Updated December 2021
Wine tasting guide to Margaret River
Most people who visit Australia will rave about the scenic beauty of Sydney or trendy coffee shops in Melbourne. But sadly, few ever make it to the west coast (even some Australians!).
Warm climate, pristine beaches, great Cabernets and Chardonnays–just a few reasons why Western Australia is one of the best wine regions in Australia. Check out our wine guide to Margaret River below to get some ideas for your trip!
Best wineries in Western Australia
Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is much less densely populated than its counterparts of Sydney in New South Wales and Melbourne in Victoria. However, there’s still a lot to enjoy about this city and it’s likely where you’ll fly into when visiting Margaret River.
We recommend spending a few nights in Perth and Fremantle (discussed later) while the jet lag subsides. But if you’re in a hurry or don’t need much sleep, then hire a car and make the 2 hr 45 minute ride south. Take the coastal route so you don’t miss the epic beaches!
Where to stay
If you enjoy staying downtown within walking distance to the bars and restaurants, check out Studio Guest Suites. A boutique hotel located just one block away from the main strip.
Perhaps you’re more interested in peace & quiet and staying on the vines. In this case, check out Pinda Lodge. You can’t go wrong with either option, just a matter of preference.
As is the case with Burgundy, Martinborough and Stellenbosch, renting a bicycle is the preferred way to get around. However, if you’re staying in the downtown area, you will be too far for biking, so driving (or hiring a driver) is your only option.
Where to taste
- Woodlands Winery: Our favorite winery in the Margaret River–their aged Cabs are just incredible! Yearly production is around 12,000 cases and is still family-owned and operated, despite being one of the first 5 vineyards in the AVA.
- Pierro: Fantastic Chardonnay and Bordeaux-style blends. One of the few high-density planted Australian vineyards (4-5k vines per hectare vs. typical Australian 2k vines per hectare). We love the individual attention given at this tasting room as well as the beautiful character and complexity in their wines.
- Peacetree: Small family-run vineyard with 11 acres under vine. Grapes are organically grown with minimal intervention in the cellar. Several varietals are offered but their bread and butter are the aged Cabernets (2011 is our favorite vintage). Visit and enjoy the small, cozy tasting room experience.
- House of Cards: Boutique, certified organic family owned operation. There’s a cult-like following for this label, and often their best bottles are gobbled up by pre-orders. That said, there’s still plenty of good juice to taste. We enjoy their barrel-aged Sav Blanc a lot.
- Cullen Winery: One of the most famous and prestigious wineries in the Margaret River. It feels a tad pretentious, but the wines are delicious. Our favorites are the higher end Chardonnays which demonstrate great balance between oak and minerality.
- Vasse Felix: This is the oldest winery in Margaret River (1967), so it’s worth visiting for that reason alone. Also, the vineyards are a beautiful sight and the wines are tasty, albeit expensive due to the reputation.
- Howard Park: In Margaret River’s warm climate, one wouldn’t expect to find good Riesling. However, Howard Park makes a phenomenal Riesling, bringing in fruit from further south where it gets a bit cooler. Best of all, they keep library vintages in stock. Flavors of citrus, fresh pears and lemon zest with intense petrol tertiary aromas.
Where to eat
- Swings & Roundabouts Taphouse: Fantastic pizza in the downtown area with a great wine list; the pepperoni, pesto and sausage are the best.
- La Scarpetta Trattoria: Delicious Italian cuisine with fresh homemade pasta. We ended up going multiple times just to try all of them and were not disappointed!
- Morries: Tasty asian fusion tapas, exciting cocktails and modern decor. Located in the heart of the downtown strip.
- Miki’s Open Kitchen: Eclectic Japanese Omakase menu mixed with local farm to table ingredients. The kitchen is open concept, so make sure to snag a seat at the bar for the best dining experience.
- Rustico: Exceptional Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful vineyard setting. While Hay Shed is not our favorite winery, this restaurant is a must visit for lunch.
What else to do
Explore the beaches
The coastline of Western Australia has some of the most pristine, white sand beaches in the world. The beaches are not far from the wineries and our favorite is Hamelin Bay. This beach is off the beaten path, without the tourist crowd and there are wild stingrays that hang out in the water. Don’t worry, they are very gentle and like to be pet!
Brewery hopping
If you need a change of pace from the grape juice, Margaret River houses several breweries worth visiting. We like Black Brewing Co and Cheeky Monkey Brewing the most. Both offer samplers to try the lineup of ales as well as tasty bites from their kitchens.
Eagle Bay
Located 45 minutes north of Margaret River, this is a great stop on the way to or from wine country. Here you can find magnificent coastline hiking trails in Shelley Cove, Meelup Beach and Point Piquet along with fun restaurants and bars in downtown Dunsborough. There are plenty of cozy and affordable AirBnB’s in the Eagle Bay area to choose from.
While heading down or up from Perth, stop by Bunbury Farmers Market to stock up on picnic supplies. And don’t miss a sunset at Canal Rocks, located on the western shore.
Fremantle & Rottnest Island
Perth is cool, but Fremantle is memorable. A 30 minute drive southwest of Perth, Fremantle is an old port city that looks like it’s stuck in the past. Buildings from the 18th century are preserved including an old Prison, which you can now stay in.
In addition to architectural heritage, Fremantle is lined with exciting restaurants and watering holes. Our favorite is Little Creatures Brewing and their restaurant focused operation, Creatures Next Door.
Best of all, you can take a ferry to Rottnest Island — a gorgeous floating piece of land with hiking trails, biking paths, sprawling beaches and the Quokka!
What’a Quokka? These friendly furry creatures run freely around the island and love to come pose for photos. We spent a good amount of time playing with these guys — wish we could adopt a few!
