Wine & Wineries
A warm welcome for all A brilliant cellar door experience can make the difference between you wanting to buy everything in the shop to walking away empty handed. Mia Lacy speaks to some of the region’s cellar door stars.
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hey are possessed of charm, abundant wine knowledge (which they give of generously), and boundless patience. They are the cellar door faces you’ll meet in the Margaret River region, and the business of visiting many wineries can often be as much about the person serving you as the wines you’re tasting. Rachel Gleghorn can usually be found behind the door at Howard Park, chatting to visitors in a glorious space with the most incredible view of vineyards and native karri trees. It’s a long, long way from London. “Wine brought me here,” she jokes. “There were some West Australian wines appearing on restaurant lists in London which seemed really expressive, fresh and energetic. And I liked the idea of moving to a wine region by the sea. When you live in a frenetic city like London, those places seem pretty captivating.” When I remark on the location of the cellar door,
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Rachel says it supports the unique sense of place. “We are based in Wilyabrup so there are lots of other great producers a stone’s throw away. I love the sense of wine community here. We can all recommend particular local producers who have different styles our guests might be looking for.” Over at Fraser Gallop Estate, cellar door personality Peter De Cuyper agrees the sense of community in Margaret River was a major draw card. “I had the privilege of experiencing many different parts of the world before choosing to live here 12 years ago. I could wax lyrical about the unspoilt scenery, the fine weather, the exquisite wine - all of which are truly superlative - but here you are embraced whole-heartedly for who you are, which is a very rare thing indeed.” Peter calls his role more of a vocation than a career. “If we work out why we enjoy a particular wine - as we all have a slightly different
perspective on what might appeal - then decide on what occasion or with what food might the wine be best appreciated. My ethos is to communicate my approach to wine and share my experience. I engage with people of all ages, which keeps me young at heart.” For Trevor Keeley, no words are sweeter to hear than ‘We were recommended to come to Happs’. His entire approach to cellar door is based strongly on customer focus so visitors depart as ambassadors for Happs Wines. “What I absolutely love is you never know who is going to walk through the door, or what they may be looking for. I’ve learnt it is important to be non-judgemental, but there’s a need to quickly assess what the customer would like to achieve from their visit. What is their level of interest, are they here to learn or are they just wanting to have a fun tasting session with friends? I establish what customers are looking for, then do my best to provide that outcome.”