Where vines meet the forest
The karri trees of the Manjimup wine region are among the tallest trees in the world. Unique to south-west Western Australia, these eucalyptus giants tower over the region’s scattering of vineyards and inspired the flagship wine range at Peos Estate. Run by the four Peos brothers, Peos Estate’s Four Aces range is named after four colossal karri trees near their winery, thought to be several hundred years old.
The Peos brothers produce some of Manjimup’s best wine, based on a philosophy of minimal intervention that’s been passed on for three generations. In such a pristine environment, it makes sense that the region’s winemakers want to make wines that both reflect and protect it.
The Manjimup wine region, home to a small but thriving community, sits on the banks of the Blackwood River in the south-west corner of Australia, about three-and-a-half hours’ drive from Perth. Set slightly inland from the coast, it has one of the coolest climates of all Western Australia’s wine regions.
The climate and rich soils make this a gourmet food mecca, and you’ll find premium produce ranging from apples and avocados to cherries and chestnuts. Manjimup is also the home of Australia’s most sought-after black truffles. Truffle & Wine Co. is the world’s largest producer of black perigord truffles, and in winter you can join a truffle hunt to bag your own rare fungi.
Manjimup wine: naturally elegant
Forests and national parks make up around 80% of the entire region, which means there are countless opportunities for outdoor adventures. It also means that the amount of land available for agriculture, including vineyards, is relatively small – which suits the local boutique producers just fine. The first commercial vines weren’t planted here until the 1980s, after research identified the area for its potential as a top grape-growing region. It’s still early days, but the region’s premium wines are proving that research right.
Manjimup’s wineries are all about quality over quantity, and they focus on the varieties that do best in this cooler climate, including Chardonnay, Verdelho, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Wines are elegant yet full of flavour. The Southern Forests Wine Trail, which weaves through the pastures, forests and farms of Manjimup and neighbouring Pemberton wine region, is a great way to visit cellar doors.
A hidden gem of Australian wine, the Manjimup wine region is a region on the rise. With acclaimed wines to unearth, edible treasures to forage and ancient forests to immerse yourself in, this emerging region should be on your radar.
