Margaret River (wine region)

Coordinates: 33°57′18″S 115°04′30″E / 33.955°S 115.075°E / -33.955; 115.075

Margaret River
Wine region

Margaret River wine region
Country Australia
Part of Western Australia
Soil conditions The varied landscape is given character by the abundance of small creeks and gentle valleys, as well as the profusion of native trees, shrubs and flowers. In physical terms, a degree of protection from winds blowing in from the ocean is the most important factor. The principal soil type is that of the ridge which runs from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin; it is predominantly gravelly or gritty sandy loam that has formed directly from the underlying granite and gneissic rock. The soils are highly permeable when moist but moisture is quickly shed from sloping sites.[1]
Total area 425,500 hectares (4,255 km2)
Size of planted vineyards 5,017 hectares (12,397 acres)[2]
No. of vineyards 215[2]
Varietals produced Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Carnelian, Rosé, Moscato, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc.
No. of wineries 187[3]

Margaret River is the major geographical indication wine region in southwest Western Australia, with 5,017 hectares under vine and 215 wineries as at 2012.[2] Margaret River wine region is made up predominately of boutique size wine producers; although winery operations range from the smallest crushing 3.5 tonne per year to the largest around 7000 tonne. The climate of Margaret River is more strongly maritime-influenced than any other major Australian region. It has the lowest mean annual temperature range, of only 7.6 °C, and for good measure has the most marked Mediterranean climate in terms of rainfall, with only 200 millimetres of the annual 1160 millimetres falling between October and April. The low diurnal and seasonal temperature range means an unusually even accumulation of warmth. Overall the climate is similar to that of Bordeaux in a dry vintage.[4][5] Although the region produces just three percent of total Australian grape production, it produces over 20 percent of Australia's premium wine market.[6][7] The principal grape varieties are fairly evenly split between red and white; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Shiraz, Merlot, Chenin blanc and Verdelho.[4][8]

Sub-regions

There are no official Margaret River subregions, although in 1999 viticultural scientist Dr John Gladstones presented a paper suggesting there should be six subregions based on climate and soil differences namely: Yallingup, Carbunup, Wilyabrup, Treeton, Wallcliffe and Karridale.[9][10]

History

Cardiologist Dr. Tom Cullity planted the first Margaret River vines on the eight acres of land that he had bought for $75 an acre on Harman's Road south, in 1967. He named his property "Vasse Felix", a name the much-extended vineyard still bears today. The area known as Vasse was named after a French sailor named Thomas Timothee Vasse who was lost overboard off the coast in the area from the "Naturaliste" in 1801. The Margaret River area was chosen for what was at that time a highly experimental exercise through studies undertaken in 1955 by Professor Harold Olmo because of concerns about the viability of the Swan Valley wine industry, which was under attack from nematodes and virus diseases and whose future looked less than promising at the time. Dedicated and erudite research was performed by Dr John Gladstones from the University of Western Australia, whose childhood in the Swan Valley, family background in agriculture and surveying and his own studies and lectures in agronomy made him a highly qualified commentator. He published a paper in the Journal of the Australian Institute for Agricultural Science in 1961 which said in part "As far as the writer is aware, the Busselton-Margaret River region has never been seriously proposed as suitable for commercial viticulture. Nevertheless, a study of its climate shows that it definitely warrants consideration."[10][11]

Most widely harvested varieties by tonnes crushed

Cabernet Sauvignon 6,460
Shiraz 4,244
Merlot 2,610
Sauvignon Blanc 7,449
Semillon 6,404
Chardonnay 5,569

Wineries

Robert Oatley Chardonnay

A selective list of the 215 (2012) grape growers and wine producers in the Margaret River Wine Region includes:[2][4][12]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Our Soil". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Vintage Reports & Statistics". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Wineries in the Margaret River". James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 James Halliday (2009). The Australian Wine Encyclopedia. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-774-6.
  5. ↑ Campbell Mattinson, ‘Why the French hate us’, Hardie Grant Books 2007
  6. ↑ "The Region". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  7. ↑ The Australian and New Zealand wine industry directory, 27th Annual edition, 2009, Winetitles.
  8. ↑ Oz Clarke, 'Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guides', Harcourt 1 November 2002
  9. ↑ James Halliday (2006). Wine Atlas of Australia. Hardie Grant Books. pp. 235–236. ISBN 1-74066-348-9.
  10. 1 2 Gladstones, John (2016). Viticulture and Environment, Revised Edition. Tanunda, South Australia: Trivinum Press. ISBN 978 0 9945016 1 5
  11. ↑ "Margaret River wine region history". Margaret River wine region history. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  12. ↑ Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson (2007). The World Atlas of Wine. Mitchell Beazley; 6th Revised edition. ISBN 978-1-84533-414-7.

Bibliography

  • Andrijich, Frances; Forrestal, Peter; Jordan, Ray (2003). Margaret River. Fremantle, WA: Fremantle Arts Centre Press. ISBN 192073161X. 
  • Clarke, Oz (2004). Oz Clarke's Australian Wine Companion: An essential guide for all lovers of Australian wine. London: Websters/Time Warner Books UK. pp. 6–33, 122–141. ISBN 0316728748. 
  • Forrestal, Peter, ed. (1999). Discover Australia: Wineries. Milsons Point, NSW: Random House Australia. pp. 12–27, 247–263. ISBN 0091837898. 
  • Halliday, James (1985). The Australian Wine Compendium. North Ryde, NSW: Angus & Robertson. pp. 473–477, 490–507. ISBN 0207151377. 
  • Halliday, James (2008). James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia (rev. ed.). Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. pp. 234–239. ISBN 9781740666855. 
  • Halliday, James (2009). The Australian Wine Encyclopedia. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 9781740667746. 
  • Hardy, Thomas K. (1997). The Australian Wine Pictorial Atlas. Linden Park, SA: Vintage Image Productions. pp. 294–331. ISBN 187630300X. 
  • Jordan, Ray (2002). Wine: Western Australia's Best. Osborne Park, WA: The West Australian. pp. 50–99. ISBN 0909699887. 
  • Scott, Jane; Negus, Patricia (2011). Stories from the Cellar Door: Fifty Margaret River Wineries Tell Their Tales. North Fremantle, WA: Cape to Cape Publishing. ISBN 9780980333763. 
  • Wiltshire, Trea (2000). Margaret River. Australian Wine Regions series. Singapore: R. Ian Lloyd Productions. ISBN 9810426747. 
  • Zekulich, Michael (2000). Wine Western Australia (all new ed.). Perth: St George Books. ISBN 0867780614. 
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