Margaret River recommendations

[ste667]

Having seen all the helpful posts in the Barossa thread, I thought I would start one for my trip to the Margaret River at the start of June.

We're only going to be there for 3 days but hopefully we should be able to see a fair few places. We'll probably concentrate or efforts around Margaret River itself just to cut down on the travelling.

We do have a couple of young children (that will be with the grandparents for a fair bit of the trip), but if you know of any kind friendly wineries please let me know!

Thanks in advance

 

[Steady]

Boomy recently did a TR on the Margaret River that would be worth looking up

 

[ste667]

Thanks steady would never have come across otherwise.

Lunch at Vasse Felix looks a must!

 

[penegal]

My top picks:
Cullen
Voyager Estate
Woodlands
Leeuwin Estate
Vasse Felix


Check out boomy's TR here:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rip-photos/mini-tr-long-weekend-wa-69454.html

 

[Piker]

Ste667, if you would like impeccable retail winery design with statues, modern art and great architecture then Laurance wines is well worth a look. The grounds are......big: room to walk or kids to run around.
The food is modern and top class. Wines are expensive with amazingly decorated bottles. Windance is small and personal; v nice people and good wines; new generation taking over and a new cellar door will be built.
Nearby Window Estate is still small enough to be personal but have a separate cheese counter with v v interesting options there. I loved their Shiraz but didnt buy any wine (bought cheese) and felt guilty. I had their shiraz at a local restaurant that night and was suburb. It was a great trip 6 months ago that was mainly work but the highlights were the vineyards and the beautiful rural and beach scenery.

 

[Glider_]

My favourite cellar door is Gralyn Estate. Last time down there I noticed that Amelia Park had opened a cellar door too, which I'll definitely be stopping by next time.

The Margaret River Chocolate Company is family friendly but Gabriel Chocolatier has much better quality products IMO.

We also very much enjoy lunch at WISE Vineyard at the northern end of the Margaret River region.

At the start of June it'll be pretty chilly, which makes it perfect for staying in a cottage with a wood fire rather than a hotel. Plenty of cottage accommodation options available if that's something that takes your fancy.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Loved Basildene Manor for accommodation, georgeous B&B style place.

 

[J-P]

As stated above Gabriel Chocolate is much better than the Marg River Chocolate Co, and is right next to a nice little winery called House of Cards which you can pop in to. My favourites:

Leeuwin Estate - nice cellar door, with a downstairs art gallery
Howard Park/Madfish
Xanadu has some absolutely stunning wines

Pierro, Voyager, Cullen, Cape Mentelle, Wills Domain, Gralyn are the next bracket down for me. And you'll drive past plenty of others that are worth a stop

Colonial and Cowaramup are our pick of the breweries, both have lovely outdoor seating and a small but solid range of food if you want to visit one.

 

[penegal]

I never made it to Howard Park/Madfish and Xanadu when I was there... Definetly on the list for next time.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Planning 3 days Thu May 23 to Sat May 25 in MR May next year - will have a rental car to drive around the wineries and seeking advice from the experts as to which and in what order we should visit.

List I have compiled from previous posts - Cullen, Voyager Estate, Woodlands, Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, Moss Wood, Howard Park, Xanadu, Gralyn Estate and Amelia Park. Any I have missed that we shouldn’t miss? Any of these we probably shouldn’t waste time on?

Kinda thinking 2 or 3 per day - sensible? Overkill? Also need to plan restaurant assault for evenings - not really warming to idea of driving from winery restaurants back into town post a few light refreshments so that in itself will require some forethought. Any contributions appreciated.

 

[JohnM]

You can't just drop in to Moss Wood; you need to sign up as a member: Moss Wood visits - Moss Wood

Add Cherubino to your list.

For dinners at wineries (Leeuwin, Vasse Felix, Voyager, Xanadu probably the pick close to MR), scope their websites as I think dinner is still far less common than lunch. They may also have suggestions for transport from MR.

Voyager, Leeuwin are next to each other, Xanadu and Cape Mentelle close by in MR area.

Vasse Felix, Cullen are next to each other, Howard Park, Gralyn and Woodlands nearby, Cherubino not far from those in Wilyabrup.

So there's two main 'clusters' to attack.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Tks JohnM that is PERfect

I just don’t do lunch time drinking at all well - in fact I usually avoid it where possible - dinner time a diff matter all together so prolly walking to MR town restaurants will get the nod

 

[JohnM]

Tks JohnM that is PERfect

I just don’t do lunch time drinking at all well - in fact I usually avoid it where possible - dinner time a diff matter all together so prolly walking to MR town restaurants will get the nod

I'm with you on the lunch vs dinner thing.

OK - in MR town, unless things have changed dramatically in the last couple of years, you won't find 'fancy' dining. Vat107 is, sadly, long gone.

However, make sure to eat at La Scarpetta at the N end of town. The wine list is sensationally Italian, which is a great laugh being in MR, and the food is robust and tops. The owners are Italian and it's like chowing down in Firenze.

Don't dismiss Settlers Tavern, right in the middle. It is a pub with an award-winning wine list. On Friday or Saturday night they may well have a band out the back that you and the 'ette can make a few moves to and re-kindle your youth as you sink a few post-dinner ales.

There is/was a BYO resto at the S end of town that people raved about, but I never tried. Paging @Daver6 to the white courtesy phone.

 

[JohnM]

Uh - found it: Miki's Open Kitchen: HOME | Miki S Open Kitchen

And La Scarpetta: Welcome | la-scarpetta

 

[gazzab]

Hi guys, have been doing a locum in Bunbury for the last 4 months, been visiting MR the weekends I am a round. So far my favorites are Wills Domain and Cullens. Also good Cherubino, Leeuwin Estate, Glenarty Road and Amelia Park. Hay Shed Hill has Rustico, 10 tapas courses for $80, so good value. I was disappointed at Vasse Felix. Yet to do Voyager as a 3 hour lunch. Miki's Open Kitchen is fantastic in MR township. Make sure you book at the kitchen bar there. There is a place called Alberta's in Busselton which has a ex Noma chef, good bistro food. I tend to do lunches, did Settlers for dinner, great wine list but food typical pub food so not my fav. Did Morries at top of town which is tapa's style 4 years ago. Will report back as I do more!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

On Friday or Saturday night they may well have a band out the back that you and the 'ette can make a few moves

JohnM are you familiar with the term 'cut sick on the dance floor' - that's how I roll

Thanks a million to all for responses - fantastic intel

 

[kookaburra75]

JohnM are you familiar with the term 'cut sick on the dance floor' - that's how I roll

Thanks a million to all for responses - fantastic intel

MrsK and I did the run to Margaret River last year.
We went around the smaller wineries and found a lot of gems, as well as good food options north and south of Margaret River

Winterly Westerly Wanderings

It's coming to that time of year again. As MrsK is finding the winters in Canberra increasingly difficult to bear, we try and escape for a week or two in July/August. Usually we head north in search of warmer climate, typically involving a beach and coughtails. But for this year, we'd thought...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

For wineries our top picks were
- Windows Estate
- Brown Hill
- Juniper

Back then, a lot of places were shut due to lack of staff, even the tavern. It should be a lot livelier now.

If you have time, see if you can drive back via the Henty Valley. There are a lot of unsung hero wineries there as well

 

[Daver6]

Uh - found it: Miki's Open Kitchen: HOME | Miki S Open Kitchen

Edit, can confirm it is brilliant! You can also BYO too. Amazing Japanese. Book WELL in advance if you want to go though.