Wineries

A day trip to the wineries is absolutely essential when in Dunsborough and the Margaret River region.

A fun day can be had by all if you hire a cab, a mini bus or do a bus tour or go up market and hire a limousine and enjoy a brilliant day of tasting wines, gourmet foods and lunches as well as checking out each unique winery and their many award wining wines. If you choose to drive, please appoint a designated driver.  It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of all the tastings and not be aware of your intake and we don’t want anyone to be over the limit and be a danger on the roads.  Most of the wineries open from 10.00A.M. to 4.30P.M.

We prefer to visit three or possibly four wineries each day trip. This gives us time to sample and talk about great wines as well as enjoy the gourmet samples many wineries offer.  We stock up on our new found favourite wines and foods and then head onto another one or two wineries to repeat our performance before stopping at the restaurant we’ve selected for lunch that day. On arrival we must then sample and select a wine for lunch before settling in for a couple of hours of wining and dining.

We recently enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Lamont’s Margaret River, just off Caves Rd near Yallingup. We had a leisurely browse through Gulyulgup Gallery before heading into the bar to sample and choose a wine for lunch. Rather than have main meals we chose to order the tapas’ and share among the four of us. We thoroughly enjoyed this and went through the entire tapas menu. We over indulged and couldn’t even look at the sweets and coffees on offer. That’s something to look forward to next time.

Palmer Wines situated on Caves Rd, Dunsborough is ideally located close to town and all traffic from the city passes by on the way into Dunsborough. It has won a host of awards including WA’s Most Outstanding Cellar Door Facility/Wine Tourism Facility. The restaurant is open daily from 10.A.M except Sundays when it opens for breakfast at 8.00A.M. Fabulous, fresh seasonal food is always on offer.  Kids enjoy the playground and most people wander across to the cellar door after leaving the restaurant and stock up on well priced wines before heading home.

Brookwood Estate of Treeton Rd, Cowaramup first introduced the tasty platter that is now so popular down south. This family owned and operated winery is well worth a visit. The wines are made on the premises from grapes grown on the estate. The Brookwood Estate winery is full of character and surrounded by farms.  Combine a trip to the Cowaramup Brewery in the same area and complete a fun day.

A family favourite is Rivendell.  We enjoy the relaxing experience of sitting out in the beautiful gardens under the grapevines. Seating is also available inside the restaurant and the garden views from the deck are delightful.  Children are welcome to play in the garden and a kids menu is available. The twice cooked lamb is hard to resist.  Rivendell in Wildwood Rd, Yallingup is open for lunches daily, dinner Saturday night or just call in for coffee and cake.

Drive to Eagle Bay and visit another family favourite Wise Winery.  Enjoy the spectacular ocean views, fine wine and gourmet food. Wise Winery is a popular place for weddings and guests can hire self contained rustic cottages.  When leaving go across the road and check out the relatively new Eagle Bay Brewery. Both beer and wine are available and food must be purchased in order to get a drink, but that’s okay because the food is great! Once again a very relaxed beautiful place to spend some time.

Anyone with Kalgoorlie/Boulder or gold mining connections will reminisce about the past when they see the names of the wines at Brown Hill Estate. The wines are named after shafts in the famous Golden Mile. Most of us in Western Australia have either worked, known or had family members involved in the gold mining industry in some way or at some time.  Great Boulder, Croesus, Perseverance, Ivanhoe, Fimiston, Chaffers and Lake View are all names of shafts and have been used to name the wines. The Bill Bailey Shiraz is named in honour of the owner’s brother Bill Bailey, an engineer who worked in the goldfields.

This small family owned boutique winery has won numerous awards including Ray Jordan Best Value Wine 2010 for the Chaffers Shiraz 2010. We loved this Shiraz even before it won the award. Brown Hill Estate was also named Small Producer of the Year two years in a row.

Upon leaving Brown Hill Estate and while in the area visit The Berry Farm, Bessell Rd, Margaret River. We can recommend the Beef and Red Wine pies and the Boysenberry pies are superb. Yum!                                                                                                           

Experience the magical setting of Clairault Wines, Caves Rd, Willyabrup. The picturesque grounds, huge trees and amphitheatre setting are a pleasure to see.  Exquisite food and terrific wines make this a must see winery.

Ideally situated on the corner of Caves Rd and Chain Ave, Dunsborough.  Flametree Wines won the Jimmy Watson Trophy with its first ever red wine, the 2007 Cabernet Merlot. While lunch is not available, gourmet food lines can be sampled and purchased here.

We enjoy the handcrafted, unique Were Estate wines made from dry grown fruit sourced from the property. We call into the Wildberry Rd, Wilyabrup winery and usually pick up a carton or two of wine.

Knee Deep Wines - What a terrific name! Sample the wines and then enjoy a superb lunch in an al fresco setting.

 A passionate chef and staff produce wonderful food to be enjoyed by all.  Knee Deep is located in the heart of Margaret River’s wine region at Johnson Rd, Wilyabrup.

Leeuwin Estate – Home to the famous Leeuwin Concert, Leeuwin Estate produces world class wines and attracts world class performers and thousands of visitors each year. We have seen kookaburras magically appear and sing when the concert has begun. Unique art is on display all year round and you can dine in the Gold Plate Award winning restaurant or out on the balcony. Take a blanket and enjoy a picnic while the little ones play on the grass. 

You’ll love the magnificent landscape and manicured grounds at Voyager Estate – don’t miss seeing the glorious rose garden. The stately Cape Dutch style cellar takes us back and reminds us of Stellenbosch in South Africa. The gift shop has interesting products and it is well worth taking a look.

The elegant restaurant offers the best local produce and we can’t go past the Shared Plates.

We usually share a Charcuterie along with the Taste Plate so have the pleasure of both seafood and meat. The knowledgeable staff always make wine tasting a pleasure. Be sure to visit Voyager Estate in Margaret River. You will not be disappointed.

Vasse Felix was established in 1967 and is the oldest vineyard in the Margaret River area. The winery is beside the pretty Wilyabrup Brook and offers a very picturesque setting. Tasting wine in the underground cellar is a good experience and take a browse through the art gallery. Choose to have lunch in the restaurant or enjoy the sunshine and sit out on the balcony.

 At Hay Shed Hill you can sit and relax in the casual The Deli Cafe which overlooks the vineyard. Breakfast and lunch are available daily and gourmet foods can be purchased for takeaway. Locals enjoy ordering takeaway pizzas. Local artists have their work displayed in the gallery. The Semillon Sauvignon Blanc from the Pitchfork range is a great white to have at lunch on a hot summer’s day.

Grab a picnic blanket, order a wood fired pizza and a Kiss Chasey Red  and settle down and enjoy live music  performed by local muso’s most Sundays. Names like Kiss Chasey. Life of Riley, the Backyard, and Swings and Roundaboutssound like lots of fun.

With over 180 wineries in the Margaret River Region you will never be short of the opportunity to sample some fantastic wines in a truly beautiful setting. If you have a favourite winery that we currently haven’t detailed please contact us via the comments section below. If you have a question regarding a specific winery feel free to ask it – we want you to enjoy your stay in Dunsborough and the South West and are happy to help out wherever possible.