Plan your Margaret River getaway

Domaine Naturaliste, Wilyabrup

Step into Domaine Naturaliste’s newly opened cellar door and take in the views of the surrounding Wilyabrup region and its pristine vineyards. Headed up by winemaker Bruce Dukes, this year’s Best Value Winery sits about seven kilometres inland from the Indian Ocean, which allows for cooling afternoon breezes. Visitors here can opt for a casual tasting or a flight of six luxury wines, which can also be enjoyed with cheese and charcuterie boards. It’s just one way of getting to know this esteemed winery, with Bruce focusing almost wholly on the region’s flagship chardonnay and cabernet varieties.

Book ahead: Visitors can book in for a vineyard tour, led by either Bruce Dukes or the winery’s viticulturist Tim Byrne, who provide valuable insights. Stay on for a game of bocce.

Find out more | 160 Johnson Road, Wilyabrup | 08 9755 6776

Fraser Gallop, Wilyabrup

This award-winning winery ensures its entire range is available for tastings without a fee, including the top wines. Choose between four expressions of cabernet sauvignon, four of chardonnay, two semillon sauvignon blancs and a rosé. There is also the opportunity to book in for a private tasting in the barrel hall. Sitting at the highest point in the Wilyabrup subregion, Fraser Gallop’s vines also sit next to a lake that helps create a cooler microclimate, complete with the cooling sea breezes. As a result, the fruit here shows great freshness and vitality, with the winery’s sustainable practices also making a difference to quality.

Plan your visit: Each May over the West Australian Day long weekend, the winery offers their museum stock and large formats for sale – the only time they do it each year.

Find out more | 493 Metricup Road, Wilyabrup | 08 9755 7553

Howard Park Wines, Cowaramup 

This family winery has long sourced fruit from Western Australia’s cool-climate Great Southern region, as well as Margaret River. The resulting wines show provenance and elegance, and the winery is the state’s biggest producer of sparkling wines made in the traditional method. Their Margaret River base includes one of the region’s most striking architectural cellar doors, set among Marri and Jarrah trees, where visitors can sample from the esteemed range of wines, including cabernet, chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir and the various sparkling styles. Bring a picnic, borrow a blanket and enjoy the lawns with a glass of wine.

Watch this space: The team is now blending the red wines from 2018, which they have called one of the best vintages in living memory for the southwest.

Find out more | 543 Miamup Road, Cowaramup | 08 9756 5200 

Cullen Wines, Wilyabrup

It’s easy to while away an afternoon at Cullen Wines, perhaps on the long verandah or under the peppermint trees, enjoying the outlook over the surrounding vines. Visit the home of Winemaker of the Year Vanya Cullen and choose wines to taste from the new releases and selection of back-vintages on offer. Private tastings are also available, where staff lead a seated session. It’s a fantastic way to experience their wines that reflect the team’s focus on biodynamic, intelligent soils, creating balanced vines and fruit, which leads to outstanding natural wines, with no additions. It’s all about giving the land a “louder voice in the glass”.

Don’t miss: Be sure to explore the site, which includes the only self-guided biodynamic spiral garden tour in Margaret River. It’s a fascinating insight into the biodynamic process.

Find out more | 4323 Caves Road, Wilyabrup | 08 9755 5277

Brookland Valley, Wilyabrup 

Be sure to plan your visit to Brookland Valley around lunch time so you can follow a tasting from the full wine collection with a meal at the winery's acclaimed Flutes Restaurant. Here, executive chef Francois Morvan mixes French tradition with Margaret River's best seasonal produce to create a memorable dining experience. In an idyllic location, Brookland Valley sits next to Wilyabrup Brook, which meanders its way through the property, and in its 35 years, the winery has forged a reputation for stellar chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon in particular, although the wider range also offers various other styles. 

Find out more | 4070 Caves Road, Wilyabrup | 08 9755 6042 

Continue reading about Margaret River in our essential guide.

*This article was produced by Halliday Wine Companion in partnership with the featured wineries.