Margaret River (wine region)

Margaret River
Wine region
Margaret River Wine Region
CountryAustralia
Part ofWestern Australia
Climate regionMediterranean with strong maritime influences
Soil conditionsWhilst the unique Forest Grove ironstone soils are some

of the most acclaimed, the region’s diversity of soil types offer optimal conditions for a myriad of grape varieties,

styles and wine complexity.
Total area213,000 hectares (2,130 km2)
Size of planted vineyards5,840 hectares (14,431 acres)[1]
No. of vineyards215[1]
Varietals producedSauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Chenin Blanc
No. of wineries187[2]

Margaret River is the major geographical indication wine region in southwest Western Australia, with 5,840 hectares under vine and 215 wineries as at 2012.[1] Margaret River wine region is made up predominantly of boutique size wine producers; although winery operations range from the smallest crushing 3.5 tonne per year to the largest around 2,500 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 as well as 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.[3][4] Although the region produces just two percent of total Australian wine grape production, it produces over 20 percent of Australia's premium wine market.[5][6] The principal grape varieties are split 40/60 between red and white; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Shiraz, Merlot and Chenin Blanc.[3][7]

Sub-regions

[edit]

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.[8][9]

Most widely harvested varieties by tonnes crushed

[edit]
Vintage 2021
Sauvignon blanc 6,886
Cabernet Sauvignon 6,414
Chardonnay 5,371
Sémillon 5,284
Shiraz 3,739
Merlot 1,180
Chenin Blanc 871

Wineries

[edit]
Robert Oatley Chardonnay

A sample of the wine producers in the Margaret River Wine Region include:[1][3][10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Margaret River Wineries". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Wineries in the Margaret River". James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c James Halliday (2009). The Australian Wine Encyclopedia. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-774-6.
  4. ^ Campbell Mattinson, 'Why the French hate us', Hardie Grant Books 2007
  5. ^ "The Region". Margaret River Wine. Margaret River Wine Association. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. ^ The Australian and New Zealand wine industry directory, 27th Annual edition, 2009, Winetitles.
  7. ^ Oz Clarke, 'Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guides', Harcourt 1 November 2002
  8. ^ James Halliday (2006). Wine Atlas of Australia. Hardie Grant Books. pp. 235–236. ISBN 1-74066-348-9.
  9. ^ Gladstones, John (2016). Viticulture and EnvironmentRevised Edition. Tanunda, South Australia: Trivinum Press. ISBN 978 0 9945016 1 5
  10. ^ Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson (2007). The World Atlas of Wine. Mitchell Beazley; 6th Revised edition. ISBN 978-1-84533-414-7.

Sources

[edit]
Web sources
Books
  • 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.
  • Forrestal, Peter; Jordan, Ray (2017). The Way it Was: A history of the early days of the Margaret River wine industry. Witchcliffe, WA: Margaret River Press. ISBN 9780648027539.
  • 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.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Margaret River wine region.

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

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Margaret_River_(wine_region)&oldid=1227321788"