EXPLORE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Your guide to the best flavours from the winegrowing regions.

"Margaret River is the undisputed wine capital of WA."

In 1834 the WA wine industry began in the Swan Valley, now in the suburbs of Perth. Today the warm region has been joined by picturesque Margaret River and the sprawling Great Southern as the state has emerged as a premium player in recent years. The Swan still produces dessert wines but the focus now is on the cabernet sauvignonschardonnays and sauvignon blanc/semillon blends from Margaret River, 260 kilometres south, and from the even more remote Great Southern, which encompasses several sub-regions and a wide range of styles. While Houghton and Sandalford maintain cellar doors in the Swan, the popular coastal region of Margaret River, where pioneering wineries such as CullenMoss WoodVasse Felix, Cape Mentelle and Leeuwin Estate have built global reputations, is the undisputed wine capital of WA. The Great Southern, which radiates outwards from Mount Barker, includes star riesling producer Frankland Estate along with Plantagenet and West Cape Howe.

MEET THE WINEMAKER

Virginia Willcock

The Vasse Felix Chief Winemaker shares her insider's guide to the best of Margaret River.

Read the Q&A with Virginia Willcock>

Margaret River

A three-hour drive south of Perth, Margaret River is one of Australia’s most stunning wine regions – both visually and because of the quality of wines produced in a maritime climate that is similar to Bordeaux. The overall production may be small but Margaret River accounts for more than 15 per cent of Australia’s premium wines. Chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are the star performers and sauvignon blanc/semillon and cabernet and blends have become the region’s signatures.

"The overall production may be small but Margaret River accounts for more than 15 per cent of Australia’s premium wines."

The big names include Voyager Estate, Leeuwin Estate, Vasse FelixCullen, Cape Mentelle, Howard Park, Devil’s Lair and Xanadu. With close to 100 wineries offering tastings it pays to allow plenty of time for leisurely exploration, particularly as the region covers over 100 kilometres in a narrow strip from north to south. Many of the top wineries have on-site restaurants. Most, however, are only open for lunch, or offer dinner only at weekends. Because of its many surf beaches, caves, lighthouses and other attractions, Margaret River is hugely popular with tourists.

MUST-VISIT CELLAR DOORS

Voyager Estate

One of the grandest cellar doors in a Cape

Dutch-style homestead surrounded by manicured

gardens. The Wine Room has a menu of tasting

options, while the restaurant serves degustation

menus with each course matched to a wine.

Cullen Wines

The mood is more relaxed at rustic and charming

carbon neutral and biodynamic producer Cullen

Wines, where cellar door sales and tastings are

available daily, along with full meals using organic

local produce, platters or just coffee and cake.

Vasse Felix

Vineyard & winemaking tours are an option on

weekdays, all tasting are complimentary and there

is a lovely restaurant overlooking the region's

oldest vines, where you can take in the sweeping

views of Margaret Rivers's pristine landscape.

Great Southern

For decades, the warm Swan Valley was Western Australia's best-known wine region but it has been left in the wake of cooler Margaret River and the Great Southern, which is both one of the largest wine regions in the country in terms of size, and one of the most remote. With a range of climatic conditions, the Great Southern produces outstanding shirazcabernet sauvignon and merlot. Riesling, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are the main white varieties and the Frankland River, Mount Barker and the Porongurup sub-regions have built formidable reputations for the quality of their rieslings, which are usually made in a crisp, dry style.

"With a range of climatic conditions, the Great Southern produces outstanding shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot."

The five major wine sub-regions are Albany, Mount Barker, Frankland River, Denmark and the Porongurups. Key producers include Howard Park/MadfishHarewood Estate, Singlefile, Frankland EstateAlkoomi, Plantagenet, West Cape Howe and Dukes. There are also dozens of small producers like Oranje Tractor and Castle Rock producing wines of high quality.

MUST-VISIT CELLAR DOORS

Alkoomi

Alkoomi Wines has two cellar doors, one located in

Frankland River and the other in Albany. Their wines

are known to have intense varietal character due to

the long, cool ripening conditions during production.

Frankland Estate

Frankland Estate was founded in 1988 where they

established vineyards on Isolation Ridge. The

cellar door can be found on the vineyard where

you can sample their organic wines and their

renowned riesling.

Dukes

Duke's established vineyards in 1999 with their

first riesling, cabernet sauvignon and spicy shiraz.

The cold climate region produces soft reds and

premium reisling. Make sure to visit the cellar

door and enjoy panoramic views of the vineyard.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT EACH STATE AND THEIR WINE REGIONS

Important information:

<Up to 50% off Australian wine month : Offer ends 31 May 2023 11:59pm (AEST) unless sold out prior. Qantas may withdraw or extend these offers at any time. Bonus points available on selected cases only. The selected cases can change at any time.

~Sale Frenzy: Offer ends 31 May 2023 11:59pm (AEST) unless sold out prior. Qantas may withdraw or extend these offers at any time. Bonus points available on selected cases only. The selected cases can change at any time. 

**Voyager Estate: Offer ends 30 May 2023 11:59pm (AEST) unless sold out prior. Qantas may withdraw or extend these offers at any time. Voyager Estate Ultimate Winery Experience free exclusive sparkling rose offer will be redeemed at the conclusion of the experience

*Earn 5000 Bonus Points: Offer ends 31 May 2023 11:59pm (AEST) unless sold out prior. Qantas may withdraw or extend these offers at any time. Bonus points available on selected cases only. The selected cases can change at any time.

1. Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are not Qantas Wine Premium members will earn 1 Qantas Point per dollar spent and Qantas Wine Premium members will earn 3 Qantas Points per dollar spent on Eligible Products and Services purchased through qantas.com/wine. Qantas Points can be earned on cash only purchases and the cash component of Points Plus Pay purchases on eligible products. The earning and redemption of Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions. Allow up to 6 weeks for Qantas Points to appear in your Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

2. Available for delivery within Australia only, subject to availability.

3. Bonus points available on selected cases only. The selected cases can change at any time.

4. Money-Back Guarantee, Qantas Frequent Flyer members have 90 days from the date of purchase to contact us to arrange the return of the product. If you return a case, you must return it with no more than two bottles opened to be eligible for a refund. Refunds will be for the product price only (not including any delivery charges) and will be processed within 14 days of successful lodgement. Members will not be entitled to retain any Qantas Points awarded on cancelled, returned or refunded orders, and Qantas has the discretion to reject any request for a refund if the Member is unable to return any Qantas Points awarded for the purchase.

5. Qantas Business Rewards members that have provided an individual Qantas Frequent Flyer number in their Qantas Business Rewards account before making a purchase will earn 2 Qantas Points per dollar spent for the business. The business’ name and individual Qantas Frequent Flyer number linked with the Qantas Business Rewards account must be added at checkout in order to earn points for the business. Qantas Points for the business are earned in addition to the points earned by the individual Qantas Frequent Flyer. Retrospective claims cannot be made. The additional points will be credited to the Qantas Business Rewards account within 30 days of purchase. For more information visit Qantas Business Rewards.

6. Points Club members will receive complimentary Qantas Wine Premium membership for the duration of their Points Club membership. Points Club Plus members will receive complimentary Qantas Wine Premium membership, plus an additional 10% discount on marked prices at Qantas Wine on all products, excluding Penfolds, for the duration of their Points Club Plus membership. 10% discount will be applied at checkout and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer or voucher code, except for the Points Club Plus birthday vouchers. To activate the complimentary Qantas Wine Premium membership, Points Club and Points Club Plus members will need to log into qantas.com/wine and the Qantas Wine Premium membership will automatically be added to their cart and benefits will be applied. For more information on Points Club visit qantas.com/pointsclub

All wine brands in the Sustainable Sips program hold Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Certification. Certified wineries have been independently audited against the Australian wine industry sustainability standard. While this means that practices within the winery meet the industry sustainability standard, there is no guarantee that all grapes used to make the wine have been sourced from a certified sustainable vineyard.

Liquor Act 2007 (NSW): It is an offence to sell or supply to or to obtain liquor on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years. Licence Number: NSW LIQP770016736, NT IRL0201, SA 57900154

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We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live and fly. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.