Wine Region is an extremely popular destination and although you can always find a quiet corner to escape the crowds if you want to go to a certain winery then booking in advance is always the way to go. By making a reservation, you are ensuring that the winery is ready to welcome you and give you the best possible experience.
Don’t fret the Tasting Fee
The days of wandering in a winery and tasting through their full range without spending a dime are behind us. The good news is that now for only a small tasting fee, you get a curated, unique experience that will leave you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of wine. Plus, the fee is often redeemable with a bottle purchase, but bear in mind this is not always the case.
Don’t walk through the vines
Help protect the vines that make Margaret River wines so special. When visiting our pristine wine region, please refrain from walking amongst the vines as your shoes and clothing can spread pests and diseases. By refraining from doing so you are helping to preserve our unique terroir!
Go beyond the Cellar Door
COVID changed everything when it comes to wine tasting. Now that we are on the other side, things are returning to normal, but one of the best outcomes was the increase in amazing bookable wine experiences whether that is a tasting flight or a full-on winery and vineyard tour. Take advantage of these new opportunities to go beyond the cellar door. It may mean you won’t be able to see as many wineries in one visit, but the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you will uncover will be well worth it!
Don’t pour your own wine
We have all thought about it once or twice. When there is a bottle of wine right in front of you begging to be poured, it is tempting to do it yourself, but please leave it to the professionals. If a bottle happens to be left in front of you it is most likely so you can snap a picture for Insta or admire the artwork on the label. It is not an invitation to serve yourself.
Yes, you can spit
When tasting a wine, it is customary to observe the colour first as it can tell you quite a bit about what is in the glass. Next swirl the wine to fully unleash the array of aromas then use your nose to assess the many layers of a wine’s bouquet. Finally, after using sight and smell to observe the wine, it is time to sip. Enjoy and savour the wine as it moves through the palate revealing flavour, texture, and acidity. Then feel free to spit. It is common practice among wine professionals and is not considered rude. By spitting out the wine, you can taste at multiple cellar doors and still ensure that you are drinking responsibly.
Take a Trail
Plan out your route! The Margaret River Wine Region spans 110 kilometres and with over 100 cellar doors, it can be quite overwhelming. That is why we recommend that you plan out your trip. Find wineries and restaurants you want to go to and then map out the best route to visit them.
If you need a little help with planning your trip, look no further than our self-drive food and wine trails. With eight different tailor-made routes covering everything from Chardonnay to Cabernet, Lo-Fi to family-owned, it is a wonderful way to discover what makes the region so special. Here is the link: https://margaretriver.wine/trails/.
Drink Wise
While we want you to come to the region and visit as many cellar doors as possible, we also encourage you to remain responsible with your consumption of alcohol. We recommend that visitors to the region don’t drink wine on an empty stomach, drink plenty of water, use spittoons and if planning to drive, choose a designated driver or take a guided wine tour. Bear in mind that tasting pours are generally 15 millilitres so 6 pours equal one standard drink. #drinkwise #drinkaware
Don’t feel like you have to pick and choose
With so many cellar doors in Margaret River, there are plenty of options to choose from, but when it comes to shipping the region’s wine home you don’t have to choose. With the region’s mixed-case shipping option, you can select a range of wines from different producers to send in one box. Find out more through this link: https://margaretriver.wine/mixed-case-shipping/.
Don’t forget food
The Margaret River Wine Region and surrounding areas of the south-west of Western Australia are renowned for exceptional local produce that complements the wine perfectly so why not add a culinary experience to your visit? Whether you are interested in a gourmet platter or six-course degustation, you can find plenty of fabulous options dotted across the region. Plus, it will help you to drink responsibly!
Dress to Impress
Being a coastal region, it is quite tempting to head out for a tasting straight after a swim at the beach. This is even encouraged at some of the more casual cellar doors in the region! However, for the most part, you want to aim for smart casual attire. At the bare minimum make sure you have something to throw on over your bathers plus some shoes!
If you happen to be taking advantage of one of the many local, bespoke experiences, be sure you were the appropriate shoes. Generally, if you are going to be touring a winery or vineyard, you will need close-toed footwear. Also, it is always good to note not to wear perfume or aftershave when wine tasting as it can interfere with a wine’s subtle aromas and nuances.
In conclusion, we wish you a wonderful wine tasting experience in the Margaret River Wine Region. At the end of the day, what is most important is that you enjoy yourself, discover something new, and learn more about the delicious drop we so adore. Happy tasting!
Margaret River is one of the unique wine regions in the world that can grow vines on their own root system due to the absence of the vine pest Phylloxera (fil-ox-era). The minute aphid-like pest attacks grapevine roots and causes decline in vine health and ultimately impedes the vine’s capacity to produce. For more information visit the Phylloxera website.
Your shoes and clothing can spread pests and diseases. Please ensure you help protect Margaret River vines from phylloxera and other pests and diseases whilst visiting our region.
Please don’t walk amongst our vines.
Please do not enter vineyards without permission
Please observe biosecurity protocols during your visit.
After the overwhelming success of our inaugural Wine Community Revegetation Day at the Rivermouth foreshore last year, we are pleased to announce that the date for 2023 has been scheduled for Friday, 2 June. With the tremendous amount of interest shown in 2022, we look forward to even more participation this year!
17 June 2022 marked the very first Revegetation Day organised in partnership with Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and the Shire of Augusta Margaret River. Over 60 eager volunteers from local vineyards, wineries and cellar doors turned up to lend a helping hand showing a huge amount of excitement and support for our revegetation initiative. In fact, the event was so popular that a volunteer waitlist had to be put in place!
The aim of this wine community conservation effort was to give back to the unique and pristine coastland that gives rise to the distinct and expressive wines that have put Margaret River on the map. The Rivermouth was chosen specifically as the site for this revegetation day due to its significant cultural, marine and terrestrial biodiversity value, not to mention its importance as a recreational hub for locals and visitors alike.
The focus of the day was to work on the degraded areas of this coastal epicentre removing weeds, managing access, stabilising dunes and replanting key native species. The Rivermouth foreshore is an incredibly vital yet fragile ecosystem, made even more so due to its popularity as a cherished surf and swim spot in the summer months. By blocking unapproved access trails, removing onion weeds, planting native seedlings, and covering those newly planted cuttings with a protective layer of brush, we were able to ensure this precious area will continue to thrive for generations to come.
After observing the outpouring of support for the 2022 Revegetation Day and the incredibly positive impact our efforts had on this beloved section of coastline, we decided to make this an annual event and got straight to work planning the 2023 event.
On 27 January 2023, we partnered with Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and Cape Mentelle Vineyard to hold a fundraising movie night at the winery’s iconic outdoor cinema, screening Blueback. It was a heartwarming film and the experience was further elevated by Cape Mentelles’ world-class wine and Little Hand Dumplings’ handcrafted delights. Tickets sold out and the evening ended up raising over $6,000, all of which will go directly towards our 2023 Revegetation Plans, a key part of our Sustainability Action Plan.
If you are wondering how you can get involved in helping to protect and preserve this fertile, yet fragile coastland, keep an eye out for more information on the 2023 Revegetation Day set for 2 June. We look forward to seeing you there!
Can’t possibly wait until June? Well, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and Nature Conservation are looking for volunteers to help protect the Gnarabup Headland area at their first community coastal rehabilitation session of the year on Sunday, April 2nd between 10 am and 12 pm. Find out more information through the link below.
https://natureconservation.org.au/blog/volunteers-needed-to-care-for-gnarabup-coast/
Margaret River wineries have curated a great line up of special events for you to enjoy.
Remember to DrinkWise
We recommend that visitors to the region don’t drink wine on an empty stomach, drink plenty of water, use spittoons and if planning to drive, choose a designated driver or take a guided wine tour. Bear in mind that tasting pours are generally 15 millilitres so 6 pours equal one standard drink.
12 – 14 May 2023
Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival is a storytelling spectacular, presented by Arts Margaret River.
10-week virtual, self-paced program commencing Tuesday 4 April
Learning program for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to investigate new R&D opportunities related to the Agrifood sector in WA. The course provides tools and information to help you better understand what’s involved with R&D and key things you need to consider at each step of the process. Learn more.
Wednesday 22 March
SW Labour Solutions is presenting this online information session for members seeking new solutions to secure staff in their business. Through the PALM scheme, eligible businesses can recruit workers for seasonal jobs for up to 9 months or longer-term roles of between one and 4 years in unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled positions. These longer-term engagements allow for stability in key positions.
Learn more and register for the session on Wednesday 22 March from 10am to 11am here.
Whilst living, travelling, visiting and holidaying on Wadandi Boodja, we ask that you respect the area and walk softly on the country, taking the time to listen to Boodja (Country) as she Wongi (talks) of the season, and leave nothing but footprints.
– Pibulmun Wadandi Yunungjarli Elder Wayne Webb.
Thursday, February 23rd, marked the first-ever Pre-Vintage Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony presented by the Margaret River Wine Association and Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association. The gathering centred around welcoming those arriving in the area to help with vintage and sharing with them the beautiful culture and history of the traditional custodians, the Wadandi (Saltwater) people.
Set at the serene Pioneer Park Amphitheatre in Cowaramup, the evening began with the musical stylings of local guitarist and vocalist, Dan White. His laidback, acoustic tunes filled the air as the sun dipped down behind the treetops and blanketed the park in dappled golden light. Viticulturists, winemakers, cellar hands, vineyard workers, as well as local community members, trickled in with chairs, eskies, and picnics in tow. It was a joyous scene as friends reconnected, colleagues kicked back and vintage teams swapped stories.
As everyone settled into their own patchwork of blankets and camping chairs, quiet settled over the crowd. That is when Amanda Whiteland, CEO of the Margaret River Wine Association, took the stage. She welcomed all and thanked the hard-working individuals who have come to the region to lend a helping hand during this busy period. She then recounted the start of vintage 2023, noting that despite a slow beginning to the growing season, the consistently warm and sunny days of January and February mean the region is on track for a fabulous vintage.
Next Stuart Hicks, Chair of the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association Directors, spoke to the unique makeup of our coastal region with its meld of locals as well as interstate and international transplants. He asked anyone whose parents and grandparents were born in the region to put up their hands. With only several hands raised, Mr Hicks acknowledged the far-reaching heritage of the Wadandi people whose connection to this land dates back over 50,000 years.
Mr Hicks invited to the stage Wadandi Pibulmun Elder, Dr Wayne Webb and Iszaac Webb of the Undalup Association, who then welcomed the group onto their ancestral land and spoke of the Bunuru season. It is one of the six ancestral seasons of the people of Wadandi Boodja and stretches from February to March covering a vast majority of the vintage period.
Iszaac spoke of the name of the land on which we stood, ‘Cowaramup’. Although often incorrectly associated with cows, the name actually means ‘place of the purple-crowned lorikeet.’ He then recounted a Wadandi legend surrounding the Cowara bird and how it stole fire from the thunder and lightning gods. This led quite naturally to the smoking ceremony.
Traditionally, a smoking ceremony is used to cleanse and purify the spirit, body and soul and signifies the beginning of something new. As such, it seemed the perfect way to signify the start of this exciting time for the local wine industry. Wayne and Iszaac lit the smokebush and guests had the opportunity to bathe in the cleansing plumes of smoke. Attendees were also invited to daub their faces and hands with white ochre to show their connection to country.
With Dan White once again spreading the good vibes with his guitar, people took turns kneeling by the fire pit, painting their faces, and chatting to Iszaac and Wayne. Folks mingled and caught up, soaking in the last glimmers of evening light before eventually calling it a night.
Altogether it was a spectacular way to welcome newcomers and celebrate the start of harvest. It offered the rare opportunity to reflect on the remarkable history of the region while looking with eager anticipation to what the future of vintage 2023 may have in store. The Margaret River Wine Association has declared that this will now be an annual event and we cannot wait to see how it continues to evolve in the years to come.
The 2022 Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Impact Report was released on February 28, and Margaret River Wine Region’s adoption of the program is leading the nation.
To coincide with its release, the Margaret River Wine Association advised there has been significant growth and support of the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program in the region over the last two years. The Margaret River Wine Region now has 51 certified members compared to only 18 members in 2020.
Whilst Margaret River crushes less than 2% of Australia’s wine grapes, a disproportionate number of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program members are in Margaret River, with 17% of Winery Members, 8% of Vineyard Members and 14% of Certified Members.
Currently, the Margaret River Wine Region Members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia include:
67 Vineyard Members. 40 Certified Vineyard Members
19 Winery Members. 11 Certified Winery Members
7 Wine Business Members
The Margaret River Wine Region’s 40 certified vineyards cover 1,543 hectares, or 26% of the region’s vineyards. The 11 certified wineries crushed 12,786 tonnes in vintage 2022.
Margaret River Wine Association CEO Amanda Whiteland said, “The innate suitability of Margaret River’s land and climate to fine wine viticulture enables vignerons to grow outstanding grapes while working with the environment holistically. ”
“The Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program helps growers and wineries formalise their approach and put continuous improvement at the heart of their sustainability plans.”
“It is great to see vineyards and wineries taking their commitment to the next level through certifications.”
The Margaret River Wine Association is progressing towards an ambitious goal to achieve 100% of members compliant to the national Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program, and 50% certified by December 2025.
Search Sustainable Winegrowing Australia members here.
ADOPTING ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC PRACTICES
A growing number of vineyards are embracing reduced chemical use along with more regulated organic and biodynamic practices to maximise vine health and minimise harm to the surrounding ecology, returning good inputs such as compost back to the land.
At present, 738 hectares, or 12.6% of Margaret River Wine Region’s vineyards are certified organic or biodynamic. An additional 25 hectares of vineyards are in conversion and expected to be certified by the end of 2023.
Search certified as organic and biodynamic grape growers and wineries in Margaret River or those in the process of gaining certification here.
Wednesday 15 March, Flinders University Adelaide
Join innovators in the fields of viticulture, wine, and tourism technology showcasing their game-changing ideas. Get an inside look at the latest advancements in the wine industry, from grape to glass, and network with like-minded individuals.
Learn more and register here.
In this webinar DTC Business Coach and Strategic Consultant, Georgia Rasmussen will look at benchmarking your existing DTC Channel vs the Global DTC Winery Market. Through that process, Georgia will discuss and define the key metrics you should be tracking to measure your success, and will then walk through how to prioritise your to do list drive program improvement.
Wineries attending this Webinar are likely to be at different stages of the growth curve, but there will be something for everyone in this hour of talking DTC.
Registration is free to ALL WCA Members, Non-Members will be charged $50 + GST.
The world of social media continues to evolve. Video continues to be king of content and we compete for attention given the average social media user accesses on average seven platforms. In many instances, it’s pay-to-play to ensure that your messaging is even seen. Join us as we explore the social media landscape in 2023 and talk about how to think differently about using these tools in your marketing mix.
This webinar will include some of the trends presented at Social Media Marketing World in San Diego the week prior.
When: Thursday 23 March, 2023
Time: 12.30-2pm AEDT
Cost: $50pp
Wednesday 5 April 2023, 7 am – 3 pm
The National Biosecurity Forum brings together key stakeholders from around Australia to discuss challenges, opportunities and innovative approaches for protecting Australia’s biosecurity system.
The forum helps us work together to maintain and strengthen our biosecurity.
Learn more here.
This year Margaret River will have a strong presence at ProWein, in Düsseldorf Germany.
Over three days, from the 19-21 March, 50,000 trade guests from around the world will have the opportunity to connect with Margaret River producers and taste the region’s wines. Attendees will also have the chance to discover the latest releases, meet with brands seeking distribution and explore new opportunities from the world-renowned wine destination.
Margaret River will be represented at ten exhibitor booths, a regional stand, a Cabernet Sauvignon masterclass and a 4-hour Margaret River feature at the Wine Bar on the Wine Australia stand.
In a new hall and location (Hall 14, B10), the Wine Australia stand is 50% bigger than the last one planned for 2020.
Margaret River Wine Association CEO Amanda Whiteland said it’s great to have such a strong representation from Margaret River wineries at ProWein this year.
“This is the biggest trade event for wine in the world, so to have so many representatives from the region travelling to Düsseldorf for the event this year is fabulous, particularly after 3 years of limited travel due to Covid. This is also the first time we have had a Margaret River regional booth at ProWein.”
“I am really looking forward to presenting Margaret River to trade from around the world at this huge event!” Ms Whiteland said.
Margaret River Exhibitors
Margaret River Producers who are heading to ProWein to showcase their current releases include Handpicked Wines, Howard Park Wines, Madfish, McHenry Hohnen, Robert Oatley Vineyards, Vasse Felix, Voyager Estate, Wayfinder, Deep Woods Estate and Evans & Tate from the Fogarty Wine Group. Periscope Management will also have wine from Byron & Harold, Moss Brothers, Altus Rise, Wills Domain, Credaro, Jilyara, Knee Deep and Thompson Estate on their stand.
The floor plan for the Wine Australia stand is available here.
Margaret River Regional Booth
The Margaret River Wine Stand will showcase wines from Cape Mentelle, Howard Park Wines, Small Things Wine, Vasse Felix, Wills Domain and Xanadu.
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Masterclass
Sunday 19 March, 16.00-16.45
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon: Traditional, sustainable and organic practices
Presented by Paul McArdle and Emma Symington MW
Featuring: Voyager Estate, Thompson Estate, Xanadu, Howard Park, Vasse Felix and Cape Mentelle.
Wine Australia Wine Bar
Monday 20 March 13.00-17.00
Discover Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
The wines at this free-pour wine bar are the same as the wines in our master classes, so if you miss the Margaret River master class, there’s another chance to try them.
This event is supported by the WA WINES TO THE WORLD program; an industry-led export program coordinated by Wines of Western Australia with funding provided by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Vintage is underway in Margaret River with some producers bringing in their first crops, mostly Chardonnay, while others wait with eager anticipation. The whole region should be in full swing by the end of February.
A colder-than-average winter made for a quick senescence and sound dormancy for the vines, and despite almost daily precipitation, we received markedly less-than-average rain in both June and July. Although the rainfall was down overall from the previous year, the region received sufficient supply to recharge soil moisture levels, setting the vines up with the required water for a promising season ahead.
Across the region, grape growers saw early spring budbursts and due to the cold winter temperatures, experienced quite a uniform break. Spring saw less rain than usual and some cool conditions. October was almost three degrees colder than average daily temperatures, which resulted in a slow start to canopy growth and protracted flowering for Chardonnay.
Low November rain slowed into an even drier December and January, with less than 2 mL of rain falling collectively for the whole summer season. Coupled with consistently warm, sunny days throughout January and no extreme heat, it proved to be an idyllic month for both grape growers and beachgoers alike. Nature’s air conditioner also played a part, with the cool southerly breeze blowing off the ocean and helping to retain natural acid in the fruit.
As the region’s 2022 Viticulture & Sustainability Excellence Award recipient, Alex Miller, who is also Technical Viticulturist at Voyager Estate writes, “I don’t want to jinx it, but the dreamy conditions rolling in to harvest, the warm February days and cool, still nights are starting to show us some exceptional fruit flavours. It’s a rewarding feeling when your season of hard work starts to shine.”
If you are in the region, you will notice the nets going on at a rapid rate. The Marri blossom is scarce this year, or perhaps just a bit delayed, which makes grapes an easy and delicious target for the native birds, Silvereye. Also out in the vineyard, final canopy manipulations and cutting out of hard green bunches ensure uniform ripening of the red varieties which will hang, soaking up sunshine for another month or two.
Producers across the region have enjoyed the extended summer and I suspect quite a few can be found down at the region’s most popular surf breaks, basking in the last glimmers of sunshine and saltwater. There is plenty of anticipation in the region with the feeling that the wait has been well worth it. Adding to the excitement is that once again there is a contingent of international and interstate workers returning to the region to help with harvest. This always amplifies the fun pre-vintage vibes around the region.
If you happen to be one of the new arrivals to our breathtaking region, be sure to check out the Pre-Vintage 2023 Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on Thursday 23rd February at 5:30 pm at Pioneer Park Amphitheatre, Cowaramup. It is a free event aimed at marking the start of the local wine community’s busiest time of year, while also welcoming all the harvest workers that have come to assist. All members of the local community are welcome – it is sure to be a wonderful afternoon! Here’s to vintage 2023!
Whilst living, travelling, visiting and holidaying on Wadandi Boodja, we ask that you respect the area and walk softly on the country, taking the time to listen to Boodja (Country) as she Wongi (talks) of the season, and leave nothing but footprints.
– Pibulmun Wadandi Yunungjarli Elder Wayne Webb.
With vintage 2023 commencing, the Margaret River Wine Association (MRWA) and Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association (MRBTA) would like to invite their members and the local community to join Wadandi Pibulmum Elder, Dr Wayne Webb for a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, for everyone who has recently joined our region to work vintage.
The traditional smoking ceremony is used to cleanse and purify the spirit, body and soul and signifies the beginning of something new. As such, it is the perfect way to welcome the start of this exciting time for the local wine industry as well as acknowledge the many hard-working individuals who have travelled from all over the world to lend a helping hand.
The event will feature live music by local, acoustic artist Dan White. It is free of charge and will take place at Pioneer Park Amphitheatre, Cowaramup from 5.30 pm, Thursday, 23 February 2023. Guests are encouraged to BYO chairs or picnic blankets.
MRWA CEO Amanda Whiteland said, “the start of vintage is an incredibly special time of year in the region’s calendar with lots of seasonal workers arriving and nerves building in anticipation of what the season will deliver.” Adding, “Seasonal workers are critical to our region’s wine and tourism industry and the region’s economy and the community more broadly”.
MRBTA CEO Sharna Kearney said, “We are honoured to have Dr Wayne Webb offering this cultural ceremony to provide newly arrived seasonal workers with an opportunity to build a connection to the Wadandi culture and the local community.”
“The event will offer us all a moment to acknowledge that the Margaret River Wine Region is located upon the ancient lands of the Wadandi People, the traditional owners who have lived in harmony with the environment of Wadandi Boodja (Saltwater People’s Country) for over 50,000 years.”
The Cowaramup Business Association invites guests that would like to go for dinner or refreshments after the ceremony to visit one of the new Cowaramup venues or return to one of the many local favourites.
Jobseekers looking to join the Margaret River Wine Region workforce can find information at margaretriver.wine/work.
Alongside Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association , the South West Development Commission and the City of Busselton, we are pleased to announce that new camping facilities have been developed at Southern Stars Holiday Park Dunsborough for the specific purpose of providing much-needed seasonal worker accommodation in 2023-24.
The powered campsites will be online at the beginning of March 2023, and are suitable for tents, vans and campers and include access to shared ablution and cooking facilities. Businesses or seasonal workers wishing to secure sites on a short- or long-term basis are encouraged to contact Southern Stars Holiday Park directly to discuss requirements, via (08) 9755 1331 or [email protected].
On behalf of the wine industry, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Todd Davidson, Natalie McCarthy and their team at Southern Stars, as well as all the local contractors who have worked tirelessly in recent months to bring this project to fruition amidst their own staff shortages. We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the collaboration and support of the SWDC and City of Busselton.
MRWA have been working closely with MRBTA for a number of years to address the region’s challenges in securing accommodation for the seasonal workforce which is so critical for our wine, tourism and hospitality industries. We hope this development will provide meaningful assistance to our members.
This is a longstanding and complex issue for our region, and it is encouraging that industry and government are coming together to progress both short- and long-term solutions for these important industries. With one third of the 2,000 employing businesses in the region requiring access to seasonal staff, this issue will continue to be a long-term focus of MRWA and MRBTA.
A New Voices Story by Leah Clearwater
Almost any article written about a wine region will refer to the specific soil types of the area, and link these to the quality of the wines produced there. To take things a step further, many a wine writer has made bold claims about the influence of geology on wine without explaining how this occurs. You may have seen quotes along the lines of “the famous… sandy soils of Barolo… clay soils of Rioja… stony soils of Bordeaux… slate soils of Mosel… and the limestone soils of Champagne and Burgundy” just to name a few.
So, what’s the dirt on Margaret River…?
Let’s Dig Deeper
Some years ago, I was given the mammoth task of profiling the main soil types across the 5,000 hectares of vineyards in the Margaret River region at the time. This work was part of an exciting project run by the Grape and Wine Research Development Commission with a view to a better understanding of the unique terroir in each of Australia’s premier growing regions. Armed with a mini excavator and operator, shovel, scraper, brush, quality camera and hundreds of soil sample test kits, I set off down the vineyard rows to dig until the bucket hit hard clay or rock and I could clearly see what was going on beneath the vines. The project took several months to complete, yet I have remained fascinated about what I discovered for years afterwards.
This initial project led me to a lifelong fascination with soil profiling, including several opportunities to work with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Western Australia. One of my most memorable discoveries was observing the extent of change that occurs across the region and how frequently soil type transitions, even as you move across a single block. In many vineyards, the soil profile can alter dramatically within a matter of metres.
Seriously Ancient Rocks
The incredible explanation behind the ever-changing nature of Margaret River’s geological landscape is its ancient history, with soils that are dated the oldest of all the Earth’s viticultural areas. The unique shape and features of the region today are the result of global tectonic events and were initiated during the Jurassic period when the supercontinent of Gondwanaland broke into separate continents. During this period a deep, linear trough of sedimentary rocks formed in the east of the region and an iron-enriched lateritic plateau formed to the west, each side separated by the Dunsborough Faultline which still exists to this day.
Over these millennia, ten major soil types have formed, ranging from deep, infertile sands to shallow, gravelly soils. The soil types present in Margaret River vineyards will firstly depend on their location within the region, with sandier soil distribution in the east and more gravelly soil profile down the centre from north to south and in the west. The quantity of gravel in the soil is also related to proximity to the ironstone ridge which underlies most of the shallower soils of the region. This ridge forms dramatic rock outcrops from the northern to the southern cape.
A Stony Story
The ancient origins of the region are impressive, but what do they mean for regional viticulture and do they impart any influence on the wine?
If you speak to any Margaret River winemaker, no doubt they will credit local soils with a positive impact on their wines. Many also have clear preferences around soil type and varietal pairings. There are those who favour the sandy soils of the region for Chardonnay, while the colloquially named “Forest Grove” soil types offer bony, gravelly soils with low fertility levels recognized as ideal for iconic Cabernet Sauvignon. Regardless of preference, the region is most renowned for its gravelly loams.
Western Australian soil scientists Pete Tille and Angela Stuart-Street* explain, “Unlike so much of the wine world, limestone or calcareous soils are of limited importance for Western Australian viticulture. Here, the prized soils are something completely different. As far as we have been able to ascertain, there are no other wine growing areas around the globe that have soils so broadly dominated by lateritic ironstone gravels……. The gravels have definitely been sought out by vignerons, as by our estimates, they account for over 40% of all plantings in the state.”
Forest Grove soils are free draining with low water and nutrient holding capacities, limiting vine vigour and bringing optimal balance between the foliage and fruit. Along with the reflective heat of surface gravels, these factors bestow the wonderful intensity and concentration typically seen in regional wines.
See Main Soil Types of Margaret River here
The Margaret River wine community is excited about what further correlations may be discovered between soil type and wine in the future. Until then, there remains a firm belief that the ancient geology of the Margaret River Wine Region has had a remarkable impact on its ‘New World’ wines.
Dead or Alive
There is a compelling move towards sustainable viticulture in Margaret River and this is having a positive effect on regional soils, improving their already shining reputation. Conventional farming methods of the past, which had a depleting impact on soil biology, are being replaced with non-harmful techniques and our vineyards are again teeming with life.
Beneficial insects and micro-organisms abound and their part to play in the ecosystem of the vineyard is celebrated by growers. These “living soils” are praised for correcting soil acidity issues, improving soil structure, releasing organic matter and micronutrients, and boosting the vine’s natural resistance to pests and diseases.
Back in the days of my soil pit excavations, I was always delighted when I could scoop up a handful of topsoil and find it rich in colour and squirming with worms, as I knew the vines would be all the happier for this and happy vines make beautiful wines!
Rock On!
The Margaret River Wine Region is young by world standards, but it is literally set on firm foundations, with ironstone soils not found in any other grape-growing area in the world. The mantle of this unique area provides an ideal environment for world class wines and will preserve Margaret River’s place as one of the top regions globally. For those lucky enough to visit the region, the dramatic ironstone rock formations featured across the landscape are truly breathtaking, offering the perfect backdrop for a picnic and some delicious local wine.
The highly respected journalists at The Real Review Wine have just launched a new classification of Australian wine based on a track record of a decade or longer of outstanding results, and Margaret River Chardonnay and Cabernets dominate.
Each wine that made it into the Classification system demonstrated their quality in their blind tastings over the course of at least 10 years, and they have published them into three classification tiers: 3 Merit, 2 Merit and 1 Merit with 3 Merit being the highest classification.
3 Merit wines are iconic wines Australia, wines of true provenance and exemplary track record. Fewer than 0.5% of wines produced achieve this tier. Most of these wines have received gold ribbons for recent vintages. Top vintages will score 98 points or more.
3 Merit Wines (MMM)
Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay
Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon
Stella Bella Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon
Cullen Diana Madeline
2 Merit wines are wines that achieve gold and high silver ribbons in recent vintages, with top vintages achieving 96 points or more.
2 Merit Wines (MM)
Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Flametree S.R.S. Wallcliffe Chardonnay
McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Chardonnay
Pierro Chardonnay
Stella Bella Serie Luminosa Chardonnay
Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay
Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay
Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Vineyards Merlot
Pierro Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Woodlands Margaret
1 Merit wines are wine that reliably achieve gold and silver ribbons in recent vintages, with top vintages achieving 95 points or more.
1 Merit Wines (M)
Devil’s Lair Chardonnay
Flametree Chardonnay
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Chardonnay
Hay Shed Hill Block 6 Chardonnay
Howard Park Chardonnay
Lenton Brae Wilyabrup Chardonnay
McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Chardonnay
Moss Wood Chardonnay
Vasse Felix Chardonnay
Voyager Estate Chardonnay
Xanadu Chardonnay
Moss Wood Semillon
Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc
Pierro L.T.C Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
Cape Mentelle Shiraz
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz
Deep Woods Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon
Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon
Stella Bella Suckfizzle Cabernet Sauvignon
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon
Cape Mentelle Zinfandel
Cullen Mangan East Block
Moss Wood Amy’s
2022 was an impressive year for the Margaret River Wine Region! It shone brightly at the annual Wine Communicator Awards in Sydney with Margaret River Fine Vines Festival crowned Best Wine-Themed Event and Margaret River Wine Guide taking out Best Wine Website or App. Not to mention the countless fabulous wine reviews and recognitions it has accumulated across James Suckling’s Top 100, James Halliday’s Top 100, Ray Jordan’s WA wine review and The Real Review Wine Classifications.
The annual Wine Communicator Awards awards recognise excellence in wine communications and were created to acknowledge outstanding contributions to, and excellence in wine communication in all forms.
Margaret River Wine Association CEO Amanda Whiteland was in Sydney to accept both awards.
“Both the Margaret River Fine Vines Festival and the Margaret River Region Guide have involved significant regional collaboration, with over 80 wineries participating in both, as well as the support of AHOY Management and Wine Folly,” Ms Whiteland said.
“It is a privilege to work in region which values collaboration so highly.”
“For Margaret River, a region that grows less than 2% of Australia’s wine grapes, recognised in two categories in the Wine Communicator Awards for its contribution to, and excellence in wine communication is fantastic.”
“It is such an honour to accept these awards on behalf of Margaret River Wine Region.”
Margaret River Wine Association saw a huge opportunity to spotlight the region’s world-class wine offering in a festival dedicated to wine and engaged AHOY Management to co-create the Margaret River Fine Vines Festival with the aim of amplifying the region’s rich wine stories and increasing wine drinker’s depth of engagement with the area’s grape growers and winemakers.
Until the conceptualisation of Fine Vines Festival in 2021, there was no consumer wine festival specifically championing the region’s wine, despite the Margaret River Region producing globally recognised and awarded wines.
The festival shines a spotlight on the people, places and passion behind the region offering exclusive experiences, learning opportunities and behind the scenes access not to be found elsewhere.
AHOY Management Joint Director Brianna Delaporte said the team were thrilled that Fine Vines Festival has been acknowledged as one of the stand-out wine experiences across Australia.
Ms Delaporte said, “The festival is a collaboration between more than 80 of the region’s wine producers, so this win is important for the whole region and recognises the collective dedication to the production of top quality wine and customer experiences.”
“The festival has been purposefully curated to ensure it offers up a unique 10-day program that entices visitors to explore all aspects of the Margaret River Wine Region, and not only champions the region’s powerhouse brands but also provides a platform for the smaller producers that collectively add quality and depth to the program.”
The Margaret River Wine Guide was a collaboration with leading global digital wine education platform Wine Folly and is the first comprehensive digital guide of its kind in Asia Pacific. As the eighth Region Guide produced by Wine Folly, Margaret River Wine Guide now sits alongside other global wine destinations such as Napa Valley, Sicily and Bordeaux.
Four weeks from the launch, the guide had reached an audience of 4.3 million globally, making it one of Wine Folly’s most popular guides to date.
The guide’s comprehensive content was created by award-winning author Madeline Puckette, Wine Folly’s Head of Wine Education, Christine Marsiglio MW, Margaret River Wine Association’s comprehensive new 60 page media kit, and data loaded by individual wine producers into a Global Wine Database.
James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the World 2022 – From over 32,000 wines tasted by James Suckling and his team, two Margaret River Chardonnay are featured! The Deep Woods Chardonnay was also the highest-ranked of the six Australian wines in the Top 100.
⭐ #25 Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay Margaret River 2021
⭐ #87 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay Margaret River 2021
James remarked the Margaret River region “…is a unique maritime region making fresh and structured reds and bright and flavorful whites.”
James Halliday Top 100 Wines, The Weekend Australian – Margaret River featured 11 times and was the #3 highest region after Adelaide Hills with 13 wines, and Champagne with 12 wines.
𝟮𝟬 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 $𝟯𝟬
⭐ Deep Woods Estate Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – 95 points
⭐ Cullen Mangan Vineyard Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – 95 points
⭐ Amelia Park Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – 95 points
⭐ Amelia Park Trellis Margaret River Chardonnay 2021 – 94 points
𝟮𝟬 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 $𝟯𝟬
⭐ Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – 96 points
⭐ Windows Estate Petit Lot La Terre Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – 96 points
𝟮𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 $𝟰𝟬
⭐ Hay Shed Hill Morrison’s Gift 2020 – 95 points
𝟮𝟬 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 $𝟰𝟬
⭐ Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – 98 points
⭐ Cherubino Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 – 97 points
⭐ Thompson Estate The Specialist Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – 97 points
⭐ Cullen Diana Madeline 2020 – 98 point
The Real Review Wine Classification of Australia – The team at The Real Review have just launched a new classification of Australian wine based on a track record of a decade or longer of outstanding results, and Margaret River Chardonnay and Cabernets dominate. Congratulations to all those that received merits.
3 Merit Wines (MMM)
Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay
Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon
Stella Bella Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon
Cullen Diana Madeline
2 Merit Wines (MM)
Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Flametree S.R.S. Wallcliffe Chardonnay
McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Chardonnay
Pierro Chardonnay
Stella Bella Serie Luminosa Chardonnay
Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay
Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay
Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Vineyards Merlot
Pierro Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Woodlands Margaret
Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines Report 2022/23, The Seventeenth Edition
2019 Idée Fixe, Premier Brut Blanc de Blancs, Margaret River
2021 Howard Park, Miamup Chardonnay, Margaret River
2022 Robert Oatley, Signature Series Chardonnay, Margaret River
2021 Leeuwin Estate, Prelude Chardonnay, Margaret River
2019 McHenry Hohnen, Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay, Margaret River
2020 Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River
2018 Robert Oatley, Finisterre Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
2020 Xanadu Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
2018 Moss Wood, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
2020 Cullen, Diana Madeline, Wilyabrup, Margaret River
The Enthusiast 100: The Best Wines Of 2022, Wine Enthusiast
⭐ #57 Leeuwin Estate 2018 Art Series Chardonnay, 94 Points
⭐ #98 Howard Park 2018 Miamup Cabernet Sauvignon, 90 Points
Reviewers’ Favorites 2022, The Wine Advocate
Erin Larkin discusses her five favorite wines encountered throughout the year (two from Margaret River).
⭐ 2021 Windows Estate Petit Lot Chardonnay – “A Producer That’s Under the Radar”
⭐ 2020 Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay – “A Wine That’s Especially Good Value”
Wine Pinnacle Awards 2022 – announced earlier this month at a glamorous gala dinner at Resorts World Singapore, with Margaret River Chardonnay recognised again! Congratulations to Leeuwin Estate & Cullen Wines.
Best Recent Release: Chardonnay (ex-Burgundy)
⭐ 2018 Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia (Winner)
⭐ 2018 Cullen, Kevin John Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia (Finalist)
The Western Australian Good Food Guide Awards
⭐ Wine of the Year – Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnnay 2020
⭐ New Restaurant of the Year – Frui Momento at Cherubino
⭐ Regional Restaurant of the Year – Chow’s Table
⭐ Regional Chef of the Year – Dan Gedge at Leeuwin Estate
⭐ Excellence Front of House – Caleb Dreaver at Vasse Felix
⭐ Breakthrough Talent – Albee Lee at Wills Domain
Ray Jordan’s Annual WA Wine Review, 2023 Edition
Sparkling of the Year – Howard Park Jete Grand Vintage 2017
Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Flowstone Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Small Producer of the Year – Flowstone
Semillon of the Year – Moss Wood Semillon 2022
Blended White of the Year – Pierro LTC 2022
Chardonnay of the Year – Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2019
White Wine of the Year – Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2019
Merlot of the Year – Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot 2019
Producer of the Year – Cherubino
Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Voyager MJW Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Blended Red of the Year – Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018
Deep Woods Estates takes home six trophies from the 2022 Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show, as the show celebrates its 21st Birthday.
Chaired by wine writer, Nick Ryan, judging took place from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 October, by an outstanding team, from across the country and as far afield as Sweden, with Master of Wine Madeleine Stenwreth joining after her 2020 and 2021 invitations were postponed.
The judging of 665 exhibits from ninety-two exhibitors took place on Wadandi Boodja, at the Margaret River HEART. Fifty wines received a gold medal for a score of 95 points or above on the 100-point scale.
The awards were presented at a Gala luncheon at Credaro Family’s Esther Gardens in Yelverton as the Margaret River Wine Show celebrated its 21st birthday, and the Credaro Family celebrated 100 years since the first Fragola cuttings were planted by Cesare Credaro in 1922, which has seeded four generations of farming and winemaking in the region.
A delicious menu including Margaret River Wagyu and Leeuwin Coast Ayoka Oysters was prepared by the team at SupperRd and matched to the 2021 Trophy winning wines.
The Deep Woods Estate team triumphed this year taking home six trophies, including Most Successful Exhibitor, Wine of Provenance and Wine of Show. Deep Woods Estate Chief Winemaker & General Manager, Julian Langworthy said he was, “hugely thrilled to be so successful at the 21st Margaret River Wine Show, a testimony to the whole Deep Woods team from viticulture, cellar and winemaking. Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon is in a great place and super excited to win Wine of Show with this Single Vineyard wine.”
Chair of Judges Nick Ryan said, “This year’s wine show finds the region in the rudest of health. The twin pillars of Margaret River excellence – Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon- provided real excitement and the Wine of Show is an incredibly refined and precision etched example of contemporary Cabernet. It’s truly world class.
It’s especially pleasing to see a number of stunning wines emerging from the other classes as well, with some real highlights among the current vintage blends of semillon and sauvignon blanc, the sparkling class and alternate whites. The shiraz classes have once again really impressed. There are some stunning examples of the variety here, across an exciting range of styles.”
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland said, “the eight-year Langton’s naming right partnership and support of the Margaret River Wine Region is incredibly important. We are also grateful for the wonderful community in Margaret River and the hard-working team of Stewards, Volunteers and Wine Show Committee who give their time so generously to enable the Show to runs so smoothly.”
LANGTON’S MARGARET RIVER WINE SHOW TROPHIES:
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Show
Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard G2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Margaret River Wagyu Trophy for Red Wine of Show
Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard G2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Labelmakers Group of Companies Trophy for White Wine of Show
Joseph River Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Vinline Mobile Bottling Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor
Deep Woods Estate
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Provenance
Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2021, 2016, 2013
Margaret River Wine Association International Judge’s Trophy
Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2020
City of Busselton Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard G2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Multi-Color Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Joseph River Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Tonnellerie de Mercurey Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Red
Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard G2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Sanector Trophy for Best Single Vineyard White
Joseph River Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2021
Cospak Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Mandoon Estate Cabernet Merlot 2020
My Vintner Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
Once & Well Frankie’s Garden Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Orora Trophy for Best Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Clairault Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2022
Burkert Trophy for Best Other White Blend or Varietal
Frazer Woods La Cache Blanc de Blanc 2014
Fusion Electrical Trophy for Best Shiraz
Xanadu Circa 77 Shiraz 2019
Chr. Hansen ‘Pink Jacket’ Trophy for Best Rosé
Borrello Vineyards Rosé 2022
Hahn Corporation Trophy for Best Other Red Blend or Varietal
Driftwood Estate Artifacts Petit Verdot 2020
The full results book of from the 2022 Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show is available here.
The Judges were (in alphabetic order by surname):
• Chair of Judges: Nick Ryan – Writer, Presenter, Communicator
• International Judge: Madeleine Stenwreth MW, Sweden
• Cliff Royle – Chief Winemaker, Flametree Wines, Western Australia
• Damian Hutton – Chief Winemaker, Nikola Estate, Western Australia
• Daniel Swincer – Chief Winemaker, Pernod Ricard, South Australia
• Emma Farrelly – Director of Wine, State Buildings, Western Australia
• Kate Laurie – Winemaker & Owner, Deviation Road, South Australia
• Liam McElhinney – General Manager & Chief Winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners, Tasmania
• Lisa Jenkins – Sommelier and Owner, Fleet Wines, Victoria
• Stuart Hordern – Senior Winemaker, Brokenwood, New South Wales
The Associate Judges were:
• Andrew Bretherton – Deep Woods Estate
• Brent Carter – Vasse Felix | Idée Fixe
• Chris Gilmore – Clairault Streicker
• Henry Wynne – McHenry Hohnen
• Larissa Dalli – Cani Domaine Naturaliste
• Mark Brown – Dan Murphy’s
The Margaret River Region’s wine producers are ready to welcome visitors from next Friday for the second instalment of Fine Vines Festival, with close to 80 producers participating in nearly 30 events from October 14 to 23.
The first weekend of the festival kicks off with crowd favourite, Margaret River Open Vineyards. For one weekend only, guests are invited to go beyond the vineyard gate to meet winemakers that aren’t usually open to the public. 15 winemakers are participating across the weekend, spanning Dunsborough in the north, to Rosabrook in the South.
There’s myriad reasons for consumers to get out and explore in addition to ‘behind the gate’ access, including the opportunity to taste new release wines that aren’t yet on sale, pop-up food trucks, learning about wine and vineyard from the winemakers and having access to wine they might not have seen before.
La Kooki’s Eloise Jarvis said they would be teaming up with Corymbia for their Open Vineyards offering.
“We’re stoked to be a part of Fine Vines’ Open Vineyards with Corymbia. There’s nothing better than sharing wines and stories from both sides of the tasting bench. People can join us at Corymbia’s Calgardup Vineyard, bringing a focus not only onto our wines but how we can help protect and preserve the amazing biodiversity that surrounds us in this unique part of the world – Margaret River.”
Burnside Organic Farm’s Jamie McCall said it’s a great opportunity to showcase their biodynamic winery practices.
“We are thrilled to be involved with Fine Vines again this year. It gives us the opportunity to share our wine, and our story. Being a small producer it can sometimes be hard to be heard, but Fine Vines lets us open our doors and allow people to experience the Burnside Organic Farm journey.
“Open Vineyards is a fantastic event that showcases a lot of places and wines not normally accessible, and being a part of it lets the public see into the practices associated with being Certified Biodynamic in the vineyard and winery.” McCall said.
Also starring on the first weekend will be Xanadu Wines with their event On the Lawn at Xanadu. The event offers a chance to sample wines from 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year Glenn Goodall, to the backdrop of live music and new Head Chef Aaron Lim’s Southeast Asian hawker-style street eats, a perfect setting for a spring afternoon with friends. For those keen on brushing up on their wine knowledge and being some of the first to sample the estate’s Vinework range, they can also join the winemakers in a masterclass before the event.
Xanadu’s Caity Bramich said the whole team was looking forward to the event.
“We’re really excited to for people to come and meet our incredible winemakers and be some of the first to sample our Vinework range, which expresses the toil of the land and many hours spent nurturing the vineyard – watching, tending and tasting. The tier is a celebration and reward for the hours spent walking amongst the vines, connecting with our growers and the region’s land, with the labels a geomap of where our winery crew have walked in the vineyard.
“We’re also looking forward to showcasing Head Chef Aaron Lim’s new direction at the Southeast Asian food stations we have in store. It’ll be a great day for everyone.” Bramich said.
Participants on the Open Vineyards program will be able to track their tastes and wines they liked with festival partner, WineWine. Guests are encouraged to download the WithWine app, and start exploring the vineyards participating for Open Vineyards.
Other events taking place on the first weekend that still have available tickets include:
Friday 14 October
Single Vineyards and Saltbush – McHenry Hohnen Winery
A first taste of McHenry Hohnen’s single vineyard 2020 Chardonnays with winemakers Japo and Henry, set on the balcony overlooking Hazel’s vineyard and paired with a feast by Saltbush Dining.
Taste of Elegance – Shelter Brewing Co
A five-course dinner paired with Credaro wines, guided by Credaro’s winemaker and expanding on your food and wine matching education.
Wine on the Water – Dunsborough Old Fishermans Boat Ramp
Whale watching at sunset. On a catamaran. Tasting Clairault Streicker wines and eating delicious canapes. This was a fan favourite last year for a reason.
Tiller Dining x Rosabrook Long Table Dinner – Rosabrook Wines
George Cooper serves up a five-course degustation paired with premium Rosabrook wines overlooking the stunning Rosabrook vineyard, with produce straight from Tiller’s Yallingup Siding farm.
Saturday 15 October
Pet Nat Party – Bungalow Neighbourhood Social
An exclusive presentation of Western Australian Pet Nats, with a DJ spinning tunes and Chef Denver Stevens cooking up street food eats. Pet Nat producers include: Black Cocky, Blind Corner, Brave New Wine, Dormilona, Skigh Wine, Vallee du Venom and Vino Volta.
Chameleon No.2 – Vasse Felix
A celebration of Margaret River Chardonnay hosted by Chief Winemaker Virginia Willcock, where you’ll taste an anthology of the estate’s Chardonnay culminating in the iconic Heytesbury. All paired to Chef Brendan Pratt’s degustation menu.
Aging Gracefully (October 15 + 22) – Cape Grace
A comprehensive back-vintage tasting with winemaker Conrad Tritt where you’ll get inside knowledge on selecting the perfect wine to cellar and increase your wine collecting confidence.
Mozzarella in the Cellar (October 15 + 16) – Juniper Estate
A guided wine masterclass with Juniper’s chief winemaker, a mozzarella making demonstration by La Delizia Latticini, and fresh woodfired pizzas to be enjoyed with a glass of sparkling and a voucher towards wine.
Sunday 16 October
Yum Cha Bites and Flights – Origins Market
A special tasting of five Marri Wood Park wines paired with five yum-cha inspired dishes from Little Hand Dumplings.
The Orange Party – LS Merchants
A selection of orange wine producers from across the region come together at LS Merchants’ cellar door, with Cook Digs cooking up bites and a DJ spinning tunes (dressing in orange encouraged).
The full festival program and ticket sales are available via www.finevinesfestival.com
Fine Vines Festival is proudly supported by Margaret River Wine Association, City of Busselton, Tourism WA, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, Augusta Margaret River Shire, WithWine, Buy West East Best, WA Good Food Guide and Hire in Style.
Margaret River wine region’s outstanding wine quality and excellence at every price point was confirmed at this year’s Halliday Wine Companion Awards with the region highly awarded, including Winemaker of the Year, Dark Horse Winery and Best Value Winery.
These coveted awards celebrate the best of the best in the wine industry and the accompanying annual book also outlines the scores of individual wines and wineries across the country.
Excitingly, Margaret River is now home to more 5-star wineries than any other region. “Considering the boutique scarce production in our region, at just 2% of Australia’s national crush, this is an incredible achievement” said Amanda Whiteland – Chief Executive Officer at Margaret River Wine. “We look forward to the Halliday Wine Companion Awards every year and we’re thrilled to see our region receive accolades for five categories.” she added.
Winemaker of the Year
Xanadu Wine Chief Winemaker, Glenn Goodall was awarded the highly anticipated accolade of Winemaker of the Year.
Award judge Erin Larkin said Glenn’s leadership, focus and attention to detail result in wines that “exude excellence at every price point.”
“Glenn is not only an exceptionally talented winemaker, but a widely loved and respected member of the industry,” Erin said.
“I’m excited and feel very honoured to receive the Halliday Winemaker of the Year award. I’ve been fortunate enough to lead the Xanadu team for many years, and winemaking is definitely a team sport. This award acknowledges everyone, including our growers, who have been involved in the Xanadu journey over the years, and I feel really proud to represent this group.” Goodall said.
Previous ‘Winemaker of the Year’ winners from Margaret River are Julian Langworthy (2019 edition) and Vanya Cullen (2020 edition).
Dark Horse Winery
L.A.S. Vino was awarded Dark Horse Winery. Dark Horse nominees are wineries that are not new to the Companion but who have received a 5-star rating for the first time this year.
Erin Larkin said “Nic Peterkin was born with pedigree winemaking blood in his veins, but nothing bar his own ingenuity and hard work have got him to where L.A.S. Vino is today. Nic has consistently produced wines that push boundaries and show a penchant for his calculated, out-of-the-box style of thinking.”
L.A.S. – which stands for luck, art, and science – is one of Margaret River’s most cutting-edge wine labels. Nic said it “Feels great to be recognised for the award after 9 years making wine in one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
A previous Margaret River ‘Dark Horse of the Year’ winner from Margaret River is Arlewood Estate (2017 edition).
Best Value Winery
Deep Woods Estate was a very worthy winner and Margaret River led the country with two of the nine top contenders.
Best Value doesn’t mean the cheapest and Best Value Winery of the Year is closely tied to the awarding of rosettes for wines offering special value for money at their price point. With more than 1300 rosettes awarded this year, the number of value wineries vying for this award is considerable.
Previous ‘Best Value Winery of the Year’ winners from Margaret River are Domaine Naturaliste (2020 edition) and Cherubino Wines (2017 edition).
Best Varietal
From over 8,000 wines from more than 1,100 wineries tasted and reviews, two Margaret River wines shone through as Best Varietal winners.
Halliday Wine Companion editor Tyson Stelzer felt the Chardonnay category was one of the most hotly contested varietal awards. Before introducing the Chardonnay of the Year he commented that “Margaret River towered above all others” before going on the announce
Stella Bella Wines as Australia’s Best Chardonnay for its single vineyard 2020 Luminosa Chardonnay.
Flowstone Wines Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2020 was awarded Sauvignon Blanc of the Year. This is the fourth year that Flowstone has been given such an accolade.
Other Margaret River finalists included McHenry Hohnen Vintners for ‘Winery of the Year’, Xanadu Wines for ‘Best Value Winery’, Chris Davies of Windows Estate for ‘Viticulturist of the Year’ and Montague Estate and Trait Wines, both for ‘Best New Winery’.
The full list of results is published in the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion book and online at www.winecompanion.com.au
Wine Folly, the leading global digital wine education platform, has announced the launch of the Margaret River Region Guide, the first comprehensive digital guide to the Margaret River Wine Region and the first of its kind in Asia Pacific.
“This kind of access and exploration of a remote and high-class wine region is exactly the kind of unique education experience we’re striving to bring to wine learners. This guide is driven by the wine producers of the region and showcasing wines that might never enter the awareness of the North American market,” said David Gluzman, CEO of Wine Folly.
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland says “The Wine Folly website receives millions of visitors per month, and it is really exciting that Margaret River is being spotlighted as their eighth Regional Guide.
“Margaret River is a breathtaking wine destination, that enjoys a textbook perfect climate for fine wines. The region’s 100 cellar doors, gourmet culinary experiences, stunning coastline and nature attracts over 1.5 million overnight visitors per year.
“We are confident that beginners to wine experts will enjoy learning more about the Margaret River wine region with Wine Folly through their fun and playful approach to wine education.”
Wine Folly’s Region Guides enable learners to explore wines, wineries, and regions around the world from anywhere in the world. Producer data is supported by exclusive content created by award-winning author Madeline Puckette and Wine Folly’s Head of Wine Education, Christine Marsiglio MW.
Margaret River is the eighth Region Guide produced by Wine Folly in a constant pursuit to change wine education and discovery.
Other Wine Folly Region Guides include Napa Valley, Sicily, Bordeaux, Paso Robles, Walla Walla Valley, Alto Adige and Argentina.
Discover the Margaret River Region Guide at margaretriver.guides.winefolly.com
Margaret River is one of the most pristine and geographically secluded wine regions in the world, and it makes some of Australia’s most noteworthy wines. The producers of the region are considered boutique – with many producing less than 5000 cases annually. Rare wines and breathtaking coastal landscapes are waiting to be discovered in the new Wine Folly Region Guide.
The Wine Folly Margaret River region guide has been brought to you by the Margaret River Wine Association and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), as part of the WA Wines to the World Program.
The Margaret River Wine Association has launched a comprehensive and compelling, new 60-page Media Kit.
This powerful storytelling tool provides the most up-to-date and in-depth information about the region, validated through science, history and third-party endorsement.
CEO Amanda Whiteland says, “The objective was to create a valuable resource to help Margaret River Wine Association members, stakeholders and media to tell the Margaret River Story consistently and accurately. Never before have we had such a compelling and comprehensive tool at our fingertips.”
This project has been a few years in the making and would not have been possible without the input of the MRWA Technical sub-committee or the incredible knowledge and expertise of the team at DPIRD, as well as funding support from Wines of Western Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, as part of the WA Wines to the World Program.
The DPIRD collaboration to produce the “Geology, Soils and Climate of the Margaret River Wine Region” report was essentially the platform on which the media kit was built and provides source information and scientific credibility throughout. Thanks to this report we had the essential maps, copy and data needed to complete the sections on geology, sustainability, maritime influence, soils and climate in the kit.
This is a living document which will be updated biannually and evolve to become even more sophisticated over time as we uncover new findings on our region.
The content is divided into the four brand pillars and each section, fact sheets and maps can be downloaded separately.
Details covered in the media kit include:
You can download the Margaret River Media Kit at www.margaretriver.wine/media
VIEW PDF This year the Margaret River Wine Association and Wine Show Sub-Committee celebrated the 20th Margaret River Wine Show. Continuing its recent winning streak, the 2020 Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay took home three trophies, including Best Chardonnay, Best White Wine and Best Wine of Show. This adds the five trophies it had already picked up at two other wine shows earlier this year.
Larry Cherubino said, “it was great to be there and celebrate with our amazing winemaking and viticultural team.”
From the 762 Margaret River wines, submitted by 105 exhibitors, 80 wines, or 10.5% of all entries, received a gold medal, which equates to 95 points or above.
Chair of Judges Nick Ryan said at the Gala lunch, “It’s been a pleasure and privilege to lead a brilliant group of judges at this year’s Show. You can’t help but come away from a few intense days debating the region’s best confident that Margaret River is performing at an exceptionally high level and assured that it’s only going to get higher in years to come.”
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland said, “We believe Margaret River was the only regional wine show in Australia that has interstate judges this year, which confirms our team’s tenacity and also the desirability of an invitation to judge here.”
The Xanadu team triumphed again this year taking home five trophies, including Most Successful Exhibitor. Xanadu Head Winemaker Glenn Goodall said, “The Margaret River Wine Show has been one of the highlights of the year for Xanadu. Performing well at our local show, amongst so many other great Margaret River producers, is always an incredible achievement for the team and our growers.
It was great to see interstate judges back at the show this year, we are obviously wrapped with the results! The icing on the cake was again being awarded the Langton’s Trophy for Wines of Provenance, especially given the pride we take in our Cabernets. It is testament to the efforts of so many people over the years at Xanadu. I’m very proud of the whole team.”
The Margaret River Wine Association was thrilled to announce the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award to lifetime wine zealot, importer and retailer John Jens, and the winners of the Viticultural and Wine Tourism Excellence Awards also.
Langton’s 2021 Margaret River Wine Show Trophy and Awards: Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Show
Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
Margaret River Wagyu Trophy for Red Wine of Show
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Labelmakers Group Trophy for White Wine of Show
Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
Vinline Mobile Bottling Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor
Xanadu Wines
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Provenance
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 2014, 2020
City of Busselton Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Multi-Color Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
Tonnellerie de Mercurey Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Red
McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Portavin Trophy for Best Single Vineyard White
Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Cospak / Saverglass Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot 2018
Winequip / Lallemand Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
Wills Domain Mystic Spring Sauvignon Blanc 2021
MR Refund Trophy for Best Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Xanadu DJL Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020
My Vintner Trophy for Best Other White Blend or Varietal
tripe.Iscariot Kroos Chenin Blanc 2020
Fusion Electrical Trophy for Best Shiraz
Stella Bella Shiraz 2020
Chr. Hansen Trophy for Best Rosé
Marq Serious Rosé 2021
Hahn Corporation Trophy for Best Other Red Blend or Varietal
Evans & Tate Single Vineyard “Carter Road Vineyard” Malbec 2020
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
John Jens
Viticultural Excellence Award – sponsored by Happs Wines
Chris Gilmore, Clairault Streicker
Wine Tourism Excellence Award – sponsored by Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association
Grace Pigram, Vasse Felix
This year, the awards were presented at a Gala luncheon rather than a dinner and the new format under a spiry tent at Swings & Roundabouts in Yallingup was well received by the 190 attendees at the sold-out celebration.
The Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show was judged at the Margaret River HEART from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 October 2021.
Judges were (in alphabetic order by surname):
• Nick Ryan (Chair of Judges) – Writer, Presenter, Communicator
• Anna Pooley – Winemaker, Pooley Wines, Tasmania
• Daniel Swincer – Chief Winemaker, Pernod Ricard, South Australia
• Emma Farrelly – Director of Wine, State Buildings, Western Australia
• Erin Larkin – Wine Writer, Halliday Wine Companion, Western Australia
• Kate Laurie – Winemaker & Owner, Deviation Road, South Australia
• Kim Horton – Senior Winemaker, Willow Bridge Estate, Western Australia
• Liam McElhinney – General Manager & Chief Winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners, Tasmania
• Tim Lovett – Senior Winemaker, Leeuwin Estate, Western Australia
• Tom Wallace – Winemaker / Winery Manager, Brown Family Wine Group, Tasmania
Associate Judges were Andrew Bretheton – Deep Woods Estate, Matt Buchan – Cherubino Wines, Japo Dalli Cani – McHenry Hohnen Vintners, Matt Godfrey – Devil’s Lair, Foni Pollitt – Mayfair Lane and Feleasha Prendergast – Margaret River Vintners.
– ENDS –
Thursday 19 May – Voyager Estate
Margaret River Wine Association presents our 2022 Sustainability Program.
5pm to 7pm (late arrivals welcome)
Free for MRWA Members, non-members $25.
Please note: there is a limit of 2 tickets per business to the sundowner (should you require more please contact Pip.
Thursday 19 May
Full day field workshop event for Viticulturists, Grape Growers and Wine Producers with in field practical demonstrations.
Limited to 20 participants, 1 ticket only per company.
Register here.
Movies at Cape Mentelle Thursday 13 January 2022
Gates open at 6.00pm. | Movies start at sunset (around 7.45pm)
MRWA invites Members, family and friends to a special fundraiser screening of Blind Ambition. Andrew Caillard MW is the associate producer of this story about four Zimbabwean sommeliers and their quest to compete in the world blind wine tasting competition in Burgundy.
Earlier this month, 15 expert panellists took part in the second sensory analysis for the Margaret River Region Project (MRRP).
Coordinated by Richard Fennessy at DPIRD and again through consultation with AWRI, the Pivot Profile Method was used to evaluate single site samples of 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay across the region. In order to ensure consistency in the winemaking, samples were collected by Richard directly from wineries post-fermentation which were then finished and bottled in his lab in Bunbury.
The Pivot Profile Method was developed in France in 2014 and is being utilized internationally as a frequency-based, free-descriptive analysis method which has proven to be both robust and inexpensive comparative to many other sensory evaluation protocols.
We are pleased to see that The Margaret River Region Project is continuing to progress and advance towards a comprehensive narrative which combines the science and romance of our region.
Many thanks to Richard Fennessy and the team at DPIRD, Eloise Jarvis and the expert panel.
Expert Panelists
Wednesday 24 May, 2pm – 5pm, Margarets In town
Wine Automation
In a world first, Cambridge University is bringing low-cost automation to Margaret River. It will offer low-cost, practical automation solutions tailored specifically to the key needs of Margaret River wine businesses.
The Shoestring Digital Wine program is led by an Australian, Cambridge Professor Duncan McFarlane. Margaret River wineries stand to be amongst the very first Western Australian businesses to benefit from the Shoestring Digital program developed by Professor McFarlane and his Cambridge team.
For wineries, work process automation promises enhanced worker engagement and productivity, margins, sustainability and resilience in the face of unrelenting increases in the pace of change.
Shoestring helps each business to tackle actual problems, one step at a time, in a simple manner, using low-cost components and open-source software. Unlike high-cost standard automation offerings, Shoestring solutions will come from a clear understanding of what Margaret River wine businesses want.
If you would like your business to have the opportunity to engage directly with the experts at Cambridge University to prioritise and address your needs, please RSVP your attendance via this link, using “shoestring” as the password.
Shoestring is a business development program delivered by a network of Western Australian organisations supported by the University of Cambridge (UK) and backed by a four-year commitment from Western Australian government through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The Shoestring experience commences with businesses attending a group workshop that helps identify digitalisation priorities. Then, the Shoestring team works with individual businesses to help tailor solutions to their specific needs.
For more information on the program or to register an interest, contact Richard Fennessy or the FII team at [email protected].
To find out more about Shoestring, and to view a case study of an UK business please review:
Shoestring | Helping smaller companies to start digitalising (2:27min)
An industry example (4:42min)
The world is your oyster. Learn about choosing your next export market and have your questions answered at this Zoom information session.
Join WA Wines to the World on Wednesday 24th of November 9:00am – 10:00am for an information session about choosing your next export market, as well as an update on upcoming activations from WA Wines to the World.
Thursday 25 May, 7.30am to 11am AWST
Held at the National Wine Centre and streamed online.
An informative seminar, where you’ll learn practical tips and insights for a strategic approach to your social media management.
Discover the techniques of effective storytelling, and learn how to create a compelling narrative that connects with your audience and brings your stories to life.
For those unable to attend on the day, the event will be recorded and available to watch later.
If you’re a small business owner, marketing professional, or simply interested in improving your social media skills, grab yourself a ticket.
Learn more and register.
This year the Margaret River celebrated the 20th Margaret River Wine Show. Continuing its recent winning streak, the 2020 Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay took home three trophies, including Best Chardonnay, Best White Wine and Best Wine of Show. This adds the five trophies it had already picked up at two other wine shows earlier this year.
Larry Cherubino said, “it was great to be there and celebrate with our amazing winemaking and viticultural team.”
From the 762 Margaret River wines, submitted by 105 exhibitors, 80 wines, or 10.5% of all entries, received a gold medal, which equates to 95 points or above.
Chair of Judges Nick Ryan said at the Gala lunch, “It’s been a pleasure and privilege to lead a brilliant group of judges at this year’s Show. You can’t help but come away from a few intense days debating the region’s best confident that Margaret River is performing at an exceptionally high level and assured that it’s only going to get higher in years to come.”
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland said, “We believe Margaret River was the only regional wine show in Australia that has interstate judges this year, which confirms our team’s tenacity and also the desirability of an invitation to judge here.”
The Xanadu team triumphed again this year taking home five trophies, including Most Successful Exhibitor. Xanadu Head Winemaker Glenn Goodall said, “The Margaret River Wine Show has been one of the highlights of the year for Xanadu. Performing well at our local show, amongst so many other great Margaret River producers, is always an incredible achievement for the team and our growers.
It was great to see interstate judges back at the show this year, we are obviously wrapped with the results! The icing on the cake was again being awarded the Langton’s Trophy for Wines of Provenance, especially given the pride we take in our Cabernets. It is testament to the efforts of so many people over the years at Xanadu. I’m very proud of the whole team.”
The Margaret River Wine Association was thrilled to announce the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award to lifetime wine zealot, importer and retailer John Jens, and the winners of the Viticultural and Wine Tourism Excellence Awards also.
Langton’s 2021 Margaret River Wine Show Trophy and Awards
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Show
Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
Margaret River Wagyu Trophy for Red Wine of Show
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Labelmakers Group Trophy for White Wine of Show
Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
Vinline Mobile Bottling Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor
Xanadu Wines
Langton’s Trophy for Wine of Provenance
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, 2014, 2020
City of Busselton Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Multi-Color Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Cherubino Margaret River Chardonnay 2020
Tonnellerie de Mercurey Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Red
McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Portavin Trophy for Best Single Vineyard White
Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Cospak / Saverglass Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot 2018
Winequip / Lallemand Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
Wills Domain Mystic Spring Sauvignon Blanc 2021
MR Refund Trophy for Best Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Xanadu DJL Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020
My Vintner Trophy for Best Other White Blend or Varietal
tripe.Iscariot Kroos Chenin Blanc 2020
Fusion Electrical Trophy for Best Shiraz
Stella Bella Shiraz 2020
Chr. Hansen Trophy for Best Rosé
Marq Serious Rosé 2021
Hahn Corporation Trophy for Best Other Red Blend or Varietal
Evans & Tate Single Vineyard “Carter Road Vineyard” Malbec 2020
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
John Jens
Viticultural Excellence Award – sponsored by Happs Wines
Chris Gilmore, Clairault Streicker
Wine Tourism Excellence Award – sponsored by Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association
Grace Pigram, Vasse Felix
This year, the awards were presented at a Gala luncheon rather than a dinner and the new format under a sperry tent at Swings & Roundabouts in Yallingup was well received by the 190 attendees at the sold-out celebration.
The Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show was judged at the Margaret River HEART from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 October 2021.
Judges were (in alphabetic order by surname):
Nick Ryan (Chair of Judges) – Writer, Presenter, Communicator
Anna Pooley – Winemaker, Pooley Wines, Tasmania
Daniel Swincer – Chief Winemaker, Pernod Ricard, South Australia
Emma Farrelly – Director of Wine, State Buildings, Western Australia
Erin Larkin – Wine Writer, Halliday Wine Companion, Western Australia
Kate Laurie – Winemaker & Owner, Deviation Road, South Australia
Kim Horton – Senior Winemaker, Willow Bridge Estate, Western Australia
Liam McElhinney – General Manager & Chief Winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners, Tasmania
Tim Lovett – Senior Winemaker, Leeuwin Estate, Western Australia
Tom Wallace – Winemaker / Winery Manager, Brown Family Wine Group, Tasmania
Associate Judges were Andrew Bretheton – Deep Woods Estate, Matt Buchan – Cherubino Wines, Japo Dalli Cani – McHenry Hohnen Vintners, Matt Godfrey – Devil’s Lair, Foni Pollitt – Mayfair Lane and Feleasha Prendergast – Margaret River Vintners.
All results from the 2021 Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show are available at https://margaretriver.wine/margaret-river-wine-show/
Widely considered the biggest ambassador for Margaret River’s National Wine Show success on the planet!!
On the 29th of October 2021 the Margaret River Wine Association presented John Jens with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime commitment to Western Australia wine.
John was joined by his son, Jack Jens, and upon receiving the award to recognise his achievements, he spent his whole acceptance speech talking about everyone else’s achievements.
“I’m grateful and I’m honoured and I’m also very very aware there are many, many other people who deserve this sort of thing. But I can tell you I moved to the west in 1977, at the same time Margaret River and the Great Southern were opening up. You guys have given me a reason for passion, a reason for pride, a reason for purpose and you’ve made my businesses financially.”
As Wine Writer, Nick Ryan summarised, “that says a lot about the man“.
John Jen’s Full Biography
John Henry Jens is a wine zealot, who lives for and has given his life to wine.
Born in Victoria, John attended Xavier College Melbourne, studied Commerce Arts at Santa Clara University California and later attended Roseworthy College, then Australia’s only wine educational institute.
John’s introduction to wine started at home from a young age. He and each of his 9 siblings, from the age of 12, were not only expected to locate, decant and pour wines – from their father’s very extensive cellar. They were also expected to taste daily and to be able to explain their views, typically on 15 to 20 year-old red wines.
He had collected 180 bottles of Penfolds Grange by the age of 24, along with 60 dozen other premium reds.
John moved to Perth in 1977 and in 1981, in the early days of Margaret River’s wine production, he started his first wine wholesale operation to represent the state’s most prominent names including Ashbrook Estate, Pierro, Moss Wood and Cullen.
John set up and managed six liquor stores under the John Jens Fine Wine banner, and in 1990 was a 50% founding partner in Devil’s Lair Wines.
John has consulted to a number of Western Australia’s small wineries and “online” specialty wine retailers.
For 40 years he has driven Australia’s largest and most comprehensive formal tasting program. These play host predominantly to WA’s and Margaret River wineries but also to some of the world’s greatest wine names – some of whom, including Chateau d’Yquem – have flown to Perth solely to host Lamont tastings.
Since 2007 John has worked during the day in Wine Importing and Retailing, and at night as a sommelier for his wife in her family’s group of Lamonts restaurants and retail outlets.
John is a regular wine industry speaker, has hosted a weekly 6PR radio wine program for many years, and for 25 years was the wine writer for the Western Suburbs Weekly.
John’s raison d’etre has always been to put the West Australian wine industry into context. As a former professional statistician, he has more than 250,000 wine tasting notes on file and has constructed wine grids on all of Capital City Trophy winning varietal wines since 2013 – thus only recommending wines that he considered to be the best in every style and price range.
At 73 he still works 70 to 80 hours a week.
John has a steadfast commitment to Margaret River wine and his warmth and charisma that makes him such an engaging spokesperson and ambassador for the region.
20 and 27 October – 8am AWST
Exporters seeking a brief introduction to the US market to determine if it’s the right fit for their brands can attend Wine Australia’s new two-part series ‘Export Ready USA’, launching 20 October 2021.
Join host Aaron Ridgway, Wine Australia’s Regional General Manager, Americas, as he shares tips and tools for navigating this complex market, followed by a Q&A session.
Find out more or register for the two-part series here.
The MRBTA Wine Tourism Excellence Award celebrates the importance of Wine Tourism to the Margaret River Wine Region. It also acknowledges that Wine Tourism and sales and exports are intrinsically linked.
The award recognises a person’s outstanding achievement in the Margaret River wine industry.
Cellar Door Managers within the Margaret River GI who have managed a single cellar door for at least 18 months are eligible to enter.
Judging will focus on future vision and achievements over the past financial year (July 2020 – June 2021).
Entrants will be assessed as individual managers rather than the company they are employed by to undertake this role.
Applications close Sunday 10 October.
Up to three finalists will be selected by the judging panel, made up of a representative of MRBTA, MRWA and a recognised wine tourism specialist.
The award winner will be presented with a trophy at the Langton’s 2021 Margaret River Wine Show Gala Awards Luncheon on Friday 29 October at Swings & Roundabouts and will receive a $2,000 education and training bursary.
To help us find the recipient of this year’s Wine Tourism Excellence Award presented by MRBTA please send their contact details to [email protected].
Or to apply yourself complete the application form and send to [email protected].
2020 – Paris Hokin, Arlewood Estate
2019 – Ulrika Larsson, Clairault | Streicker
2018 – Emily Bromell, Howard Park Wines
Presented by Happs Wines
Enter for a chance to be awarded a $2,000 education and training bursary!
Once again it is time to recognise the viticulture behind our great brands! Who couldn’t you have done without? Who would you like to recognise in your team for their hard work by nominating for viticultural excellence? Let’s give our tireless viticultural people some accolades to show how much we appreciate them.
Up to three finalists will be selected from the applicants by the judging panel, made up from industry professionals and previous winners. Each finalist will be required to provide an interview and tour of their vineyard to the judges. A winner will be determined after the site visits and interviews have been completed.
21 June 2023, Sydney
The wine industry’s Direct to Consumer Summit is in Sydney on 21 June 2023.
This is an exciting opportunity for the wine industry to come together face-to-face to drive the growth of the direct to consumer market. At this event, you’ll hear from industry leaders, case studies of what works and what doesn’t, as well as what it takes to be a profitable and sustainable, growth focused direct to consumer wine business.
Event details:
When: Wednesday 21 June 2023
Time: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Australian National Maritime Museum
MRWA Member Offer ($100 off) ends 2 June 2023
As a member, you can get $100 off any ticket for the upcoming Direct to Consumer Wine Summit.
To redeem this offer:
Step 1: Click here
Step 2: Fill out your details.
Step 3: Then, you’ll receive a confirmation email.
How can you be Involved?
Thursday 14 October, 3pm AWST
Looking at some of the latest trends and consumer insights, Wine Communicators of Australia, Wine Communicator of the Year Trish Barry, Mastermind Consulting will share some practical tips and insights into direct and digital marketing considerations for the year ahead. She’ll touch on advertising trends, the role of different social media platforms and key themes to reach and engage your customers.
After this practical session with Trish, we will have an informal winemaker Q&A hosted by sommelier Bridget Raffal in conversation with Emma Norbiato of Calabria Family Wines. We encourage you to BYO something from NSW to enjoy for this part of the session.
Bridget Raffal is the Beverage Director at Where’s Nick Wine Bar and the founder of Women and Revolution – a new organisation representing and connecting women across all sectors of the wine industry. She currently sits on both the NSW Events Committee and the National Executive Committee for Sommeliers Australia.
Emma Norbiato is Chief Winemaker at Calabria Wines and has received widespread recognition for her winemaking skills, including ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2016 at the Australian Women in Wine Awards and a finalist for Gourmet Travellers 2019 ‘Winemaker of the Year’. She is a respected wine judge and a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar.
The event runs for one hour on zoom and will be packed full of useful information for maximum value, and minimum zoom fatigue.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW, $15 pp (WCA members & non-members)
Ticket holders will receive the link to join the virtual workshop via email the day prior.
Register here.
Module 1: Tuesday 19 October 10am- 12pm AWST
Module 2: Wednesday 20 October 10am- 12pm AWST
You are invited to attend a 2 x 2 hour interactive online session When
to make informed decisions on using e-commerce channels to Module 1
capitalise on the growing demand from Asian consumers. Tuesday
At out workshop you will: 19 October 2021
• Learn how to tap into the world’s largest e-commerce Module 2
market and access Asia’s rapidly expanding middle-class Wednesday
consumer base. 20 October 2021
• Gain a detailed overview of e-commerce platforms and
opportunities for SMEs in a variety of Asian markets, with a Time
key focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 10.00 am – 12.00 pm AWST
(ASEAN), India and China.
• Understand supply chain models required for an e- Where
commerce strategy Webinar
• Consider cultural needs for marketing, social media and
building your brand in an Asian context
Learn more and register here
Dan Murphy’s would like to take this opportunity to invite submissions for the 2022 Dan Murphy’s and BWS Red Wine range review. In store live dates are early May with initial orders expected early April.
Both brands will be working closely together as they look to further curate their ranges to ensure they are locally relevant and reflective of current and future growth areas. Of particular focus are submissions in the following areas:
Other important points to note:
Dan Murphy’s Only
The red wine range review does not cover their entire red wine range. The following areas are Out Of Scope for this review, with these reviewed at different times of the year:
Whilst they are looking for new products to add to the existing range, they’ll also be reviewing the existing range based on the following metrics:
All products will be reviewed against their competitive set within each brand.
Range contraction will occur in varietals / price nodes with range duplication. Products that do not provide differentiation and / or have low customer loyalty will be removed from range. BWS in particular will be reviewing SKU proliferation in some store clusters, which may lead to a net reduction in those stores.
Change To Timelines and Process
Please read the following carefully as it contains important information regarding changes to timelines and submission processes.
If your product matches the above criteria and you wish to submit for ranging in either Dan Murphy’s and / or BWS, please complete the 2022 Endeavour Drinks Red Wine Submission Form no later than Friday 15th October. No physical product samples are required at this stage.
Suppliers of shortlisted products will then be invited to submit physical samples (either tank samples or finished goods) for assessment. All submissions will need to be made to the Endeavour Drinks Wine Panel via the Sample Submission Form with samples sent to Endeavour Drinks Wine Panel – Red Wine Review at 789 Heidelberg Road, Alphington, Victoria 3078 by no later than Friday 19th November.
Please do not send physical samples unless asked to do so.
Suppliers of successful products will then be invited to enter details into Partner Hub (if you do not have access to Partner Hub, please contact [email protected] in advance) with full set up needing to be complete by no later than Friday 24th December.
Please appreciate that they often receive in excess of 1,000 submissions and will not be able to provide feedback on all products to all suppliers, but they will endeavour to notify of any range changes in a timely manner.
Regards
The Endeavour Drinks Wine Team
Ian Wolfe – Category Manager Endeavour Fine Wine West – [email protected]
Mark Samaha – Assistant Category Manager Endeavour Fine Wine West – [email protected]
Rick Blundo – Assistant Category Manager Endeavour Fine Wine West – [email protected]
A very special project which included the coming together of so many producers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cabernet pioneers who started the journey we’re all now on.
In 2017, to celebrate 50 years of regional collaboration, all Margaret River producers were invited to submit a sample of their best single vineyard 2017 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon for this collaborative project.
Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, Juniper Estate, Hay Shed Hill, Leeuwin Estate, Voyager Estate, Lenton Brae, Brookland Valley, Deep Woods, Devils Lair, Heydon Estate, Xanadu, Flametree, Redgate Wines, Happs Wines, Rosily Vineyard, Stormflower Vineyard, Fraser Gallop Estate, Amelia Park Wines, Evans & Tate, McHenry Hohnen, Snake + Herring, Thompson Estate, Victory Point, Oates Ends, Ringbolt, Howard Park, Watershed, Cloudburst , Credaro Wines, Miles from Nowhere, Calneggia Family Vineyards and Swings & Roundabouts* samples were tasted blind on Friday 4 August 2017 by the winemaking team of Andrew Calliard MW, Cath Oates of Oates End, Virginia Willcock of Vasse Felix and Glenn Goodall of Xanadu Wines.
(* listed by age of vineyard)
A blend was produced using the Margaret River’s finest 2017 single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon lots submitted. Oak barrels donated for the maturation included a Sylvain Grande Reserve Chateau barrel from Mastercask and an Icone Elegance barrel from Seguin Moreau. After aging in oak for over 12 months, the final wine is a blend of the two barrels. The wine was bottled in 2018. 372 bottles were produced and have been sold through a series of charity auctions.
The label features an original landscape artwork by leading Margaret River artist, Mary-Lynne Stratton, winner of the 50th Anniversary Wine Label Art Prize.
30 September – Online
Navigating new winemaking trends-finding solutions to existing issues
Constant changes in markets, consumer preferences, regulation and lifestyles require winemakers to continually adapt and innovate to maintain their edge. This seminar aims to challenge winemakers to think outside the box as an industry and continue to challenge the way we make wine- why we make wine additions; why we filter; how we get our energy. Presenters will provide insight into the changes and trends and challenges winemakers to realise opportunities by embracing the risks of innovation by providing real-life problems and case studies from winemakers that have to meet the challenge positively.
Session 1 Global and domestic trends that are shaping winemaking
Session 2 Being brave enough to make change – pushing forward and embracing risk
Session 3 celebrating success- change management and innovation adoption
Find out more and register here.
Cost: ASVO Member $98.00, Non Member $140
Monday 26 – Thursday 29 June, South Australia
This hands-on, intensive four-day course will present the latest techniques and technologies in winemaking and wine production. Over four days, participants will travel in a small group across various South Australian wine regions to visit sites and meet wine, food and industry specialists who are at the cutting-edge of Australian wine production. Learn more.
A seminar exploring the use of visitor analytics systems to profile wine tourists and guide cellar door experience development and measurement.
Wineries can attract a diverse range of visitors, each looking for a tailored and unique experience. Using visitor tracking analytics and customer profiling it is possible to develop a wide range of activities and experiences and test their effectiveness and impact on cellar door ROI.
Using insights and techniques developed through their Wine Australia-funded research project, Dr Ben Thomas and Associate Professor Jeremy Galbreath will deliver a seminar on how wine producers can tier their cellar door service offering and maximise the value delivered to a range of different customer segments. Topics covered will include:
Margaret River Seminar Details
Date: Monday 3 November 2019
Time: 10.00am – 12.30pm
Location: South Regional TAFE – 272 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River
Morning tea/lunch provided
Swan Valley Seminar Details
Date: Wednesday 10 November 2019
Time: 10.00am – 12.30pm
Location: Mandoon Estate – 10 Harris Road, Caversham
Morning tea/lunch provided
Supported by Wine Australia, Wines of WA and DPIRD
Registrations are now open for the next series of AWRI’s 2021 webinar program.
Webinars through October and November will cover biological sprays for Botrytis control, breeding and evaluation of new mildew-resistant grape varieties, carbon sequestration in vineyard soils and the Bureau of Meteorology’s seasonal outlook for vintage 2022.
Each webinar will include a presentation and, where appropriate, a practitioner to provide real-life examples and scenarios. There will also be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions.
Sessions are held on Thursdays at 11:30 am (SA time).
All webinars are free to attend but do require pre-registration.
15 October – Getting the most out of ‘biological’ sprays for Botrytis control
21 October – Breeding and evaluation of new mildew-resistant wine-grape varieties for Australian conditions
28 October – Can carbon sequestration in vineyard soils offset greenhouse gas emissions?
11 November – Seasonal climate outlook for summer 2021-2022
A Margaret River Wine stall is available each week for one MRWA Wine Producer member to:
The cost is $45 per week for eligible producers who meet this criteria:
Each producer can make one booking per fortnight. Should you wish to book more regularly, please let us know at [email protected] and we will let you know what is available.
Make your booking via the links below (be quick “first in best dressed”!).
Download Criteria & Guidelines
Testimonials
Victory Point Wine – “What a fabulously organised and welcoming vibe the Margaret River Farmers Market has! Arriving and getting set up was super easy, we had been allocated an incredible corner spot and being able to borrow a marquee from the organisers made it so smooth for us. The other stallholders gave us plenty of tips and help, and the reception from the attendees was engaged and positive. We even sold a bunch of wine! A great way to reach potential customers who are already shopping local. ” Sarah Flynn
Small Things Wine – “We were smashed!! Had we been open for another 30min we would’ve run out of wine!!” Ian Batt
Arlewood – “A great position – north and east facing stall. A wonderful opportunity to re-engage with the Margaret River community, have your brand associated with Margaret River’s regional produce and be on the top of passer’s by minds when visiting their next cellar door. Looking forward to showing off our wines at the stall again in late December.” Paris Hokin
The wine world is seeing an explosion of interest in regional wine stories told differently.
To satiate this interest, WA Wines to the World is endeavouring to uncover new and unique content that will capture the interest of international wine trade and consumers.
New or experienced writers with a passion for telling Western Australian wine stories are invited to send a 150-word story pitch to WA Wines to the World. Successful pitch writers will then be invited to submit their stories of 1000-1500 words, for which they will be paid $1 per word (AUD).
The stories will be used in the delivery of global wine activations across the UK, USA, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. These include luxury wine tourism, luxury tastings, consumer tastings, educational campaigns and social media campaigns.
Pitch Brief
Pitches should be no longer than 150 words and must explain why this is a new story/angle; how this will express a new view or perspective on Western Australian wine; and why it will be of interest to international wine engaged consumers.
To submit a pitch, please email [email protected] with your name, contact details and pitch.
The deadline for submissions is 31 October 2021.
Xanadu Wines who established one of the Margaret River first vineyards in 1977, and now is one of the country’s most acclaimed wineries, takes a step further on their sustainability journey as one of the first wineries in Australia to be applying the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA) certified Trust Mark on their wine labels, starting with the DJL range.
Xanadu Senior Winemaker Glenn Goodall says, “Xanadu joined the pilot program over a decade ago, becoming certified in 2012. We always believed the program would be worthwhile, and now we are excited to be one of the first wineries to begin using the SWA trust mark on our wine labels.
“It is a significant milestone for the whole team, which includes the much-appreciated efforts of our growers who have achieved SWA certification. It’s great to have growers joining us on our journey to continuously improve our environmental and sustainability credentials.”
Margaret River Wine Association CEO, Amanda Whiteland says, “The use of a SWA certified trust mark assures customers and consumers of the integrity and that that the vineyards and winery have met rigorous standards of sustainability”
Join us as we celebrate International Cabernet Day on Thursday 2 September, with USA wine critic Karen MacNeil as she chats with three Margaret River winemakers who are making world class Cabernet in this exciting virtual event.
Karen is the author of The Wine Bible the bestselling book on wine in the United States, as well as the creator and editor of WineSpeed. She was also recently named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Wine Business.
On Thursday, 2 September 2021, at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET (Friday, 3 September 2021, at 8am AWST) Karen MacNeil will be introducing:
🍷Cape Mentelle with Ben Cane, Winemaker and the CAPE MENTELLE Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
🍷Vasse Felix Wines with Virginia Willcock, Chief Winemaker and the VASSE FELIX Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
🍷 Clairault Streicker with Bruce Dukes, Chief Winemaker and the CLAIRAULT Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Register HERE
Also, if you missed the very informative Margaret River Chardonnay tasting and discussion on 25 June 2021, you can watch the Zoom recording HERE
Margaret River Region Chardonnay Tasting
Friday 10 September
Vasse Felix
The Margaret River Region Chardonnay Tasting is a time to celebrate everything that is great about Margaret River Chardonnay!
At the tasting we will be looking at samples from the 2021 Vintage. All Chardonnay producers are invited to submit samples and participate in the blind tasting.
How to get involved
If you have one or more representative vineyard samples from within the Margaret River GI Region you are encouraged to get involved. You are welcome to submit as many samples as you wish, with each sample to be supplied in 4 x 750ml bottles. All samples we receive will be open and available to taste.
Please note this will be a blind tasting, with technical and geographical data displayed for each sample. All participants are invited to bring a colleague to the tasting on 10 September, commencing at 10:30am for a 10:45am start.
Registrations & Information
To register your participation please do so here, or for more information please contact me on (08) 9756 5035 or by emailing [email protected]
We hope you can join us!
We are calling on all of our Fine Vines Festival venues, suppliers and partners to join forces with us to spread the word as far and wide as possible, so we can ensure a successful first year for all of us.
Here is a small schedule of promotion that we strongly encourage you to take part in. If everyone does what they can from their businesses, we have no doubt we’ll all be able to build the festival’s audience quickly.
We’re starting off with a Social Media Blitz on Thursday 26th August at 5pm. This is where everyone posts about Fine Vines Festival on the same day, at the same time in order to flood everyone’s news feeds so we can reach as many people as possible about the festival.
You can post about your Fine Vines event, or you can post about the festival in general. To make it easy for you, here is a link with some social tiles, images and suggested copy that you can use to schedule your posts.
Please make sure you tag the following:
Instagram
@finevinesfest
@margaretriver
@margaret_river_wine
@citybusselton
#finevinesfest #margaretriver #margaretriverwine #westernaustralia
Facebook
@FineVinesFestival
If you have any questions at all, please get in touch with Erin or Brianna at Ahoy Management.
The 2022 Halliday Wine Companion is out.
The coveted ‘Top Rated by Variety’ list in this year’s Halliday Wine Companion represented 335 top scoring wines, including 41 Sparkling wines and 6 Fortified wines.
62 wines are from Margaret River, representing 21.5% of the still wine list. A great result for a region which makes less than 2% of Australia’s wine.
Discover Margaret River’s Top Rated Wines by Variety!
Chardonnay
98 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2018 – Chardonnay of the Year
98 Cullen Kevin John 2019
98 Voyager Estate MJW Chardonnay 2018
97 Domaine Naturaliste Artus Margaret River Chardonnay 2019
97 Flametree S.R.S Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2019
97 Larry Cherubino Cherubino Chardonnay 2019
97 Larry Cherubino Dijon Wychwood Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
97 Pierro Chardonnay VR 2017
97 Stella Bella Luminosa Chardonnay 2019
97 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2019
97 Windows Estate La Fenetre Chardonnay 2017
97 Xanadu Chardonnay 2019
97 Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay 2019
Semillon
96 Moss Wood Wilyabrup Semillon 2020
95 Fermoy Estate Reserve Semillon 2019
Sauvignon Blanc
97 Cullen Legacy Sauvignon Blanc 2019
97 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2019
97 Cullen Amber 2019
96 Flowstone Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2019
96 Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa 2019
95 Clairault Streicker Bridgeland Block Fume Blanc 2019
95 Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc 2018
95 Redgate Ullinger Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
95 Vasse Felix Blanc X 2020
95 Window Estate Petit Lot Fume Blanc 2019
Other Whites and Blends
96 L.A.S. Vino CBDB Chenin Blanc Dynamic Blend 2019
96 Pierro L.T.C. Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2020
96 Windows Estate Petit Lot Chenin 2019
Rose
96 Deep Woods Estate Rose 2020
95 L.A.S. Vino Albino PNO 2019
95 Larry Cherubino Willows Vineyard Rose 2020
95 Nocturne Sangiovese Nebbiolo Rose 2020
Pinot Noir
96 Moss Wood Wilyabrup Pinot Noir 2018
96 Victory Point Pinot Noir 2019
Grenache
97 McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard GSM 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
99 Cullen Vanya Wilyabrup Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
98 Moss Wood Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
98 Xanadu Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
97 Amelia Park Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
97 Corymbia Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
97 Deep Woods Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
97 Deep Woods Estate G5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
97 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
97 Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
97 Nocturne Sheoak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
97 Stella Bella Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
97 Voyager Estate MJW Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
97 Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Cabernet and Family
98 Cullen Diana Madeline 2018
98 Cullen Diana Madeline 2019
98 Peccavi Estate Merlot 2018
97 Cullen Legacy Series Fruit Day Malbec 2019
97 Deep Woods Estate Single Vineyard Cabernet Malbec 2019
97 McHenry Hohnen Vintners Rolling Stone 2017
97 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2017
97 Wills Domain Paladin Hill Matrix 2019
96 Domaine Naturaliste Le Naturaliste Cabernet Franc 2018
96 Flametree Jeremy John Cabernet Malbec 2018
96 Juniper Estate Aquitaine Rouge 2018
96 Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot 2018
96 Woodlands Emily 2019
Congratulations to all the grape growers and winemakers!
Vanya Cullen wins the inaugural Viticulturist of the Year in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, with her wines being recognised as exemplifying best practice and sustainability in the vineyard.
Vanya was delighted and said “I feel very honoured and grateful to receive this award at this time of Cullen’s 50th anniversary and am grateful to all the many people and the land and nature herself for all the contributions towards this inaugural award win.”
The win coincides with Cullen Wines marking half a century since planting their first Cabernet vines. Vanya noted “It’s 50 years of sustainable wine growing preceded by 65,000 years of Wadandi sustainable land care.”
Cullen Wines has been organic and certified biodynamic for more than 20 years and is the only ‘carbon positive’ winery in Australia, achieving certification in 2019. The vineyard sequesters more carbon than the business emits.
Congratulations Vanya! We raise a glass with you to celebrate your win and the 50th anniversary since the Cullen Estate was planted in 1971.
A curated selection of seasonal wine events designed for every palate.
If there’s one thing better than a wine festival, it’s a festival that fuses the mastery of different blends with the wildness of the region and the uniqueness of its produce.
Over 10 days this October, you’re invited to celebrate the craft that has shaped the Margaret River region for over half a century and experience the ultimate in gastronomic brilliance.
Margaret River is, of course, a desirable destination in its own right, now offering a collection of unmissable, upmarket moments scattered throughout its world class wineries. Whether your skill level is ‘aficionado’ or ‘occasional drinker’, the event offering of Fine Vines Festival invites you to explore all aspects of the famed region through a blend of tastings and tours, dining experiences, masterclasses and exclusive museum wines.
Uncover which grape variety speaks to you the most; get to know the intricacies of blending Bordeaux-style wine or have an intimate exploration of the world’s original grape chameleon, Chardonnay. Patrons can peruse the full list of events on the festival website.
For those that want to discuss the difference between a Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, a selection of red based events could tickle your fancy.
See below for this week’s decanting of red wine events:
Blend it like Bordeaux – Get to know the intricacies of blending Bordeaux-style wine at Cape Grace with winemaker Conrad Tritt. Learn the structure and style traits of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec before creating a wine to suit your palate under Conrad’s astute guidance. Walk away with a new understanding of how these supporting varietals give prominence to the Margaret River Region king, Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an intimate event with limited spots available.
Syrahcentric – Lovers of Syrah and Shiraz can dive deep into the similarities and differences of these two wine styles with trophy-winning winemaker Bruce Dukes of Domaine Naturaliste. Take a tasting tour of the Rhone Valley, South Australia and return to Margaret River with six wines showcasing classic examples of these two wine styles, accompanied by a selection of charcuterie.
Vineyard to Cabernet Masterclass – Small family-run vineyards are an intrinsic part of the Margaret River Region wine fabric. Join Grace Farm’s viticulturist Tim Quinlan with cellar door manager Julie Hartley and get an insight into this winemaking world, touring the vineyard’s Cabernet Franc vines before experiencing a vertical Cabernet Sauvignon tasting from Grace Farm’s first vintage in 2011 until now. This masterclass includes ten tastings, seven Cabernets and three incredible museum reserve wines, accompanied by shared grazing platters.
Tickets are now on sale via the festival website www.finevinesfestival.com.au.
You can also discover more via the Fine Vines Festival Facebook and Instagram
Locals and visitors to the Margaret River region will couple their love for wine with a luxurious film experience this month when Australia’s premier destination film festival CinefestOZ returns to the South West for the 14th time.
Loaded with a stack of cinematic events in Margaret River as well across the areas of Augusta, Busselton, and Bunbury – CinefestOZ will have film buffs on the edge of their seats with its biggest offering yet of more than 270 exciting events.
Wine lovers not wishing to venture far from the sights of the State’s most beautiful vineyards can still be fully immersed in the action as a broad range of screenings, premieres, In Conversation dining experiences and workshops go full speed ahead right in the HEART of Margaret River.
Kick off the five-day Festival week on Tuesday August 24 at Margaret River’s Opening Night, headlined by the World Premiere of Facing Monsters. Taking place at Margaret River HEART, this intriguing documentary details a remarkable portrait of enigmatic free surfer Kerby Brown as he defies logic to take on some of the world’s most dangerous slab waves off the rugged coast of Western Australia.
Going ahead in the home of the much-loved Margaret River Pro surfing competition, viewing the World Premiere of this engaging film couldn’t be done in a better way. A red carpet event prior to the screening at 6pm will set the stage perfectly for this highly anticipated film. Back it up with an In Conversation lunch with filmmakers the following day at Burger Baby to get all the ins and outs of how this doco was brought to life.
Going ahead just down the road to open the Festival in Augusta on Wednesday August 25 will be the World Premiere of Akoni, headed by wonderful pre screening party at Augusta Community Resource Centre. CinefestOZ is thrilled to return to this beautiful town in 2021 to host such an engaging film that tells the story of a homeless Nigerian refugee who struggles to integrate into Australian society after escaping the clutches of Boko Haram.
But wait, that’s just two days of the Festival out of a whopping five! There’s still so much more to jump into while in the Margaret River Region.
Travel a little further on Thursday August 26 to the bustling hub of Bunbury for a wine experience like no other. Watch the West Australian premiere of Blind Ambition, documenting the story of four refugees who conquer all odds to become South Africa’s top sommeliers, before an intriguing virtual Q&A with the filmmakers. Then, roll on down to Mojos Restaurant to enjoy canapes and a blind wine-tasting journey of your own with experienced Sommelier, Jake Atkinson.
Friday August 27 will have you a little closer to home with the World Premiere of Film Prize Finalist, River at Orana Cinemas Busselton. River is one of four Australian films competingfor the Country’s richest Film Prize of $100,000AUD and will be backed up by a fun-filled after party at the Esplanade Hotel.
Finally, wrap the week’s festivities in the best way possible with the WA Premiere of Under the Volcano on Saturday August 28. Charting the rise and fall of AIR Studios Montserrat, the recording studio at the centre of the pop universe in the 1980s, this is a cracking film to end the week on. A pre screening event will go ahead at Margaret River HEART from 6pm and an immersive Q&A will follow.
Grab a glass of wine and view the full CinefestOZ festival program online for further insight into all the Festival has to offer.
Tickets to events can be purchased here, and the CinefestOZ App is available now for your added booking convenience.
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a co-regulatory organisation that supports the ambition of consumers, industry and government to build a sustainable national packaging ecosystem. APCO supports companies of all sizes on this journey by providing the insights, resources and programs to meet their customers and governments expectations.
Over the coming weeks, APCO with the support of government, will be contacting a number of liable businesses about their sustainable packaging obligations under the National Environmental Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (UPM NEPM). The UPM NEPM is in place to ensure businesses reduce the environmental impact of their packaging in Australia.
Businesses can access support by joining APCO and becoming a signatory of the Australian Packaging Covenant. The Covenant is an agreement based on product stewardship principles by governments and industry participants in the packaging supply chain. It means anyone who designs, produces, sells, or uses packaging, must take responsibility for minimising the environmental impact of it throughout its life cycle.
The APCO Membership provides businesses with the tools, resources and support to track and improve their packaging sustainability. It also empowers businesses to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets and new sustainable packaging legislation being set by state and federal governments.
To help you meet your sustainable packaging obligations, please find a toolkit with information below:
Registrations are now open for the next series of the AWRI’s 2021/2022 webinar program.
25 November 2021 – Irrigation scheduling tools to make every drop count
Dr Vinay Pagay (University of Adelaide), Dr Everard Edwards (CSIRO), Jeremy Giddings (Agriculture Victoria)
2 December 2021 – Reviewing the standard procedures for grape sugar and colour measurement
Kieran Hirlam (AWRI)
16 December 2021 – Filtration, filterability and facts
Dr Paul Bowyer (Blue H2O Filtration)
20 January 2022 – Fungicide resistance in Australian viticulture
Dr Mark Sosnowski (SARDI), Dr Suzanne McKay (SARDI), Dr Ismail Ismail (SARDI), Lincoln Harper (Curtin University)
In challenging times, it’s easy to get caught up in running your business and miss out on opportunities to advance, optimise, adapt and develop your business as a result. This event has been designed for business owners and senior management as a forum to understand trends, solutions, and options from international industry leaders and key service providers. It brings togetheris the Australian grape and wine community to discuss important topics, including business culture, finance, risk, and licence to operate. There will be presentations about new tools and best practices to help you succeed in today’s dynamic marketplace, and you’ll also get to network with others facing the same challenges as you. ASVO is here to help in these challenging times for many businesses by gathering like-minded individuals to share knowledge and a better future.
Tuesday 27 July – 12pm to 1pm AWST
Exporting wine or looking to start? Get ready for myth busting insights into the Australian Wine Sector, exporting war stories and hidden gems that may open doors to wine exporting opportunities for your business.
The wine sector has been hit hard by the pandemic and changing global trade measures.
SW Accounts & Advisors be exploring the issues and opportunities for exporters of Australian Wine with real life scenarios, war stories from experts and no cliches!
Join them and experts from across South Korea, Japan and India as they:
• Explore the latest in the Australian Wine landscape with Stuart Barclay, General Manager, Marketing at Wine Australia
• Discover the tastes, competitive landscape and export potential for Australian wines across South Korea, Japan and India
• Provide practical tips via Q&A to make your export diversification ideas your reality.
Join us on the 29th of July (from 9.30am – 10.30am) to be informed of the current activities being undertaken in the WA WINES TO THE WORLD program and to hear from global logistics provider Hillebrand on the topic of shipping and logistics from a WA wine industry perspective.
This is the first of our quarterly Zoom info sessions, designed to update WA wine exporters on our program activities and provide information about specific practical topics of interest.
This session will cover:
WA WINES TO THE WORLD – Program Update
Shipping & Logistics:
There will also be time for Q&A after the presentation.
Register to attend here.
2021 James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge to Unite.
The James Halliday Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenges will be ‘blended’ and judged simultaneously for the first time in August 2021.
The James Halliday Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenge is a celebration of the world’s most popular two varieties and Australia’s outstanding regional diversity.
Margaret River Wine Association and Wine Yarra Valley will collaborate and jointly host the Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenges. They will be judged in the Yarra Valley in August this year and then will move between the two iconic regions on alternate years.
Born in the Yarra Valley in 2012, the James Halliday Australian Chardonnay Challenge celebrates all chardonnays in its quest to find the nation’s best. Chardonnay is Australia’s most planted white variety and the continuing evolution of its style by Australian makers is heralded globally.
The James Halliday Australian Cabernet Challenge was launched in 2016. As the world’s most widely planted vine and Australia’s third most planted variety, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Australian wine’s great success stories.
“The decision to bring the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon Challenges together in August provides a win-win scenario for all the stakeholders. This year the Challenges will be held in the Yarra Valley, next year in Margaret River. The results will provide a unique snapshot of the state of play of these two great varieties.” James Halliday
The highest pointed wines for each variety will be rewarded with the James Halliday Trophy and the regional winners with scores of 95 points or more are also recognised.
Entries are open until Friday 30th July 2021. Judging will take place Monday 23rd August – Wednesday 25th August 2021 in the Yarra Valley, and a comprehensive contingency plan is in place if changes are required.
Enter via ShowRunner at https://wineshow.awri.com.au/2021-halliday-cabernet-chardonnay-challenge
For further information contact:
Wine Yarra Valley – Sarah Donnellan, Marketing Coordinator [email protected]
Margaret River Wine – Pip Heaford, Communications & Events Manager [email protected]
Margaret River Wine and Wine Yarra Valley are the official and peak wine industry bodies in their respective regions. While each is passionate about their own area, they are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with another Australian fine wine region.
Origins Market has an opportunity for a collective of wineries to share a space and staff in the Urban cellar door. Great opportunity for wineries looking to expand, or are needing a temporary cellar door while building or just wanting to sell direct to consumer without all the overheads.
Expressions of interest are open now for anyone wanting to find out more about the collective.
Find out more about the Winery Collective
Find out about leasing your own space
Contact Cassy Howard for more details, to register your interest in the collective or to discuss a pop-up space.
0457 503 636 | [email protected]
Program Update & Info Session: The Changing Global Consumer
Join WA Wines to the World on Thursday 2nd September from 9.30am – 10.30am to hear about the changing expectations of global consumers, from Wine Consumer specialists, Wine Intelligence.
This is the second of their Zoom info sessions, designed to update WA wine exporters on their program activities and provide information about specific practical topics of interest.
This session will cover:
There will also be time for Q&A after the presentation.
Register to attend here.
As workforce shortages look set to continue in 2022, tourism and hospitality providers are invited to meet with local workers who are ready and equipped with the basic skills required to enter the industry, as part of Tourism WA’s Hospitality Job Connect Program.
The 5-day Hospitality introductory course is aimed at High School Year 12 Non ATAR and ATAR, and Year 11, as well as those seeking to work in the industry, and aims to train local people for jobs in the Margaret River Region.
Renowned chef Tony Howell and South Regional TAFE Margaret River will lead the program, which will deliver a range of exciting nationally accredited elements, including:
Customer service training
Barista (coffee making) skills
Safe food handling techniques
CV support/work readiness tips
Masterclasses led by chef Tony Howell
Onsite days at two local hospitality venues
Statement of attainment for successfully completed units
On the final day of the program, local employers are invited to attend a morning tea to connect with the job-ready participants. Employers
in the Margaret River Region with job vacancies available are encouraged to register their interest in attending.
When: Friday 3 December
Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
Where: The River Hotel, 40 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River
At the event, businesses will be asked to give a quick 2 minute introduction, detailing their current job vacancies and types of candidates they are looking for.
4 August 2021 12:00pm – 1:00pm AWST
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) invites you to join us them as they discuss the Recycled Content Guide (launching later this month), a practical new resource to support Australian organisations to use more recycled content in their packaging. The resource provides clear and practical information on the importance of incorporating recycled content into packaging, and practical steps for businesses. This webinar delves into how the guide will benefit your organisation throughout all stages of the sustainable packaging journey. Facilitated by Alison Appleby with special guest speakers Richard Smith (Amcor) and Andrew Smith (PACT Group).
The Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 have been announced and congratulations to the Margaret River Award Winners!
Best in Show
Fermoy Reserve Chardonnay 2019
Platinum
Stella Bella Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019
Stella Bella Luminosa Chardonnay 2019
Gold
Cape Naturaliste The Sextant Appassimento 2018
Clairault Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2017
Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Deep Woods Estate Grand Selection Yallingup Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Forester Estate Home Block Shiraz 2019
Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Gralyn Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2018
Gralyn Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The Decanter World Wine Awards is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition. Find out more here.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) compliance audits will be commencing next month in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australian vineyards. In WA, businesses are covered by either federal and state legislation depending on the structure of your business. Note that the audits will only be conducted in businesses that are operating under the federal legislation. You can review a fact sheet here to help you determine your status but we recommend you take further advice if unclear.
The FWO has indicated its Inspectors will commence vineyard visits around the time that pruning is underway, and further inspections will be undertaken during the vintage 2022 grape harvest. See fact sheet here on your recordkeeping obligations under federal legislation.
Australian Grape & Wine understands they will be focussing on:
Producers who require further assistance can contact the following:
Wines of WA is liaising with CCIWA and SA Wine Industry Association to ensure WA producers have access to required information ahead of the audits.
Read the full details, including the impacts on Australian grape and wine producers here.
GROWING SEASON
A good part of the vintage growing season happens in the prior year. For vintage 2021, the growing season was a mild spring in 2020, with reasonable but not extreme rainfall, which is excellent growing conditions for vines.
Budburst and flowering across all varieties were normal. Crops were good but not excessive and things looked promising from very early on.
The La Niña weather system created a strong cyclone season in the north of Western Australia resulting in increased rainfall and unusual conditions across the region.
November was significantly wet, double the long-term average, with 14 days of rain.
Fortunately, in December and January, the region experienced virtually no rain and warmer than average mean maximum temperatures. The cool nights allowed the vines some reprieve from the hot days.
As harvest was commencing in early February, the region saw significant rainfall. This rainfall soaked deep into the soils and was great timing for the later ripening Cabernet Sauvignon to have a drink. Warm weather and a period of high humidity (for Margaret River) followed, which increased the risk of disease pressure in some vineyards.
HARVEST CONDITIONS
“Overall a vintage of extreme weather conditions. Weather conditions resulted in a lot of work in the vineyards. It was a season that we had to keep tweaking canopy structure and potentially taking some risks as the weather changed and it was hard to predict what was going to happen next.” David Moulton, Cape Mentelle, Viticulturist
Early February was very windy, and then on the 7th and 8th, there was a significant rain event that had most of the region a little bit on edge. The whites had finished veraison, so all the berries were soft, and the reds were still mid-veraison.
Marri tree blossom was moderate, therefore there was not too much bird pressure, but nets were still applied to the vines across the region.
It was quite humid for a while, which made it a bit more challenging than what the region is accustomed to. The humidity caused a bit of botrytis pressure in some vineyards and required careful fruit selection. Growers reacted with leaf plucking across the reds to improve airflow and some fruit dropping to ensure physiological ripeness was achievable.
Reds progressed nicely into Autumn with some expressive fruit, the tannins seemed to take a little longer to evolve which saw a rush at the end to take the fruit off before cyclone Seroja hit Western Australia on 11th April.
Those who put in the extra work will no doubt reap the rewards. As usual, the best vineyards will rise to the top.
Labour shortages deserve a mention. It necessitated a lot of pre-planning and forecasting by the wineries to ensure harvesting could be achieved when required. Many were affected and called on anyone available to help with the harvest. Many wineries called on their cellar door staff, stranded travellers and retirees to assist with some hand picking this year.
It seems everyone across the region rolled up their sleeves and got to work to ensure that it would be another successful vintage.
THE WINES
“Across the region, the vineyard teams all look a little weary but the winemakers seem to be pleasantly surprised and excited about the quality that they have received.” David Moulton, Cape Mentelle, Viticulturist
Early observations indicate that white varieties had incredible flavour at lower baume than usual and retained natural acidity. There is purity and varietal expression and all at lower potential alcohol levels. Chardonnay is looking very elegant. Sauvignon Blanc is a standout this season.
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is looking great in ferment. It has a purity and aromatic profile that should progress into a wine that will age gracefully. The tannins are super polished and fine.
The 2021 yields were below the Margaret River long-term average but up 6% versus last year to 30,150 tonnes.
Image: David Moulton, Viticulturist at Cape Mentelle and the Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show 2020 Viticultural Excellence Award Winner.
Winepartners Nordic is one of the largest importers in Norway and one of the top 5 independent importers.
The Norwegian monopoly, in charge of the sale of alcoholic beverages in that country, has opened some interesting opportunities for wines from Western Australia, and for us these opportunities are strategic. Please find the description of the requested wines below these lines.
Specifications (ref #202201003):
Specifications (ref #202203002):
Specifications (ref #202203003):
Specifications (ref #202203005):
Winepartners seek to make a price proposal that points towards an accessible retail, aspiring to high sales and a long-term business that allows the brand to be extended in the future. In addition, prices can be reevaluated and raised after 7 months on the market.
If you would like more information contact [email protected]
Winepartners Nordic
[email protected]
www.winepartnersnordic.no
Strømsveien 43
0658 Oslo-Norway
Exceptional wine, extraordinary experiences –
A wine lover’s paradise at Fine Vines Festival this spring.
Wine lovers rejoice! Tickets are now on sale for Fine Vines Festival, the Margaret River region’s newest festival celebrating all things wine, with a first-release program of over 30 events taking place this spring between October 15th – 24th. The program shines a spotlight on the people, places and passion behind the region’s much-loved and highly regarded wine and offers exclusive experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
Festival goers can expect to meet the winemakers and grape growers, see first-hand where and how different wines are made, taste the difference between vintages, terroir, oak, aging methods, and blends; discover new varietals or a new appreciation for old ones; stock their cellars with new release, museum and large format wines; and of course enjoy it all in the stunning locations of the Margaret River Wine Region that spans from Busselton to Augusta.
Tickets to Fine Vines Festival events are now on sale via the festival website www.finevinesfestival.com.au.
Organisers suggest following Fine Vines Festival on social media via Facebook and Instagram for updates and to see what events are taking place. You can also visit the website www.finevinesfestival.com.au.
The Fine Vines Festival is supported by Margaret River Wine Association, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, City of Busselton and Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
19th – 21st May 2023
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Visit the Margaret River Pavilion or treat yourself to the VIP Lounge presented by Margaret River Wine.
The Good Food & Wine Show presented by Citi, is the perfect day out for food and wine lovers. Enjoy a fantastic day out with friends and wander through the show, sampling from hundreds of stalls by local producers, chatting to winemakers and distillers and hearing their stories. Join in the fun of a masterclass from wine and cheese pairing to whisky tasting, graze pop-up restaurants, then sit back and be entertained by your favourite chefs as they demonstrate their delicious recipes live on-stage.
14th to 23rd July 2023
Put a hold on hibernation this winter with more than 40 unique events throughout the Margaret River Region in, designed to help you break the boredom.
All your festival favourites with plenty of fire, wine, food and fine tunes planned for your winter down south.
Follow on Instagram or Facebook for updates.
Program and tickets at cabinfeverfest.com.au
Date: Wednesday 4th August
Time: 8.30 -10.30 am
Venue: Clairault – Streicker Conference Room at Restuarant, a field trip will follow.
Genevieve Hanran-Smith and Drew McKenzie of Nature Conservation in collaboration with Chris Gillmore of Clairault Streicker will present current practices for arum lily eradication through the Arum Lily Blitz program with insights into practical development of Biodiversity Actions Plans to meet Sustainable Winegrowing Australia requirements.
Did you know 6000ha are ‘under vine’ across the Margaret River wine region?
That makes for a lot of wine-producing land – and lots of opportunities for weeds to take hold. Chris Gillmore, of Clairault-Streicker Estate, takes this threat seriously and is a great example of how arum lily control, asset protection and environmental responsibility can coincide.
This is also an excellent opportunity for those members and growers to understand how develop strategies to meet Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Freshcare AWISSP Viticulture and Winery standards. Both Standards require a Sustainability Action Plan (M2 Freshcare AWISSP) to be developed that requires various management plans, in this case specifically the Biodiversity Management Plan (E5 of Freshcare AWISSP – Viti and E6 of Freshcare AWISSP – Winery). Drew McKenzie has many years of experience developing Biodiversity Management Plans and will be available to answer questions during this session in relation to this.
Chris is one of over a thousand land managers in the Margaret River region that have joined the Arum Lily Blitz, a coordinated campaign to control arum lilies to protect biodiversity, agriculture and landscape values across the region.
To find out how you can become an integral part of the campaign to control arum lilies please join us for an informative morning that will also include morning tea, insights into developing a Biodiversity Management Plan and field trip (on site at Clairault Streicker 3277 Caves Road following the presentation).
Free for MRWA Members, non-members $25.
Register here https://www.trybooking.com/BTDOH
POSTPONED
Workshop – Wednesday 19 January: Functional Biodiversity Enhancement – the Native Solution
Full day workshop seminar & networking event for Viticulturists, Grape Growers and Farmers
Field Day – Date TBC: – Growing Biodiversity on our Vineyards, with in field practical demonstrations*
Full day field workshop event for Viticulturists, Grape Growers and Wine Producers – Limited to 20 participants only.
Due to the uncertainty around travel in January the Field Workshop date will be confirmed when we are certain Mary will be able to travel to WA. The Workshop Seminar will be presented remotely if need be.
Find out more and register for the workshop here.
A new hero wine event, Fine Vines Festival, has been announced for the Margaret River region this spring, taking place between Friday October 15 and Sunday October 24.
The festival is set to celebrate the people, passion and places that make Margaret River the renowned winemaking region it is, over a series of more than 35 events throughout the 10 days.
The festival will allow visitors to get up close and personal with the region’s growers, winemakers and venues, including exclusive behind-the-scenes visits to vineyards that aren’t usually open to public, incredible wine degustations such as the Vasse Felix Heyetesbury Chardonnay Dinner and Leeuwin Estate Art Series Lunch, In Conversation sessions with key sommeliers and wine producers, and museum and vertical tastings of some of the region’s most iconic wines.
Festival Director Erin Molloy from AHOY Management said Fine Vines is a unique offering of events dedicated to showcasing the quality and depth of the Margaret River wine region.
Ms Molloy said, “For the aficionados and the occasional drinkers alike, the festival invites people to discover new aspects of our wine region through tastings and tours, masterclasses, dinners and exclusive museum wines.”
Margaret River Wine Association CEO Amanda Whiteland said, “Margaret River is without question one of the world’s greatest wine regions, and the idea behind the Fine Vines Festival was to celebrate this special time of year in the vineyards and the world-class wines produced here through a series of unique wine experiences”.
“October is such a special time of year to visit the Margaret River wine region. It is Kambarang, or second Spring in the Noongar six season calendar, with wildflowers abound. It’s also when we expect to see a lot of new release wines.”
The full program and tickets will go on sale in late June. A taster of what’s to come on the program is listed below:
Icon Chardonnay Dinner at Vasse Felix – A celebration of Margaret River’s Queen varietal. Join Chief Winemaker Virginia Willcock on an exploration of the power, concentration of flavour and fresh acidity that define great Margaret River Chardonnay, with a focus on cult Icon, the Heytesbury Chardonnay. Over a six course menu, discover the nuances of site selection and winemaking techniques which create the subtle, hallmark wild characters that distinguish the Vasse Felix style. Featuring a wine focussed menu paired to selections from the Vasse Felix Chardonnay collection, including museum vintages of Heytesbury Chardonnay.
The Art of Fine Wine at Leeuwin Estate – A winemaker’s masterclass. Discover the story behind Leeuwin Estate’s acclaimed Art Series Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in a two-hour, winemaker-led masterclass set against the backdrop of the Leeuwin Art Gallery. Experience the wines’ renowned age-worthiness across 15 current and museum release Art Series tastings, connecting the emotion of wine expression to the contemporary Australian art works that adorn both the labels and the gallery walls. A three-course lunch finds its match in accompanying museum release Art Series wines after the masterclass.
Pet Nat Party at Bungalow Social – Dunsborough’s Bungalow Social is giving up its back deck to celebrate Margaret River Region Pétillant Natural, giving the oldest of sparkling winemaking methods a contemporary reboot. Some of the region’s favourite Pet Nats will be poured alongside a selection of fried chicken snacks running the gamut from tacos to wings. Relax with friends and raise your complimentary glass of Pet Nat to the DJ’s smooth beats.
In Praise of Pink at Flametree – Margaret River region rosé is the star at flametree winery’s collaborative tasting event. This increasingly popular wine style is getting its time in the spotlight at a rosé tribute where fine wines meet floral fashions at Flametree. Don your best Spring ensemble and take to the “pink” carpet to celebrate the sparking, dry and sweet rosé styles from Margaret River’s wineries. Learn about rosé from local winemakers against a styled backdrop with live music at an event that pays homage to this elegant and youthful varietal.
Sparkling Sundowner at Howard Park Wines – Raise a glass to the sinking sun.
Oysters, sparkling wine and the golden glow of last light. The romance of sparkling wine finds expression at Howard Park Wines this International Champagne Day. Guests will enjoy a glass of Petit Jeté on arrival, and an ensuing experience of winemaking excellence that allows soiree attendees to choose their own class of bubbles – including French Champagne from the winery’s Burch Family Wines’ arm. A taste of elegance and Méthode Traditionelle in the heart of the Margaret River Region.
Around the World in a Wine Glass at Rustico, Hayshed Hill – Satisfy your wanderlust. An experience of the world beyond the South West wine region means an evening of winemaker Michael Kerrigan’s World Series wines matched to a six-course meal by Rustico at Hay Shed Hill. A transformative taste to fuel unrequited wanderlust. Western Australia’s own jazz supremo Jessie Gordon will set the tone for a dinner designed to transport you afar.
Wine on the Water with Clairault Striecker – Whale watch with wine in hand.
Step aboard a 20-metre catamaran from the Quindalup Boat Ramp and join the team from Clairault Streicker on a sunset canape cruise in search of whales as they begin their migration season along the Cape Leeuwin Naturaliste ridge. Canapés suited to the seas will be served alongside Clairault wines in a guided tasting. A definitive Margaret River Region experience that showcases the wild beauty of a landscape producing some of the world’s best wines.
Syrahcentric at Domaine Naturaliste – An exploration of shiraz and Syrah. Lovers of Syrah and Shiraz can dive deep into the similarities and differences of those two wine styles with trophy-winning winemaker Bruce Dukes at Domaine Naturaliste. Take a tasted tour of the Rhone Valley, South Australia and return to Margaret River via six wines showcasing classic examples of the two styles, accompanied by a selection of charcuterie.
Spring Garden Party at Voyager Estate – A progressive Voyager Tasting.
Experience Voyager beyond the dining room with a four-stop progressive food and wine tasting through the Estate’s famed Cape Dutch-style gardens. The new release of Project Pet Nat will combine with crowd favourites of sparkling Chenin Blanc and the winery’s acclaimed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon styles, matched to head chef Santiago’s beautifully executed bites. Learn from chefs and winemakers on hand, and finish the afternoon alfresco with DJ sets and a marron bun or gourmet hot dog from the grill.
Organisers suggest following Fine Vines Festival on social media via Facebook and Instagram for updates and to see what events are taking place. You can also visit the website www.finevinesfestival.com.au
The Fine Vines Festival is supported by Margaret River Wine Association, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, City of Busselton and Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
The Undalup Association together with the SWCC invite you to come along for a Cultural Presentation with Wadandi/Pibulmun Cultural Custodian Iszaac (Waalitj) Webb with the Wadandi Rangers, to learn how local Aboriginal people Traditionally used fire to Care for Country in a Culturally respectful way. The knowledge shared will assist you to learn how to manage bushland, including timing, frequency, intensity, what and where to burn and not to burn.
Saturday 12 June, Busselton – Register Here
Saturday 19 June – Donnybrook – Register Here
Date: Tuesday 22 June 2021
Time: 9:00 am to 1.30 pm (lunch provided)
Venue: Shelter Brewing
Forming strategic partnerships with others can benefit both sides, bringing added value to your business.
Western Australian food and beverage producers are invited to attend a half-day interactive workshop, presented by international partnering expert Ian Dixon, which will include:
Join this free industry event brought to you by Food Industry Innovation at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
13 & 14 June 2021
Experiential Travel Summit – collaboration, co-design and a bold approach to wine, food and tourism experiences
The Experiential Travel Summit (ETS), held at various Margaret River wineries on 13 and 14 June, is an out of the box wine, food and tourism event that will bring innovation, agility and new ways of thinking about visitor experiences.
The new conference is specifically created for professionals and business owners working in marketing, communication, customer experience, business operations and content creation in the wine, food, hospitality and tourism industries. ETS is particularly relevant for wine tourism where businesses are looking to differentiate, both individually and regionally. It was created to support and elevate businesses to go beyond delivering an experience, it’s aim is to help business make their story part of the visitors’ story.
Attendees can expect practical workshops, skills development opportunities, and exposure to unexpected thinking to push people out of their comfort zone and help the industry move from strength to strength. The program is designed with speakers and workshops that get straight to the point, addressing common challenges, pain points and mapping unexpected solutions.
MRWA Members receive a 25% discount.
To access the discounted price:
– go to the book tickets page here
– click on ‘Access Hidden Tickets’
– input the discount code ETSMRWINES to receive 25% off the standard ticket price
Tuesday 29 June 2021
Grape growers and wine producers are invited to attend this workshop featuring Dr Mardi Longbottom from the Australian Wine Research Institute. Learn more about the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program and how you can get involved to improve your business’ sustainability credentials. Producers already involved in the program or those interested in participating are encouraged to attend.
The half day program will include:
9.30am – 1.00pm
Margarets In Town (Townview Room)
Cnr Bussell Hwy & Tunbridge St, Margaret River
Registration to [email protected]
This is a free workshop. Please include dietary requirements with your RSVP.
Qantas is now accepting submissions for their annual tasting to be held from 5th to 7th July.
Key Information
To submit wine into the next wine review please complete all of the steps in the submission process outlined below.
If you have museum stock or back vintages, they would be very keen for you to submit these wines for consideration.
Submission forms: to be submitted via this website no later than Friday 18th June 2021
Wine samples: Send in sample bottles. One bottle of each only.
Wines Varieties Being Reviewed in July 2021
General Requirements
Has Your Wine Been Selected?
Whilst Qantas endeavours to respond to every submission, given the high number of submissions received, this regrettably is not always possible.
If you have not heard back from Qantas by 31st October 2021 please assume that your wine has not been selected in this instance.
Sales Training Expert Yvonne Hilz will be in Margaret River in June offering two options to improve your team’s skills in delivering excellent service and implementing customer centric sales strategies.
Register your interest here.
Option for smaller winery for public workshop to send one person
Workshop $900*
Coaching $500*
Combo $1200*
+gst for all the above.
California Trade & Sommelier Opportunity – 4 spots remain
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Promotion
The MRWA has secured a 90min Virtual Tasting hosted by Cristie Norman, with leading sommeliers and hospitality professionals in Southern California, at 1pm Monday 19th July PST (4am Tuesday 20th July AWST).
Cristie Norman is a Wine Educator and Sommelier, certified through the Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET (Level 3). She is also the President of the United Sommeliers Foundation. Christie was also the 2020 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star “Wine Educator of the Year”.
We are looking for 6 wineries, interested in participating in this Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon tasting.
To register your interest, please contact [email protected] by Friday 11 June 2021.
All wines must be available in the USA market (preferably in Southern Californian market) for follow up sales opportunities.
Initial Cost: $950 + GST per winery.
Plus wine (approx 6 bottles)
Note: A 50% rebate has been secured through the WA Wines to the World Program so cost is not $475 + GST
Friday 4 June – Full Day
Wine comes from the vine, and the impact of soil and vineyard floor management is critical in how ensuring each vineyard reaches its optimal production potential both now and into the future.
The impact of environmental, social, and financial change on the Wine industry is making the process of growing wine more challenging by the year. The program for “Growing Wine from the Ground Up” is formed to highlight some of the challenges we face, such as improving soil organic carbon, effective weed management and water use.
Due to the uncertain nature of COVID restrictions, we plan to have multiple venues with a mix of streamed and live presentations in strategic regions across Australia to avoid cross border travel, but still provide networking opportunities.
Venue: Margaret River Visitor Centre Meeting Room
Cost (includes catering): ASVO member $133.00 | Non member $190.00
Register here
Program
Session 1: Financials Drivers to Change
This Session will focus on what financial levers drives the adoption of management practices. This will be headlined by Charlie Massey, discussing landscape management through regenerative farming. Other topics covered will include the influence of market demands to change production strategies, macro market drivers of agricultural production, and financial incentive programs to increase farm biodiversity.
• Chair, Brooke Howell, Yalumba
• Robert Poole, KPMG
• Charlie Massey OAM, Australian National University
• Richard Norton, CRC – Food futures
• Haylee Pubrick, Tabhilk
Session 2: Vineyard Floor Management
Vineyard floor management is one of the most critical aspects of maintaining good soil function for the production of wine in a changing climate. This session will highlight issues such as the impact of various weed management practices on crop production, the effects of undervine cover crops on mycorrhiza, and a case study on sub soil irrigation. With herbicide access and efficacy becoming reducing in different parts of the world, we also hear about alternative methods of control for different weed situations.
• Chair, Dr Mark Krstic, AWRI
• Mark Krasnow, Thoughtful Viticulture Ltd
• Melissa Brown, Gemtree Wines
• Joseph Marks, University of Adelaide
• Dr Mercy Olmstead, Gallo
Session 3: Additives, management, and plant response
Soil related plant response is often be attributed to additives in the soil. This session focus on some of the management practices and additives used in these situations. The impacts of cover cropping on the carbon cycle, improving moisture retention and yield in warm inland regions with additives, the as well as the uses for bio stimulants and biochar.
• Chair, Roberta De Bei, University of Adelaide
• Professor Tim Cavagnaro, University of Adelaide
• Sam Bowman, Duxton Capital
• Dr Tommaso Frioni, University Cattolica Piacenza
• Justine Cox, NSW Department of Primary Industries
Session 4: What’s next?
This session will begin with a presentation from 2019 Nuffield Scholar Richard Leask on regenerative farming for viticulture and approaching problems from a different perspective. The focus will then shift to a panel discussion, including several earlier speakers who will contemplate solution to existing problems, and how to build a vineyard of the future.
• Chair, Alex Sas, Wine Australia,
• Richard Leask, Leask Agri
Panel
• Chair Andy Clarke
• Melissa Brown, Gemtree Wines
• Dave Gerner, Wine Australia
• Rebecca Richardson, Wine Ingenuity
• Hayley Purbrick, Tabhilk
• Sam Bowman, Duxton Capital
Tuesday 25 May
Understanding your obligations and how it impacts accessing government training incentives.
CCIWA and Apprenticeship Support Australia collaborate to present the recently passed changes to the casual worker legislation.
Director of Business Law, Ryan Martin, will go through the changes and the obligations employers now need to understand when employing casual workers including rights around conversion to permanent employment after certain periods of time.
This will be followed up by training incentives expert, Louisa Lidington, who will explore how adhering to these new requirements may just make it easier for you to access a range of apprenticeship and traineeship incentives for new and existing workers.
Find out more and register here.
Friday 2nd July
The Porto Protocol is an international, non-profit Foundation, created to foster climate change solutions for the wine industry.
Information exchange is a major mission, and Climate Talks (webinars) are a major focus, with large international audiences.
An upcoming 60-minute webinar with the title “Mitigating Carbon throughout the Wine Value Chain” has been organised by Richard Smart and features two Australian speakers.
These are Kieran Hirlam of the AWRI, who will present carbon footprint analyses of Australian wine with special emphasis on packaging, and Dr Heena Panchasara of University of Central Queensland, who will propose pyrolysis treatment of vineyard and winery waste streams.
Richard Halstead, UK-based CEO of Wine Intelligence will discuss alternate packaging, including consumer reactions and environmental attributes.
The session will be moderated by Tiago Alves de Sousa, leading Portuguese academic and distinguished winemaker-wine producer.
Organisers of the climate talk series are especially excited to have a seminar addressing climate crisis mitigation.
The webinar will be on Friday July 2nd, 10 am Lisbon time (GMT +1), and the same day in the evening 7 pm AEST.