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