Being brought up in a strict family, where alcohol, cigarettes and gambling are the devil, I was never a fan of wine. I've still never smoked, I gamble once in a blue moon, but the alcohol-hating changed when I migrated to Australia. Australians love their barbecues (barbies) and their alcohol, they love their beer. I never got into the whole Australian beer culture, but I started to dabble in wine.
The great thing about being in Australia is that the wine-tastings are almost always free. Some vineyards do charge some fee, but only rarely, and only the pretentious ones do. Since I usually try to go to the out-of-the-way, privately-owned vineyards, I never had to pay a cent. Hey, I mean, if I have driven all the way to their cellar door, I hardly think I should pay anything to have a taste. It is their responsibility to give me free wine so I have the incentive to buy a bottle. Yes, their responsibility!
My taste in wine is quite similar to my taste in everything else, sweet. I used to like Port, because I thought Port was the only sweet wines that exist. Then, I discovered sweet white, like Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Now, I don't drink Port at all, it is way too strong for me. My January trip to South Australia made me fell in love with Moscato. It is my latest obsession, specifically the sparkling one. Just yumm!
From the prices below, you will be able to tell that my most favourite does not correspond to the most expensive. When it comes to wine, your taste is always correct! Don't let the wine snobs tell you otherwise. Even when they told me that sweet wines are not classy and not to be taken seriously, I ignored them. Wines are meant to be enjoyed, if I don't enjoy it, then what's the point. I don't enjoy dry wines, period.
Top 4 wines (from most favourite to least):
Evans & Tate Classic Pink Moscato 2008 - $18.00
Happs Muscat a Pink 2008 - $20.00
Juniper Estate Cane Cut Riesling 2008 - $24.95
Willespie White Gold - $27.00
Enough ranting. I bought 7 bottles of wine and visited many more vineyards while I was in the Margaret River Wine Region. From the family owned to the commercialised. Out of all these, Happs vineyard was the most memorable. It was a lovely little family-owned vineyard. Near the cellar door entrance was a charming little drought-resistance grass-less wood-chips-mulch-covered garden, complete with timber picnic table, worn-looking miniature rope and wooden plank bridge, with trees canopying above.
Inside, I found the cellar to be of decent size. It had a nice pleasant feeling to it. At the opposite end of the building was a pottery workshop. The owner and his wife was leisurely lounging next to a thoroughly messy table, while we were examining the beautiful pottery pieces scattered about the two-storey workshop/gallery. They also have innovative pieces, like the ceramic iceless wine cooler and the ceramic ring holder.
PS: If you want sweeter wines, go to a the hotter wine region. A tip I picked up in Willespie.
Evans & Tate
Corner Metricup Rd & Caves Rd
Wilyabrup WA
Open 7 days 10.30am-5pm
Happs Vineyard & Pottery
575 Commonage Rd
Quindalup WA
Open 7 days 10am-5pm
Juniper Estate
98 Harmans Rd South
Cowaramup WA
Open 7 days 10.30am-5pm
Willespie
555 Harmans Mill Rd
Willyabrup WA
Open 7 days 10.30am-5pm
The great thing about being in Australia is that the wine-tastings are almost always free. Some vineyards do charge some fee, but only rarely, and only the pretentious ones do. Since I usually try to go to the out-of-the-way, privately-owned vineyards, I never had to pay a cent. Hey, I mean, if I have driven all the way to their cellar door, I hardly think I should pay anything to have a taste. It is their responsibility to give me free wine so I have the incentive to buy a bottle. Yes, their responsibility!
My taste in wine is quite similar to my taste in everything else, sweet. I used to like Port, because I thought Port was the only sweet wines that exist. Then, I discovered sweet white, like Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Now, I don't drink Port at all, it is way too strong for me. My January trip to South Australia made me fell in love with Moscato. It is my latest obsession, specifically the sparkling one. Just yumm!
From the prices below, you will be able to tell that my most favourite does not correspond to the most expensive. When it comes to wine, your taste is always correct! Don't let the wine snobs tell you otherwise. Even when they told me that sweet wines are not classy and not to be taken seriously, I ignored them. Wines are meant to be enjoyed, if I don't enjoy it, then what's the point. I don't enjoy dry wines, period.
Top 4 wines (from most favourite to least):Evans & Tate Classic Pink Moscato 2008 - $18.00
Happs Muscat a Pink 2008 - $20.00
Juniper Estate Cane Cut Riesling 2008 - $24.95
Willespie White Gold - $27.00
Enough ranting. I bought 7 bottles of wine and visited many more vineyards while I was in the Margaret River Wine Region. From the family owned to the commercialised. Out of all these, Happs vineyard was the most memorable. It was a lovely little family-owned vineyard. Near the cellar door entrance was a charming little drought-resistance grass-less wood-chips-mulch-covered garden, complete with timber picnic table, worn-looking miniature rope and wooden plank bridge, with trees canopying above.
Inside, I found the cellar to be of decent size. It had a nice pleasant feeling to it. At the opposite end of the building was a pottery workshop. The owner and his wife was leisurely lounging next to a thoroughly messy table, while we were examining the beautiful pottery pieces scattered about the two-storey workshop/gallery. They also have innovative pieces, like the ceramic iceless wine cooler and the ceramic ring holder.
PS: If you want sweeter wines, go to a the hotter wine region. A tip I picked up in Willespie.
Evans & Tate
Corner Metricup Rd & Caves Rd
Wilyabrup WA
Open 7 days 10.30am-5pm
Happs Vineyard & Pottery
575 Commonage Rd
Quindalup WA
Open 7 days 10am-5pm
Juniper Estate
98 Harmans Rd South
Cowaramup WA
Open 7 days 10.30am-5pm
Willespie
555 Harmans Mill Rd
Willyabrup WA
Open 7 days 10.30am-5pm
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