If you are a wine lover, a trip to Western Australia should include a visit to Margaret River and its many wineries. Margaret River is a world-renowned wine destination anchored by a “textbook-perfect” maritime-influenced Mediterranean climate, a high proportion of artisan and family-owned wineries, and respectful winemaking practices.
There are 100-plus cellar doors across 213,000 hectares of pristine lands, so how does one get the most out of the trip there? Head to two annual major events happening in July and October – these festivals will be showcasing all aspects of Margaret River with wine tastings, tours, dining experiences, masterclasses, and more.
Cabin Fever
From Jul 14 to 23, Cabin Fever festival will host 10 days of wintry goodness in the Margaret River and Busselton region. The hallmark event of the season will see over 70 local businesses celebrating food, wine and entertainment.
Now in its seventh year, attendees get to eat, drink, play and learn across 50 events. One highlight is The Ultimate Winter Long Lunch, an eight-hands winter feast cooked in collaboration with three of Western Australia’s top chefs: Evan Hayter of Arimia Margaret River, Calum McKechnie of Lallah Roohk and Luke Folye of Juanita’s.
This year, however, features a Singapore connection, with Rishi Naleendra of Cloudstreet Singapore. The chef and owner of the two-Michelin-starred restaurant will be travelling here to cook alongside the three chefs and present progressive gastronomy that champions ingredient-driven cuisine and seasonality.
Other events include Eagle Bay X Besk Lagerhaus, a night of lager and house music; Cheese Toastie Battle; and From France And Italy, With Love, an epicurean joyride from eastern France down to northern Italy with artisan winemaker Amato Vino and guest chef Calum MacKechnie of Lalla Rookh.
Fine Vines Festival
Wine lovers should pencil in Oct 20 to 29 as Fine Vines Festival brings together a curated selection of more than 30 events showcasing Margaret River region’s premium wine offerings.
During the festival, attendees will get insider access to the vines, experts and wines from over 80 local producers that have shaped the region for more than 50 years.
Specific programmes are still under wraps but for a glimpse for what to expect, take a look at last year’s edition which was a roaring success with something for everyone. The Busselton Wine Hop, for instance, was a self-guided wine walk that introduced lesser-known vineyards and small-scale producers.
Wine on the Water was a Clairault Streicker tasting that was conducted on a whale-watching catamaran, while the annual Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting had guests sampling a total of 20 Cabernet Sauvignon bottles from around the world. Sparkling Sundowners at Howard Park served up bubbles and fresh oysters, and Flametree Wines’ In Praise of Pink featured 23 rosé wines to taste.
Hungry and thirsty for more? Start planning and get your tickets now.
