Discover the characters behind Margaret River’s incredible wines.Josh Vince is winemaker of Altair Estate, an emerging boutique winery in Margaret River. The winery works with over 10 grape varietals in their 12-hectare vineyard, with a particular enthusiasm for Italian styles, alongside the Margaret River classics.
“I just love the fruit vibrancy of Sangiovese!” Josh exclaims.
“The sweet amaretto cherry and wild berries in combination with that vibrant acidity makes me dream of warm weather and lazy days.”
A relative newcomer to the region, Altair Estate and its quaint cellar door have been charming visitors to Margaret River for the past couple of years. Their 2021 Malbec was awarded a Bronze Medal in the International Wine and Spirits Challenge 2024, marking an exciting future for the winery.
“We continuously explore bold new expressions that highlight our estate-grown varietals while preserving its rustic charm and honouring its rich heritage,” Josh says.
“The soils and climate of Margaret River are all perfect for making many styles and varieties of wines. We can grow high quality fruit which makes it easy to translate into beautiful wines.”
Josh explains that in addition to the viticulture and winemaker prowess of Margaret River, it was the stunning environment that attracted him to the region.
“Being from the wheatbelt in Western Australia, I quickly fell in love with the lush forests and cruisy nature of the Margaret River region, it’s beautiful all year round. And who can say no to an abundance of great food and wine!”
Altair Estate’s cellar door is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm and, being boutique in nature, an absolute highlight is the opportunity to dive into the world of a winemaker and explore behind the scenes, often with Josh himself, in their ‘Meet the Winemaker Experience.’
“Customers can learn about the workings of a vineyard and our unique style of winemaking. This educational guided tour with the winemaker includes a wine and barrel tasting at the end.”
Find out more at Altair Estate.