Margaret River – You Had Me At Food, Wine, and Beer

Margaret River is many things, and there is something there for everyone…

Being a lover of wine, beer, and food I was extremely excited that a visit to the world famous Margaret River Region in Australia’s South West was on the itinerary.

One of the reasons I love to travel so much is to experience the food, the wine, and the atmosphere of a place. Life’s simple pleasures.

But the South West region in Western Australia is not only famous for it’s food and wine, but also for it’s relaxed approach to life, breathtaking scenery and stunny beaches, such as this…

Yallingup Beach

The Margaret River region also has amazing diversity of people with wine makers, surfers, farmers, and artists, giving it a great vibe.

It’s a fanatstic road trip destination, one you can do yourself, but when it comes to the wine tasting and beer drinking experience I highly suggest you take advantage of a local tour expert for added relaxation (and safety). More on that later…

In a nutshell the region has:

• 150 cellar doors
• 8 breweries
• Gourmet food producers
• Dozens of galleries
• Cafes and restaurants
• Nature trails
• Stunning beaches
• and a great climate…

It’s easily one of my favorite regions in all of Austalia.

When talking about the gourmet food and wine on offer, a visit here is pure indulgence. Here is my experience

The Wine Tasting

Cowaramup Wines

Cowaramup Vineyard

First stop was a walk and talk by owner Russell at the Cowaramup Wines, which is located in the heart of the Margaret River wine region.

We learnt about the “Clown Fish” label which is the first range of wines produced by Cowaramup, and their strong emphasis on implementing biodynamic and organic practices in the vineyard.

Healthy looking grapes

Clown Fish label

Settlers Ridge

Organic wines of Settlers Ridge

Next up was a visit to Australia’s FIRST internationally certified winery, Settlers Ridge, for an organic wine tasting session.

As a winner of over 50 medals at wine shows, Settlers Ridge proves that organic techiniques can still produce top quality wine.

Healthy wine

Margaret River Providor

Lunch at Providor

Lunch and more wine tasting followed at Providor, voted one of Australia’s Top 100 Gourmet Experiences. Fresh ingredients are sourced from their vegetable gardens and on show inside is a selection of home made jams, preserves and sauces.

Smoked salmon salad

Veggie garden

Peacetree Estate

Peacetree Estate

Another organic wine tasting experience at Peacetree, and probably my favorite as it was very intimate and the winery has a great story. On top of that the wines were excellent.

Wine cellar / home

The Beer Experience

Eagle Bay Brewery

Beer samples

I have to agree with them: Great beer, service and atmosphere. Sitting on the outside patio area with expansive views was very relaxing and I could have stayed here for hours.

On top of that, the food and wine was top notch too. Eagle Bay Brewing Co is a family run, boutique operation and you can really feel their passion…

Outdoor patio

All Mine!

Great draught beer

Great pizza

The Chocolate Experience

Gabriel’s Chocolates

Gabriel's

To say I LOVE chocolate would be an understatement. It’s my downfall when it comes to treats. So I was very excited about getting a behind the scenes tour and tasting at Gabriel’s Chocolates.

Gabriel with his Cacao beans

Gabriel is a former laywer who had a passion for chocolate and now creates his awesomly fine chocolate from freshly roasted cacao beans from six regions around the world resulting in a range of exquisite chocolates with flavors reflecting their regions:

• Ecuador (Arriba bean)
• Madagascar (the Sambirano valley)
• Ghana
• Rio Caribe Venezuela
• Java Indonesia
• Chuao Venezeula

They are the first bean to bar chocolate maker in Western Australia. And they are not melters of chocolate. But make quality chocolate not confectionary chocolate.

Chocolate samples

The Food Experience

The Fruity Cow

Welcome to Fruity Cow

Probably the best tasting sushi I have ever eaten in Australia. The Fruity Cow is basically an organic cheese and fresh produce store, but they do this awesome sushi platter that I couldn’t get enough of.

Sushi heaven

Tasty dips and crackers

Fresh produce

The Movie Experience

Cape Mentelle Vineyards

Outdoor cinema

Imagine this…a picnic blanket, a gourmet hamper, a stary night sky, and a movie on the big screen outside at a vineyard. Well, you can have all this at Cape Mentelle Vineyards.

Gourmet Hamper

Watch a film as the sun goes down at Margaret River’s only outdoor movie cinema.

Playing the night I was there was the classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” but unfortunately I missed the movie as I got that comfortable and relaxed, after several wines, that I fell asleep.

Getting Around

If you’re like me and plan on enjoying the sampling of the many wines and beers on offer, then the only way to do it is have someone else drive you around.

That way you can relax and taste as many drinks as you can handle without worrying about having to drive. And a personalised tour with an experienced local company is a great way to do it.

Harvest Tours may be Margaret River’s newest tour but they are locals with a passion for the region who get it.

They call themselves the “Foodie’s wine tour with a conscience” and are all about providing a relaxed, fun, and informative experience.

Key benefits of their tour:

• They only visit environmentally responsible businesses.
• Businesses that create all their products in the region.
• And businesses that choose organic and sustainable principles.

The Facts

Location: The Margaret River Region is located 267km south of Perth and stretches over an area of 135km between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.

Tours: www.HarvestTours.com.au

Where to Stay: www.SeaShells.com.au has studios and 1 and 2 bed fully self-contained apartments.

More Information: www.WesternAustralia.com

Disclaimer: My trip to Margaret River was as a guest of Tourism Western Australia