Moss Wood

Moss Wood was established in 1969 by Dr Bill Pannell and Sandra Pannell, making it the second oldest estate in Margaret River. The winery played a defining role in establishing the region's international reputation: the 1975 and 1976 Cabernet Sauvignons received national and international acclaim, helping place Margaret River on the global wine map. Keith and Clare Mugford purchased the estate in 1984, and Keith has served as chief winemaker and viticulturist since 1979, providing extraordinary continuity of vision across more than four decades.

• Founded in 1969, the second oldest estate in Margaret River
• The 1975 and 1976 Cabernet Sauvignons brought Margaret River international recognition
• Keith Mugford has been winemaker and viticulturist since 1979
• Rated Five Red Stars by the James Halliday Wine Companion

Moss Wood sits in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, where a maritime climate moderated by the Indian Ocean tempers summer heat and allows for a long, even growing season. Soils range from sandy loam to gravelly red-brown loam over clay subsoil. Planting densities run from 1,500 to 2,000 vines per hectare. In 2000, Moss Wood acquired the Ribbon Vale vineyard, originally planted between 1977 and 1982, expanding the estate's resource base within the same appellation.

• Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, Western Australia
• Maritime climate with Indian Ocean influence moderating summer heat
• Sandy loam to gravelly red-brown loam over clay subsoil
• Ribbon Vale vineyard acquired 2000; originally planted 1977 to 1982

Moss Wood operates on a minimal-intervention philosophy, using only estate-grown fruit and sustainable farming practices including no-tillage. The estate's approach to oak is distinctive: no new oak is used, with barrels kept in service for ten or more years. This commitment preserves fruit purity and allows the wines' classical Bordeaux-inspired structure to express itself without the influence of new wood. The approach has earned multiple 90-plus scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and the top 'exceptional' ranking for Cabernet Sauvignon in Langton's Classification of Australian Wine.

• Only estate-grown fruit used across the entire range
• No new oak; barrels used for 10 or more years
• Sustainable farming with no-tillage practice
• Cabernet Sauvignon rated 'exceptional' in Langton's Classification of Australian Wine

The estate grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc. Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship variety and the wine that defines the estate's reputation. The style across all wines is elegant and age-worthy, with classical structure and purity drawing clear inspiration from Bordeaux. The combination of maritime climate, well-drained loam soils, minimal-intervention viticulture, and the avoidance of new oak results in wines built for the long term.

• Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship and most celebrated variety
• Bordeaux varieties complement white wines from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay
• Wines are known for elegance, purity, and age-worthiness
• Style inspired by classical Bordeaux rather than New World extraction