Wine Club

Where in the world is the Margaret River?

Where in the world is the Margaret River? It is probably not on your radar… but it should be!

The Margaret River is located 4 hours outside of Perth in an isolated region in southwestern Australia. Margaret River is actually a peninsula surrounded on 3 sides by the Indian Ocean. It is located on the same latitude as Los Angeles , Cape Town South, Africa and Sydney.

Fun Facts about the Margaret River AVA…

-80% of the plant species found here aren’t found anywhere else on earth.

-One of the few wine producing regions in the world that has not encountered phylloxera ( a devastating root stock aphid that eats the roots of the grapes and kills the plant). -This area produces only 2% of the total wines in Australia. Out of this 2%, 20% of the QUALITY wines in all of Australia are produced.

Be ready to savor age worthy Cabernets that rival Bordeaux. Amazing Chardonnays that can keep up with Burgundy, These 2 grapes are the most widely planted in this boutique, mostly family run wine region. Lots of intense sun, sea breeze, a long growing season and lots of winter rain (39” of rain annually) allow for complex Cabernets and Chardonnays. This is a young wine region that planted it’s first grapes in 1967. The soil is a free draining gravel with clay beneath it. The clay holds onto the winter rains and helps keep the roots hydrated into the summer. Being in the Southern hemisphere, harvest begins in February and lasts until late April.

Now that you are thinking that I need to try some of these amazing wines, where can I find them?

Total Wine has a small, but quality offering of Snake and Herring Vineyard. They offer highly rated red blends (think Right Bank Bordeaux) and a Chardonnay that get respectively wine scores of 94 and 95 below $40. Also, a sauvignon blanc/ semillon blend scoring a 91 for $19.99. Try to find that quality from France. Cheers and I hope you have discovered a new wine region to enjoy!

Submitted by Linda Dollahan Ward, Corte Bella Resident