Margaret River

Location
 Zone - South West Australia
State - Western Australia

Map Reference
 Latitude 33 degrees and 42 minutes South
Longitude 115 degrees and 18 minutes East

Elevation
 0 - 100 metres above sea level

Subregions
 Nil

Introduction
 When the very first Margaret River reds came onto the market in NSW and Victoria during the mid 1970's they made an immense impression. There was clarity and a delicacy to their red fruit flavours and elegance in their structure, which immediately set them apart. It seems likely that part of the `difference' was due to the absence of malo lactic fermentation in the bacterially sterile confines typical of new wineries in a new wine region.

Almost overnight the Margaret River became the most fashionable address in Australia, its future guaranteed, its potential unlimited. But in the latter part of the 1980's it unexpectedly lost direction and momentum. However, the explosion of new trendy regions and wineries in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, changed and shifted the popularity of the region to the eastern states. The Margaret River came to realise that they were as far distant from Sydney and Melbourne as from Asia.

The sheer quality of the regions and wines, plus the determination of its leading producers, meant that the Regions loss of popularity was very brief. The Margaret River began its surge forward while the rest of Australia was in deep recession and hasn't looked back since.
Primary Grape Varieties
White
 Semillon 295 ha
Sauvignon Blanc 260 ha
Chardonnay 215 ha
Chenin Blanc 65 ha
Verdelho 30 ha
Other 65 ha
Total White 930 ha
Red
 Cabernet Sauvignon 330 ha
Shiraz 220 ha
Merlot 90 ha
Cabernet Franc 20 ha
Other 65 ha
Total Red 725 ha
Primary Wine Styles

Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
These two varieties produce a regional specialty called Classic Dry White, and is sometimes supplemented by Chenin Blanc. But in the majority of vintages the region blends the two varieties together in a way that no other area does. The Semillon oozes pleasant herbal and grassy aromas; intensity and elegance equally merge in wines that are rarely less than illustrious.

Chardonnay
Here Chardonnay is more intense, more complex, more viscous, and more piquant, yet does not become too heavy. The rich fruit flavours provide opportunity to take advantage of a full range of winemaking techniques.

Cabernet Sauvignon
The Margaret River's reputation was founded upon this wine. Practically every winery produces a Cabernet, however Merlot is a progressively more common blend component. The style has evolved over the years, the common likeness being ripe grapes that offer a sweet nucleus to all the wines, wines that are never leafy or herbal, but often with subtle earthy hints and tannins.