Margaret River

Margaret River's modern wine story, as the Margaret River Wine Association (MRWA) tells it, was born from scientific research. In 1955 Harold Olmo, Professor of Viticulture at the University of California, recommended planting wine grapes in Australia's south-west. In 1965 and 1966 Dr John Gladstones, Senior Lecturer in Agronomy at the University of Western Australia, produced two reports: the first examined the suitability of Australia's south-west for viticulture, and the second focused on the Margaret River and Busselton areas, suggesting Cowaramup-Bramley and Witchcliffe-Forest Grove as suitable localities for grape growing. The MRWA says these papers proved the catalyst for commercial planting and led medical doctors Tom Cullity and Bill Pannell to plant Vasse Felix (1967) and Moss Wood (1969). Vasse Felix says Dr Cullity made Margaret River's first serious wines in 1972, a Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec and a Riesling. The MRWA lists Cape Mentelle (1970), Cullen Wines (1971), Sandalford (1972), and Leeuwin Estate, Woodlands and Wrights (1973) as the plantings that followed; by 1980 there were 20 vineyards operating. The region's first Chardonnay vines were planted in 1976 at Leeuwin Estate, Cullen Wines and Moss Wood. In June 1994 Dr Gladstones offered recommendations for delineating the region, and in 1996, per the MRWA, Margaret River became one of the first three wine regions in Australia to have its boundaries legally defined; Wine Australia's register records its entry on 30 October 1996. The region celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2017, when the MRWA counted 164 wine producers.

• 1955: Professor Harold Olmo recommends planting wine grapes in Australia's south-west; 1965 and 1966: Dr John Gladstones' reports identify the viticulture potential of the Margaret River and Vasse areas (MRWA)
• 1967: Dr Tom Cullity plants the first modern commercial vineyard at Vasse Felix, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec; Moss Wood follows in 1969, Cape Mentelle in 1970 and Cullen Wines in 1971 (MRWA)
• 1976: the region's first Chardonnay vines are planted at Leeuwin Estate, Cullen Wines and Moss Wood (MRWA)
• 30 October 1996: Margaret River is entered in the Register of Protected Names (Wine Australia); 2017: the region celebrates 50 years, with 164 wine producers (MRWA)

The MRWA describes a long, narrow region in the south-west corner of Australia, with capes at its north (Cape Naturaliste) and south (Cape Leeuwin), running 110 kilometres north to south and 27 kilometres west to east. Wine Australia's GI textual description follows the coast from the Southern Ocean round to the Indian Ocean and closes along the line of longitude 115 18E, taking in the sections of the Shires of Busselton and Augusta Margaret River west of that line and the towns of Dunsborough, Yallingup, Cowaramup, Margaret River and Augusta. Wine Australia's snapshot gives an elevation range of 0-234 m. Wine Australia calls the overall climate similar to Bordeaux in a dry year, with a low diurnal temperature range that leads to very even heat accumulation. Its 2025-26 snapshot, using Bureau of Meteorology data, gives 2006-2025 averages of 21.1°C mean January temperature, 914 mm annual rainfall, 213 mm growing season rainfall and 1,896 growing degree days, against 20.5°C, 1,056 mm, 245 mm and 1,785 for 1961-1990. The MRWA says most rain falls between May and September, that December, January and February each receive a monthly average of less than 25 millimetres, and that temperature and sunshine hours trend downward from north to south. On soils, Wine Australia says the ridge from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin is predominantly gravelly loam on granite and gneiss, with low overall water holding capacity. The MRWA dates the region's granite and gneiss rocks at between 1,130 and 1,600 million years old and says the Dunsborough Faultline splits the land: to its west, the Leeuwin Complex, with its laterite foundations, carries over two-thirds of the region's vineyards. Forest Grove soils (ironstone gravels) make up 45 percent of vineyard area and Mungite (sandy duplex) soils 29 percent, among ten main soil type groupings.

• 110 km north to south and 27 km west to east (MRWA); northernmost point 230 km from Perth; Indian Ocean on the north and west, Southern Ocean to the south
• 2006-2025 averages (Wine Australia snapshot 2025-26): mean January temperature 21.1°C, annual rainfall 914 mm, growing season rainfall 213 mm, 1,896 growing degree days
• Wine Australia: climate similar to Bordeaux in a dry year; low diurnal temperature range leads to very even heat accumulation
• Soils: gravelly loam on granite and gneiss along the Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin ridge (Wine Australia); Forest Grove ironstone gravels 45% and Mungite sandy duplex 29% of vineyard area (MRWA)

Wine Australia names Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Chardonnay as the main varieties grown, and the MRWA says Margaret River is most famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with over forty grape varieties planted. By share of the 2026 crush, Wine Australia's snapshot ranks Chardonnay (30%), Sauvignon Blanc (19%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%), Shiraz (11%) and Semillon (9%) as the top five, and records red varieties as 50% of the region's plantings. Wine Australia calls Cabernet Sauvignon the hero variety for many in Margaret River, often blended with Merlot, with medium to full-bodied wines showing earthy, gravelly characters and ripe cassis and violet aromas. The MRWA adds Malbec and Petit Verdot as blending partners and says many Cabernet vineyards are based on Western Australia's heritage Houghton clone: the original Houghton vines were introduced to Western Australia between 1836 and 1895, and the 1930s Houghton Cabernet block in the Swan Valley became the source for the first Cabernet planted in Margaret River in 1967, at Vasse Felix. For Chardonnay, the MRWA says many vineyards are based on the heritage Gingin clone, which produces small bunches with 'hen and chicken' berries; cuttings were imported into Western Australia in 1957 from the University of California Davis and reached Margaret River in 1976. The MRWA states that Gingin shares genetic origins with the Mendoza clone but is recognised as distinct from it, while Wine Australia's region page refers to 'The Mendoza or Gin Gin clone'. Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc are often combined as an aromatic blend; the MRWA says the style became popular from the late 1980s and is often fermented in stainless steel and enjoyed fresh, while skin contact, oak during fermentation and foudres feature in more complex expressions. The MRWA calls Shiraz the second most planted red variety, usually medium-bodied, and notes that Chenin Blanc, a tiny portion of plantings, is on the rise.

• 2026 crush share (Wine Australia snapshot 2025-26): Chardonnay 30%, Sauvignon Blanc 19%, Cabernet Sauvignon 16%, Shiraz 11%, Semillon 9%
• Cabernet Sauvignon: often blended with Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot; many vineyards use the heritage Houghton clone, source of the first Cabernet planted at Vasse Felix in 1967 (MRWA)
• Chardonnay: many vineyards use the heritage Gingin clone, with small bunches and 'hen and chicken' berries; it reached Margaret River in 1976 (MRWA)
• Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc are often blended, a style the MRWA says became popular from the late 1980s; Shiraz is the second most planted red variety, and Chenin Blanc is on the rise

Vasse Felix was established by Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967 and describes itself as the region's founding wine estate; the Holmes à Court family have guided it since 1987, Virginia Willcock has led its wine program since October 2006, and its oldest vines, Tom's Plots in the Home Vineyard in the Wilyabrup area, grow the grapes for the TOM CULLITY. Moss Wood, planted in 1969 in Wilyabrup, is run by Clare and Keith Mugford as winemakers, viticulturalists and proprietors; they have made wine and tended the vineyard there since 1984 and 1979 respectively, and the estate acquired the Ribbon Vale vineyard. Cullen Wines was founded in 1971 by Dr Kevin John Cullen and Diana Madeline Cullen. Their daughter Vanya Cullen was appointed Chief Winemaker in 1989 and Managing Director in 1999, and the family-owned estate describes itself as certified Biodynamic and Carbon Positive; its flagships are named for the founders, the Diana Madeline (Cabernet Sauvignon blend) and the Kevin John (Chardonnay). Cape Mentelle was established in 1970 by David Hohnen and his brothers Mark and Giles, starting with 16 hectares of vines on what is now called the Wallcliffe Vineyard, and is today part of Paragon Wine Estates, owned by Endeavour Group Limited. Decanter reports that the Horgan family bought the Leeuwin Estate property in 1969, that Robert Mondavi alerted them to its winemaking potential in 1973, and that the estate planted its first Chardonnay in 1976; two Gin Gin clone parcels, Block 20 and 22, produce its Art Series Chardonnay, first released from the 1980 vintage. Pierro, created by Dr Michael Peterkin at Willyabrup, was the original high-density vineyard planting in Margaret River, at 4,000 to 5,500 vines per hectare. Voyager Estate grew from a vineyard established in 1978 in Stevens Valley, southern Margaret River; the Wright family have owned and operated it since 1991, and Alexandra Burt became sole proprietor in 2018.

• Vasse Felix (1967): established by Dr Tom Cullity; guided by the Holmes à Court family since 1987; Virginia Willcock has led the wine program since October 2006
• Moss Wood (1969) and Cullen Wines (1971): Wilyabrup estates; Clare and Keith Mugford at Moss Wood, and Vanya Cullen Chief Winemaker at Cullen since 1989
• Cape Mentelle (1970): established by David, Mark and Giles Hohnen; now part of Paragon Wine Estates, owned by Endeavour Group Limited
• Leeuwin Estate (first Art Series Chardonnay from the 1980 vintage, per Decanter), Pierro (the original high-density planting) and Voyager Estate (vineyard established 1978; Wright family since 1991)

The Margaret River GI sits within the South West Australia zone, which Wine Australia's register records as entered on 1 May 1996; Margaret River followed on 30 October 1996. Under Wine Australia's blending rules, a single GI claim requires a minimum of 85% of the wine from that GI, and only grape varieties recognised by the OIV, UPOV or IPGRI may be claimed on labels; compliance is monitored through the Label Integrity Program. The MRWA says Margaret River has no official sub-regions. In 1999 Dr Gladstones presented a paper proposing six, based on climate and soil differences: Yallingup, Carbunup, Wilyabrup, Treeton, Wallcliffe and Karridale. The MRWA notes that these have not been scientifically verified as Geographical Indicators or approved by the Australian Government. The MRWA itself was established in the late 1970s as the Margaret River Grape Growers & Winemakers Association, was incorporated in 1982, and describes itself as the peak body for Margaret River grape growers and winemakers, with 200 industry members; its Margaret River Wine Show was established in 2002. For visitors, the MRWA counts 100 cellar doors, over 130 kilometres of coastline, 75 surf breaks and the 125-kilometre Cape to Cape walking track, and puts the region an easy 3-hour drive from Perth. Decanter reports that Leeuwin Estate has hosted concerts since 1985, when Denis Horgan hosted the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

• Margaret River GI entered 30 October 1996 within the South West Australia zone (entered 1 May 1996); a single-GI label claim needs a minimum of 85% of the wine from that GI (Wine Australia)
• No official sub-regions; Gladstones proposed six in 1999 (Yallingup, Carbunup, Wilyabrup, Treeton, Wallcliffe, Karridale), not approved by the Australian Government (MRWA)
• MRWA: peak body for grape growers and winemakers, with 200 industry members, incorporated 1982; Margaret River Wine Show established 2002
• 100 cellar doors, 75 surf breaks and the 125-kilometre Cape to Cape walking track (MRWA); Leeuwin Estate concerts since 1985 (Decanter)

Primary sources (Wine Australia and its Register of Protected GIs, the Australian Wine Research Institute, the Margaret River Wine Association, and producers' own sites for their own history and wines): https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-margaret-river, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-south-west-australia, https://www.wineaustralia.com/market-insights/regions-and-varieties/western-australia-wines/margaret-river, https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/8ed0b6af-3648-4edc-b2a6-76dfc8772315/MI_Margaret-River-Region-Snapshot-2025-26.pdf, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/the-blending-rules, https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/fb571392-5d0c-4f9e-95fd-b7501076280a/REG_BlendingRules_v2.pdf, https://www.awri.com.au/industry_support/viticulture/pests-and-diseases/phylloxera/, https://margaretriver.wine/history/, https://margaretriver.wine/climate/, https://margaretriver.wine/geology-soils/, https://margaretriver.wine/viticulture-winemaking/, https://margaretriver.wine/wine-varieties/, https://margaretriver.wine/about-mrwa/, https://margaretriver.wine/margaret-river-wine-show/, https://margaretriver.wine/visiting-margaret-river/, https://www.vassefelix.com.au/our-story, https://www.vassefelix.com.au/cabernet-sauvignon, https://www.mosswood.com.au/about/, https://www.mosswood.com.au/wines/, https://cullenwines.com.au/pages/the-cullen-family-legacy, https://cullenwines.com.au/products/2024-diana-madeline, https://www.capementelle.com.au/Cape-Mentelle/History, https://www.pierro.com.au/our-story, https://www.voyagerestate.com.au/pages/our-story. Secondary: https://www.decanter.com/features/title-246195/, https://www.decanter.com/premium/leeuwin-estate-producer-profile-and-12-wines-tasted-454556/. Last verified 2026-09-28