Beyond the Cellar Door: 5 Immersive Winery Experiences

At Cape Mentelle, you’ll learn the nuances of the some of the region’s best varietals.

Go Beyond the

Cellar Door

5

Immersive Winery Experiences

WORDS: Emily Kurys-Romer A growing number of wine estates, owners, winemakers and sommeliers are personally welcoming visitors into their vineyards (and in on their secrets) in a swathe of new, comprehensive, the-envy-of-your-friends experiences, which means discovering beyond the cellar door and only doing a handful of wineries, but really, really in depth…Like, personal host, seated tastings, behind the scenes tours and multi-course degustation, all-day-affair-style in depth. Or organic farm walks, shaking hands with the owners, hearing about their motivations and winemaking philosophies over a glass of wine kind of in depth. Not to mention overflowing bubbles, chocolates, nature walks, elaborate picnics, DIY wine blending, and cheese platters… there is a lifetime’s worth of escapades and encounters. Start thinking of cellar doors as Margaret River’s gateway into the wine world (just remember to book ahead). Here’s a top five to get you started. Cape Mentelle

Cape Mentelle is conveniently one of the closest wineries to Margaret River itself. Its sprawling grounds play host to the much-loved annual twilight movie season, and its history lies with local wine industry pioneer David Hohnen (who also established Cloudy Bay in New Zealand). It was one of the first wineries in the region to offer a Behind the Scenes Tour and Tasting to guests, which takes in the vines right out the front of the cellar door, plus the winery, its equipment, barrel halls and cellar. Guests have the option to add various inclusions onto this original tour, such as a private tasting in the ambient barrel hall, or a food and wine pairing of six wines and gourmet morsels featuring local produce – or take a picnic basket and wine flight outside onto the lawn to enjoy.

Price range: $30 - $85pp Duration: 45 mins – 2 hours Perfect for: The wine curious. Learn the nuts and bolts of winemaking here.

Start thinking of cellar doors as Margaret River’s gateway into the wine world

Arlewood

The good folks at Arlewood are owning the chocolate and wine pairing experience in Margaret River. The petite cellar door in the south of the region plays strongly into the Italian heritage of the owners with its wine range, bringing all the personality of the ‘Valtellina’ area into people’s glasses. Their La Bratta wine and chocolate experience has put Arlewood on the top hit lists of James Halliday and Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine (ahem, no big deal). Two Italian-inspired vinos (a white and a red) are paired with specifically crafted morsels from local chocolatier Temper Temper, to surprise and delight.

Price range: $20 pp Duration: 25 mins approx. Perfect for: Chocoholics, obviously.

Voyager Estate

Opulence and Voyager Estate go hand-in-hand. There’s the signature red roses at the end of every vine, the ornate and manicured gardens, the traditional Cape Dutch architecture of the cellar door itself – and that’s before a drop of wine has touched your lips. Through the doors, the luxurious yet intimate Wine Room is the focal point of Voyager’s wine experiences. Options include the Estate Tour through the vineyard, winery and concluding at cellar door with a glass of wine and a cheese board; the Origins Tasting, exploring Margaret River’s key varietals of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon; or Voyager Unearthed for the ultimate lesson in wine appreciation, looking at the Estate’s organic farming and winemaking approach guided by the in-house sommelier. All experiences can be upgraded with four- or seven-course menus at the restaurant.

Price range: $50 – $95 (excluding restaurant tasting menus) Duration: 1.5 hours – full day experience Perfect for: Hopeless romantics – of wine or otherwise. And sustainably conscious travellers to appreciate the wineries organic practices.

Howard Park

Howard Park has a lot going for it. It’s a formidable producer of methode traditionelle (aka French-style) sparkling wine; it has a huge and diverse line-up of vino thanks to vineyards across the Margaret River and Great Southern regions; and it has an ongoing collaboration with French winemaker Pascal Marchand in a cross-continental, cultural exchange of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Phew! In addition, behind the scenes of its architectural cellar door, lies the lesser-known Wine Chapel – a beautiful concrete and oak building with private vineyard terrace, a wine cellar museum, lounge room and grapevine chandeliers. It is here that the more magical vinous experiences truly happen. Visitors can choose from either a sparkling focused or a general premium wine tasting in a masterclass-style set-up, followed by a tasting platter to be enjoyed in private luxury.

Price range: $120 pp (4 person minimum) Duration: 2 hours approx. Perfect for: Wine VIPs-to-be. Seclusion, sparkling, and splendour.

Glenarty Road

Rustic charm is had in spades at Glenarty Road, just north of Augusta in Karridale. The multigenerational farming family-cum-winemakers (literally, the McDonald’s) deliver a good time in their timber and tin cabin cellar door, complete with wood fire, long table lunches and the odd

Above: It’s a farm and family affair at Glenarty Road. Top: Organic vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture collide at Voyager Estate to make for photo-perfect scenery.

sheep/cockatoo/doggy to pat. And their Farm and Feast tour definitely does what it says ‘on the box’ with a progressive wine tasting through the farm, exploring the vines, macadamias, hop vines and vegetable garden. Two tasting platforms have been set up en route to rest your (hardly) weary legs with a vino refresher. Finish with a farm-style feast at the restaurant to neatly bring together everything you’ve learned agri- and viticulturally on the tour.

Price range: $120 pp Duration: 3 hours. Perfect for: Farmer wants a wine! Don your favourite overalls and farm boots and get down there. GOOD TIMES • LONG LUNCHES • FUNCTIONS

WEDDINGS • ROMANTIC GETAWAYS

CAVES HOUSE HOTEL is ideally situated in the heart of the famous Margaret River Wine Region, and within walking distance of the famous Yallingup Beach. Winter is synonymous with cosy fireplaces, mulled wine, long lunches or dinners or romantic getaways. Come and experience our NEW WINTER MENU, beautiful accommodation, as well as our famous HIGH TEAS.

This article was originally published on margaretriver.com and has been repurposed for print