MARGARET RIVER Australia’s unique climate and landscape have fostered a fiercely independent wine scene, home to a vibrant community of growers, winemakers, viticulturists, and vignerons. With more than 100 grape varieties grown across 65 distinct wine regions, we have the freedom to make exceptional wine, and to do it our own way. We’re not beholden by tradition, but continue to push the boundaries in the pursuit of the most diverse, thrilling wines in the world. That’s just our way. MARGARET RIVER: One of the world’s youngest wine regions, Margaret River is something of a prodigy, achieving success, prestige and international acclaim A FRESH at an early age. - Powerful yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends VOICE IN and Chardonnay - Grape-growing paradise - One of the world’s most geographically FINE WINE isolated wine regions - Minimal-intervention farming and a dynamic winemaking community TO DAY
- The history of WE’LL Margaret River - Geography, climate and soil - Viticulture and winemaking - Prominent varieties COVER… THE HISTORY 1965 Dr John Gladstones, an OF MARGARET RIVER: agronomist from the University of Western Australia, identifies A BRIGHT that the climatic conditions of the region are ideal for producing YOUNG STAR premium wines.
1955 1967 Harold Olmo, professor of Dr Tom Cullity plants the first viticulture at the University of modern commercial vineyard California, takes the first step at Vasse Felix. The vineyard’s in establishing Margaret River original Cabernet Sauvignon as a wine region, recommending and Malbec plantings still the planting of wine grapes in grow today. Australia’s south-west. 1983–84 1976 Margaret River’s reputation as The first Chardonnay a producer of fine Cabernet TO DAY vines are planted Sauvignon is cemented when The region continues to grow at Leeuwin Estate, Cape Mentelle wins back-to-back and cement its international Cullen Wines and Jimmy Watson Trophies at the reputation for producing Moss Wood. Melbourne Wine Show. premium wine.
1982 1996 International acclaim arrives The Geographical when the second vintage of Indication (GI) Leeuwin Estate’s ‘Art Series’ Margaret River (1981) is named “the best is registered. Chardonnay in the world” by Decanter magazine. AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY
QUEENSLAND
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES
VICTORIA MARGARET RIVER 0 500
Kilometres TASMANIA PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Marg aret River GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE AND SOIL: A GRAPE-GROWING PARADISE
- Long, narrow region 270km south of Perth - Hugged by the Indian and Southern Oceans - Geographically isolated, bestowed with ancient soils and a unique biodiversity - Ideal grape-growing conditions VERY HIGH >1000M CLIMATE >3280FT
HIGH 750–999M 2460–3279FT MEDITERRANEAN WITH STRONG MARITIME MEDIUM INFLUENCES, WITH OCEANS 500–749M ON THREE SIDES 1640–2459FT
ALTITUDE LOW MARGARET RIVER 0–499M 0–150M (0–492FT) 0–1639FT Predominantly deep, well-drained, red SOIL gravelly loams on granite and gneiss. These ancient soils are low in nutrients and ideal for growing high-quality grapes. VITICULTURE AND WINEMAKING: MASTERS MEET THE MASTERFULLY EXPERIMENTAL - Minimal intervention to produce pristine fruit that expresses terroir - Growing adoption of organic and biodynamic practices - High-quality heritage clones - Harvest: February–April GRAPE GROWING WINEMAKING
- Classic techniques influenced by the local environment - Climate lends itself to low-intervention approach - Most wines see oak but winemakers practise restraint - New generation of innovative winemakers experimenting with alternative techniques TASTE OF MARGARET RIVER Noteworthy varieties
MARGARET RIVER SAUVIGNON CABERNET 20
CABERNET SAUVIGNON %
SAUVIGNON BLANC 21 SAUVIGNON TOP 5VARIETIES %
BLANC CHARDONNAY 16
% CHARDONNAY
SEMILLON 19
% SEMILLON
SHIRAZ 12
% SHIRAZ
SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC Blends
HELPED PUT MARGARET RIVER ON THE WINE MAP
- Gooseberry - Passionfruit TWO VARIETIES TYPICAL THAT ARE FLAVOURS - Lime INHERENTLY - Lemon curd COMPLEMENTARY - Grapefruit
MARGARET RIVER MARGARET
SAUVIGNON BLANC SAUVIGNON SEMILLON SEMILLON SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC Blends COLOUR
Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Blends
Light Medium Full BODY Dry Medium dry Sweet SWEETNESS
Low Medium High UNOAKED OR OAK ACIDIT Y
8% 12% – 13.5% 17% ALCOHOL CHARDONNAY
TYPICAL PRIMARY FLAVOURS World-class - Mandarin wines FLAVOURS - Grapefruit - Nectarine/ white peach
TYPICAL SECONDARY FLAVOURS RICHER, - Toast RIPER STYLES - Toasted almond provide a - Spice contrast to leaner, - Chalk cool‑climate styles - Gunflint
MARGARET RIVER MARGARET - Nougat - Minerality CHARDONNAY CHARDONNAY
COLOUR
Chardonnay
Light Medium Full BODY Dry Medium dry Sweet SWEETNESS
Low Medium High OAK ACIDIT Y
8% 12.5% – 13.5% 17% ALCOHOL CABERNET SAUVIGNON
TYPICAL PRIMARY HERO VARIETY FOR FLAVOURS MANY LOCAL PRODUCERS - Cassis FLAVOURS - Blackcurrant - Blueberry - Red currant - Bay leaf - Dried herbs
TYPICAL HIGH QUALITY SECONDARY and suited to FLAVOURS long-term cellaring - Smoke - Cedar MARGARET RIVER MARGARET CABERNET CABERNET SAUVIGNON CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLOUR
Cabernet Sauvignon
Light Medium Full BODY Dry Medium dry Sweet SWEETNESS
Low Medium High TANNIN OAK ACIDIT Y
8% 13% – 14% 17% ALCOHOL SHORT HISTORY Fine wines and innovative winemaking techniques that LONG are setting the standard for FUTURE Australian wine. THANK YOU