Indulging along The South West Edge is a foodie’s delight. Think decadent seasonal food, sensational local produce and of course, world class wine. Whilst many of the towns along The South West Edge are producing award winning vino (hello Great Southern and Swan Valley), the Margaret River Region is so densely packed with wineries and cellar doors you can literally spend days hop, skip and jumping between vineyards sampling incredible wines. Margaret River has some of the world’s oldest soils and a Mediterranean climate that makes it the perfect conditions for producing award winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and SSB blends. Organic wines are having their moment in the sun, and if you like low-fi, organic and preservative free wines; you’ve come to the right place. Here are five organic winemakers to put on your Margaret River winery bucket list when you’re journeying along The Edge.
5 Organic Wineries to Visit in the Margaret River Wine Region
Organic wines are having their moment in the sun, and if you like low-fi, organic and preservative free wines; you’ve come to the right place. Here are five organic winemakers to put on your Margaret River winery bucket list when you’re journeying along The Edge.
Burnside Organic Farm
Featuring one of the smallest vineyards and wineries in the Margaret River wine region, the winemaking at Burnside Organic Farm is done naturally with no added yeasts, chemicals, or other interventions. Run by Lara and Jamie McCall, Jamie manages the vineyard while Lara manages the wine making, so they are all over the biodynamic wine process while hand picking and making the wine on site. No artificial fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides or systemics are used, with geese and sheep used to graze and fertilize the soil naturally. Not only is Burnside Organic Farm an organic winery, but they also have stunning accommodation and tours around the farm to get you familiar with their environment. It is the perfect spot to stay when travelling through the Margaret River wine region along The Edge.
Stormflower Vineyard
Stormflower is all about producing the best wine possible from their small block, all with fruit from their own vineyard. In 2016, the vineyard achieved full organic certification and all their wines from the 2016 vintage onwards are certified organic or made with certified organic grapes. Their minimalist cellar door boasts a relaxed vibe for guests to sit back, relax, and enjoy their wines and surroundings. The tasting table you’ll find in the cellar door is actually made from one of the Marri trees that blew down outside the cellar door during a storm back in 2013. Talk about keeping things natural! Be sure to explore the gardens and even pack a picnic to indulge in after your tastings, they’ll provide the picnic rug!
Blind Corner
The team at Blind Corner have their organic and biodynamic wines down pat. Following along the lines of wanting their wines to reflect the land that they grew on and the weather that particular year, the hard work and dedication put into their wines speak for themselves. All wild ferments and minimal additives are used in the process, and they love to mess around with different techniques and monitoring their outcomes. An extra side project that’s been in the works at Blind Corner is bee keeping, with full hives residing happily among the vines. There is a wide variety of wines on offer and wine ‘parties’ to sign up for to enjoy their wines at home after your trip along The Edge, so be sure to check this one out!
Cullen Wines
You’ve most likely already heard of Cullen Wines as the original organic winery in Western Australia. The vineyard was planted back in 1971, and since then there has been very minimal chemical interventions throughout the entire process. Excitingly, they were the first winery in Australia to offset carbon dioxide emission under the Carbon Neutral program. This beautiful Wilyabrup location is a must-stop winery on your list while in the Margaret River region, and a tasting in their biodynamic wine room comes highly recommended. No trip along The South West Edge would be complete without a Cullen Wines stop over!
McHenry Hohnen
The vineyards at McHenry Hohnen are managed using all biodynamic methods, with a large focus on the soil in which they grow. Using natural components and manure that’s made on site, they nurture the soil as much as possible to achieve a more balanced growth, stronger vines, and a higher disease resistance. The biodynamic process in place here focuses on looking at a vineyard as an ecosystem, as “a better environment gives you better wine.” Their cellar door is open daily for tastings, and you can expect to leave with more than just a few bottles of wine, but also with a full experience by the passionate staff who’ll take you on a wine exploration.
Heading along The Edge with kids and want to experience some of our world class wineries? Head over to our blog to find the best family friendly wineries and breweries along The Edge. Beer more your thing? Check out our favourite brews with views!
