Top Notch Wine Tasting In Western Australia
Two under-explored wine regions south of Perth, from Margaret River's whites to Mt Barker's intimate cellar doors.
More often than not, the person pouring your wines in Mt Barker is the same person whose name is on the bottle.
Our reviewerA Treat For Your Taste Buds
A few hours south of Perth, Margaret River has become a fast-growing wine town shaped by a maritime climate that favors great whites, chardonnays in particular stood out, while grapes trucked in from further inland supply surprisingly good Cabernets and Merlots.
With more than 150 wineries in the area, no visitor sees them all. Among the standouts: Stella Bella Wines, small but consistently delicious; Woody Nook Wines, which pairs its tastings with a full restaurant; and Cape Mentelle Wines, a favorite tasting experience that occasionally hosts outdoor movies.
Two to three hours further from Perth, Denmark and Mt Barker offer something more intimate: the person pouring the wine is often the one whose name is on the label. Plantagenet Winery's Shiraz stood out as a regional favorite (and lunchtime pizza-plus-wine for $20 is hard to beat), while Alkoomi Winery's reds and The Lake House's setting both earned repeat mentions.
The two towns sit about an hour apart, close enough to justify visiting both in one trip south.
Why We Love It
- Margaret River's maritime climate produces standout white wines, especially chardonnay
- Over 150 wineries in Margaret River alone, with strong reds from inland grapes too
- Mt Barker and Denmark offer intimate, winemaker-led tastings
- Plantagenet Winery pairs a $20 lunch of pizza and wine at midday
Considerations
- Over 150 wineries in Margaret River alone makes seeing them all in one trip unrealistic
- Denmark/Mt Barker sits two to three hours further from Perth than Margaret River, adding real travel time
Where to Taste in Each Region
In Margaret River, Stella Bella Wines makes up for its small tasting room with genuinely delicious pours, while Woody Nook Wines adds a full restaurant to the experience. Cape Mentelle stood out as a favorite overall, and occasionally runs outdoor movie nights alongside its tastings.
In Mt Barker, Plantagenet Winery's Shiraz was the best red tasted across the whole trip, and a lunchtime pizza-and-wine pairing runs just $20. Alkoomi Winery's reds and its Albany wine room are worth the stop, and The Lake House Winery in Denmark trades a bit on setting as much as the wine itself.
Worth the Extra Drive
Mt Barker sits two to three hours further from Perth than Margaret River, but the more intimate, winemaker-poured tastings made it our reviewer's favorite of the two regions.
We Recommend This To Readers Who:
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Love a good white wine
Margaret River's maritime climate is built for chardonnay and other whites.
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Want an intimate, winemaker-led tasting
In Mt Barker, the person pouring your wine is often the one whose name is on the bottle.
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Have time for a longer wine trip
Denmark and Mt Barker sit further from Perth, but are worth the extra two to three hours.
A Closer Look
More Wine Than One Trip Can Cover
Western Australia has more wineries than you could visit in a year, but Margaret River and the Denmark/Mt Barker region are the two most worth prioritizing.
