Margaret River
First planted in the 1960s, the Margaret River region is the most well-known in Western Australia, and its maritime climate produces wines that are distinctly European, with a restrained, complex style quite different from much of the output in the eastern states. Because many people associate Western Australia with a dry, hot landscape, and rightly so, it can be easy to think of Margaret River in the same way, but the convergence of the Indian and Southern Oceans provides ample rainfall and cool breezes to offset the long hours of sunshine. As a result, the grapes are ripened slowly, producing pure flavours and decent quantities of natural acidity.
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot and Semillon are prominent, and the wines are highly prized for their sophisticated characteristics, lip-smacking acidity and premium quality. 270 kilometres and three hours' drive from Perth, the 150 wineries in Margaret River enjoy solid tourist trade and producers are justifiably proud of their region and its contribution.
