The Margaret River Fine Vines Festival is a chance to savour the grape!
Held over 10 days and at various venues across the region from 20-29 October we invite you to join us on a journey of discovery.
There are plenty of events for every kind of budget. Because after all, world-class wine does not mean out-of-this-world prices.
Our region’s producers are committed to making the world of wine accessible to everyone, with offerings under $100, including intimate tastings and masterclasses to free gatherings in the name of wine.
If you’re seeking the pleasure of a wine-laden weekend without the price tag, explore our range of budget-friendly events. And scroll to the bottom of the blog for a list of ‘free entry’ events, allowing you to purchase as you go, based on your specific budget.
Join four of the South West wine world’s leading ladies for an afternoon of sipping and snacking in Witchcliffe. Converge on the terrace at the Witch and Windmill in Witchcliffe and enjoy high tea-inspired snacks from local artisans while you sip on small batch wines.
Cath from Arlewood, Liv and Mij from South by South West and Sharon and Alex Peters from Amato Vino will be on hand to chat through their wines and what it’s like to be a woman in wine in here the Margaret River region.
Dive into forty years of sensational wine over four tastings with a grand tour through Willespie’s Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique tasting event, focusing on one single varietal, offers a robust understanding of Margaret River’s most renowned and loved grape, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Come to understand how a great Cabernet ages over time, as the Willespie team dive deep into their cellar, showcasing a Cabernet Sauvignon from each decade between the 1980s and now. During the tasting light lunch will be served on the balcony overlooking the Willespie vines.
Indulge in beautifully crafted treats alongside equally beautiful wines when Maison Lassiaille teams up with Passel Estate.
Explore the lush grounds of Passel Estate through a progressive wine tasting enjoying award-winning, single-vineyard wines including the rare and exclusive Lot 71 Reserve wines and a museum vintage, all paired with decadent high tea treats with vegetarian options available.
Roam at your own pace or let owners Barry and Wendy Stimpson lead the way, all to a soundtrack of live, classical music. Dress in your most elegant garden party attire but remember to bring appropriate footwear for the vineyard and trails.
For the lovers of Pet Nat, the Pet Nat party goes petit this year to offer just 30 guests an exclusive showcase of Western Australian Pet Nats in the Bungalow Wine Room.
Guided by a local wine maker Rhys Parker of Dunsborough urban micro winery Vallee du Venom, you’ll get to taste 6 Pétillant Naturel wines from wineries such as Vallee du Venom, Brave New Wines and L.A.S. Vino, famed for their light fizz and fresh aromatic expression, matched to canapés from the Bungalow kitchen over the course of the evening.
An unforgettable wine and seafood safari awaits you at Bungalow Social. Traverse through a curated selection of skin contact wines from beloved South West wineries including Vallee de Venom, Black Cocky Wines, Skigh Wines and LS Merchants, to name a few.
Spend your Saturday afternoon sipping your way around the venue, then venture to the seafood station and choose from an array of coastal creations including lobster rolls, prawn cocktails, fresh oysters and seafood skewers to enjoy with your skin-contact wines.
DJs will be spinning vinyl throughout the afternoon and into the evening so stay on for an afternoon of skinsy drops and delectable bites.
This progressive wine tasting through Busselton’s city centre is a multi-stop, self-guided wander where you’ll meet and greet with a swag of Margaret River region wineries at your own pace.
Busselton’s best venues will host several small-scale producers including Credaro, Black Cocky Wines, Churchview Estate, Di Latte Estate, Brookland Valley, Morlet Wines, Vallée du Venom, Cha Cha Wines, Wines of Merritt, Corymbia, Altair Estate, Skigh Wine, Capel Vale Wines and Passel Estate for a low key day of vino and fresh air.
Keen to keep on dancing after your time around town on the Busselton Wine Hop? Or just love all things disco and/or Italian and looking for a fun Saturday night?
Join us upstairs at Shelter for the official Busselton Wine Hop After Party; Shelter’s take on Spaghetti Disco (an Italian dance music sub-genre) is all about embracing the flavours of Italy and taking a step back to the disco era of the ‘70s.
DJ Cuppa Tea will spin her favourite disco tunes as you explore a dedicated wine list focussing on Italian varietals grown in Margaret River. A Meatball Sub special to help soak up those tastings from earlier in the day. Guests are encouraged to dress in glitter, jewels, and bright prints.
Let your taste buds take you on a journey through the Middle East with Inspired Feasts and Mandoon Estate Wines over an exotic, 4-course tasting menu paired with the Mandoon Margaret River range of wines.
Crafted by Inspired Feasts using locally sourced produce, each course will be paired to a carefully curated selection of wines to complement each plate in front of you. Taste Mandoon’s award-winning range of Reserve Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Merlot made right here in Margaret River.
Free Events
Skip the ticket all together with our free entry events.
Spend a glorious Spring afternoon in the stunning gardens of Skigh Wines listening to the contemporary sounds of string quartet, Dolce Ensembles.
Bring along a picnic or purchase a grazing board from Skigh’s selection of local cheeses to enjoy alongside their much-loved wines. Perfect for a relaxed-paced afternoon with a stunning soundtrack.
Head to LS Merchants for volume two of their energetic orange immersion. Gather at their Treeton cellar door as LS assembles their friends from the region to pour a selection of their finest orange wines for you to enjoy.
Dive into the world of skin contact whites and see why they are making waves in the wine world. Food will be available for purchase from local food truck with DJ sets from LS Merchants and friends.
No cellar door normally means no visitation. But for one weekend, Fine Vines Festival has your exclusive invitation to get behind the gate and go between the vines to meet the makers at wineries and vineyards generally not open to the public.
Meet the makers behind some of your favourite Margaret River Region wines and get to understand their own wine making process, right where the magic happens.
Taste the best of the Margaret River Wine Region in one central location this Fine Vines. From 20-29 October, Margaret River Main Street’s iconic restaurants and bars will join the festivities offering their own unique experiences.
From wine-by-the-glass offers to curated wine lists and opportunities to meet the makers, you can discover a range of Fine Vines wines and experiences right in the heart of Margaret River townsite this October.
Singapore Airlines is a proud partner of Margaret River Wine Association. Both entities are passionate advocates of fine wine, sharing a vision to sustain a contemporary and refined selection, whilst remaining committed to providing their network with the highest possible standards of quality in their attention and offerings to their customers.
World-class insights from a celebrated panel of experts
Singapore Airlines takes great pride in wine selection and customers can appreciate extraordinary wines from the finest vineyards located in many prominent wine regions across the globe. With methodical care and deliberation, wines are handpicked by Singapore Airlines’ wine consultants, represented by some of the world’s most knowledgeable and respected wine aficionados:
Michael Hill-Smith is Australia’s first Master of Wine, and an esteemed wine consultant, wine judge, writer, and commentator, who has been a member of the Singapore Airlines family for over two decades.
Jeannie Cho Lee is the first Asian to be awarded the ‘Master of Wine’ title. She is an honoured wine critic, judge, educator, and the award-winning author of Asian Palate, Mastering Wine and Perfect Pairings.
Oz Clarke is one of the world’s most accomplished wine authorities, with a wealth of knowledge on viniculture and winner of major wine writing awards.
Collectively, the panel endorses a particular assortment of wines and Champagnes which they believe to be of a certain unmatched standard, and therefore fit to be served on Singapore Airlines flights.
A sophisticated testing and selection process
Continuing a distinguished heritage of delivering people to the finest places in the world, Singapore Airlines also proudly delivers the finest wines from around the world to its guests. Meticulous care is taken to ensure that each passenger is gifted with the quintessential and iconic Singapore Airlines service of luxury and elegance with their selection of wine.
Wines are selected from either a tendered process, where blind tasting is undertaken by the respected Singapore Airlines wine consultants, or through personal visits to vineyards and wineries across different revered wine regions. These careful and delicate approaches allow Singapore Airlines to fortify relationships with exclusive maisons and domaines, to nourish the wine selection opportunities, and ultimately seek to procure the most distinguished wines available.
Personal Sommeliers at 30,000 feet
A devoted appreciation of wine is synonymous with Singapore Airlines, with an expertly trained cabin crew. Their expertise involves identifying the origin and significance of certain wines, commenting on the unique characteristics of different wines, and the ability to recommend a perfect pairing to complement a meal.
Air Sommeliers are present on Singapore Airlines flights and are committed to providing informed guidance to customers and fellow crew members. Air Sommeliers can be identified onboard by a pin reminiscent of small bunch of grapes, worn on their uniform.
An astonishing fleet of awards
With sustained efforts to ensure an unparalleled flying experience and wine selection, Singapore Airlines has been internationally praised, and awarded five gold awards in the Cellars in the Sky Awards in 2022 and 2023. The Airline also holds claim to the coveted Best Overall Cellar for three consecutive years, in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The gold awards garnered include:
Best Presented First Class Wine List
Best Business Class Cellar
Best Business Class Red
Best Presented Business Class Wine List
This international esteem only reinforces Singapore Airlines’ commitment to offering the finest wines.
An extravagant international menu
Fancy a fine dining experience, delivered at 30,000 feet? Singapore Airlines customers can experience beyond the warm and impeccable service on their next flight in Premium Economy, Business Class, First Class or Suites with ‘Book the Cook’ – their own tailored restaurant in the sky.
‘Book the Cook’ is an extraordinary culinary experience, where customers on selected Singapore Airlines flights may choose from a wide selection of carefully crafted dishes, including creations inspired by Singapore Airlines’ renowned International Culinary Panel. Customers can savour the flavours of the world without ever leaving their seat.
Singapore Airlines has fostered a relationship with seven globally recognised chefs to augment the dining offerings onboard. As connoisseurs in their respective cuisines, they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and craft dishes that are inspired by the expansive Singapore Airlines global network, and by their own experiences and cultures.
If you are looking for an unmistakably unique and memorable dining experience, ‘Book the Cook’ by Singapore Airlines is the perfect service. With its variety of dishes and impeccable presentation, Book the Cook is the height of luxury in the sky to complement the famous Singapore Airlines commitment to the highest standards of service to its customers.
Send your favourite Margaret River Wines all over the world, thanks to our new international mixed case shipping.
It’s easy to enjoy Margaret River Wine in the comfort of your own home, even if you don’t live in Australia. Want to learn more? Ok.
The Margaret River Wine Association have teamed with 21 Margaret River wineries to bring you international mixed case shipping, which allows you to get your favourite drops delivered straight to your front door.
The Margaret River Box is perfect if you’re travelling home or visiting friends and family overseas. Taste your way around the Margaret River Wine Region, pick your favourite wines and send them almost anywhere in the world.
It’s a great option if you’re trying to avoid the high fees you could attract if you decide to book “additional baggage”, if you simply want to travel light or you want to surprise a wine aficionado friend.
The best bit? Being able to indulge on a drop of world-class wine, long after the holiday’s over.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1. Head to any one of the 21 wineries and ask one of the friendly cellar door staff for a Margaret River Box and invoice.
Step 2. Hit the road and visit your choice of wineries, filling your Margaret River Box with your top picks as you go. Please ensure staff fill in the invoice at each venue that you make a purchase.
Step 3. At the final stop, provide the cellar door staff your Margaret River Box, invoice and your personal details and they will do the rest.
Easy, right?
Learn about the beautiful marri tree blossom and why it’s so significant to winemakers and viticulturalists during vintage.
Climate and soil are the most important factors when it comes to grape-growing, but did you know that the marri tree blossom plays a big part in Margaret River viticulture, too?
The marri blossom is a beautiful flower featuring fine hairs that fan out like a hat. Every year or two the flower blooms, transforming most of Margaret River’s treescape from green to yellow-white each summer.
While beautiful, there’s more to the marri blossom than meets the eye. A valuable food source for many of the region’s native animals (including the bee, which makes delicious honey from the flower’s nectar), the blossom also helps viticulturalists protect their prized grapes from hungry birds.
Just before vintage, the Margaret River wine industry turns their attention to the marri trees and their tiny flowers. The quantity of marri flowers help them estimate the amount of bird pressure they’ll have on their grapes – the more flowers on the trees, the less birds on the vine, and vice versa.
In 2019, for example, there was very little marri blossom in the region, resulting in high bird pressure. Thanks to plenty of marri blossoms all over Margaret River now, this year’s vintage is looking much more promising.
Alas, not all of the birds can be kept away by the sweet nectar of a marri blossom. To combat the birds from damaging a vineyard’s grapes, winemakers cover each of the vines with nets – a typical sight from February to April. It’s a sure-fire way to keep the birds at bay, and the grapes growing all day.
