Margaret River

Margaret River is a strongly maritime-influenced region in SW Western Australia: cool, moderating sea breezes from the Indian Ocean help avoid extreme heat and frost, producing a long, even ripening season. That climate is the single biggest reason Bordeaux-style varieties (and elegant Chardonnay) flourish here. 

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Key grape varieties 

• Cabernet Sauvignon — the signature red variety for Margaret River. The climate produces Cabernet with fine, savoury tannins, refined structure and the capacity to age. Cabernet-led Bordeaux blends are a regional specialty. 

• Chardonnay — the other regional pillar. Margaret River Chardonnays range from bright, mineral styles to more textural, barrel-influenced wines; the region is widely regarded as one of Australia’s best for Chardonnay.

• Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon — widely planted and often blended (à la Bordeaux) into crisp, aromatic whites and more textured, ageworthy styles. Together these two whites account for a large portion of plantings. 

• Shiraz and small plantings of other varieties — Shiraz is present (typically more restrained than in hotter zones), and there are modest plantings/experiments with Pinot, Tempranillo and Loire/Italian varieties at boutique sites, but the region’s identity is driven by Cabernet, Chardonnay and the Semillon–Sauvignon combination.

 

Major wineries include;

Margaret River’s reputation was established by a small group of pioneering estates and has since been cemented by several consistent high-quality producers. The names below are commonly cited as the region’s leaders:

• Vasse Felix — the region’s founding winery (established in the late 1960s) and an enduring benchmark for Cabernet and Chardonnay. 

• Leeuwin Estate — internationally famous for its Art Series Chardonnay (and other flagship wines) and a major reason Margaret River’s Chardonnays are so highly regarded. 

• Cullen Wines — a pioneer of biodynamic / organic viticulture in the region, noted for premium Cabernet blends and expressive Chardonnays.

• Cape Mentelle — one of the early, high-quality producers known for classic Cabernet and Cabernet-dominant blends. (

• Moss Wood — historically important and highly regarded for balanced, ageworthy Cabernet Sauvignon. 

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Other respected names to explore: Voyager Estate, Xanadu, Pierro, Howard Park that work both classic Bordeaux varieties and single-site Chardonnay.