A haven of natural beauty
An easy two-hour drive south of Perth, there’s a burgeoning community of passionate winemakers crafting award-winning wines and making Geographe an exciting region on the rise. With its diverse, unspoilt landscape and quality produce, the Geographe wine region is a place for lovers of nature, food and wine.
Wedged between the world-famous Margaret River and the emerging Peel wine region, Geographe is bordered by the long curve of Geographe Bay, from where it gets its name. It’s larger in size than the Margaret River, but has far fewer wineries, and stretches from stunning coastline to inland bush and rolling hills. National parks and state forests are filled with centuries-old trees, and a network of rivers snake through sunny hills and cool valleys.
The seaside town of Bunbury is the major hub, home to restaurants, shopping and a relaxed pace of life. The region’s rich soils and varied landscape make it an oasis of fresh produce, and you’ll find citrus, apples, dairy, beef and seafood in abundance.
Geographe wine: classic meets alternative
Geographe is a budding wine region ripe for discovery, with a raw, down-to-earth feel and a chance to meet the makers. There are no official subregions, but there are distinct growing areas, covering the coast, the inland area of Donnybrook, home to forests and fruit orchards, and the rolling hills and misty mornings of Ferguson Valley. The diversity of the landscape is mirrored in the wines. Expect intense, generously flavoured red and white wines, with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc leading the charge.
But there’s more to the story here. While Western Australia is best known for classic varieties and traditional wine styles, Geographe stands apart with its alternative varieties. The Geographe Alternative Wine Trail winds through coastal plains and picturesque hills and valleys, encompassing boutique wineries making vibrant wines that run from Fiano and Arneis to Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Barbera.
Quality over quantity
Geographe’s first vineyards were planted in the 1970s, and in the past 15 years things have taken off, with plantings growing steadily. The region’s oldest winery is Capel Vale, established in the 1970s and still run by the Pratten family, who have a reputation for their powerful yet elegant wines. On a picturesque hillside property, Willow Bridge Estate is another pioneer in the region, producing highly acclaimed wines from vineyards with sweeping views.
Just 2 kilometres from the border with Margaret River, Whicher Ridge is known for its small-batch, single vineyard wines, including a uniquely Australian sparkling blend of Shiraz and Viognier. For a slice of the Mediterranean, look out for Mazza Wines, home to interesting Spanish and Portuguese varieties including Graciano, Bastardo, Souzao, Tinta Cao and Touriga Nacional.
In the scenic, sun filled Geographe wine region, passionate producers are making their mark and sticking firmly to their motto of ‘quality over quantity’. If you’re looking for the next big thing in Australian wine regions, this may just be one of them.
