AUSTRALIA’S SOUTH WEST
DESTINATION OF THE MONTH
WEEK 3 OF 5
The South West of Western Australia is one of the premium wine producing regions in the country, with a Mediterranean climate and close proximity to the ocean creating near-perfect grape growing conditions for winemakers. There are five distinct wine regions in the whole of Australia’s South West; namely Geographe, Margaret River, Southern Forests (Pemberton & Manjimup), Blackwood Valley, and Great Southern – meaning no matter where your clients plan to go, there’s a top drop just waiting to be discovered.
In the South West, gourmet food goes hand in hand with world-class wine. Many wineries have restaurants on site, where the region’s best chefs create unforgettable cuisine using seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers. With direct flights into the region operating from Melbourne to Busselton-Margaret River with Jetstar Australia, these tantalising gourmet experiences and world-beating wines are closer than ever before.
So, what is the best way to experience the abundance of exceptional food and wine in this part of the world? There are a few options that stand-out.
Wine and Dine Experiences
Experts in premium and luxury experiences, Earn Your Vino offer all-inclusive multi-day tours that allow wine-lovers to delve deeper into the wine regions of Australia’s South West with a journey behind the scenes with winemakers and producers. Brought to life by creators with decades of living in the region and working in travel journalism, wine tourism, hospitality and event management, these tours are hand-crafted, unique and unimaginable experiences that you won’t find anywhere else.
For bespoke food and wine tours around the South West, Forage Safaris have a selection of full day, half day and late afternoon/evening tours which hero a perfect partnership between sustainability, luxury and the simple joys of country life. These all-inclusive tours offer an introduction to the local characters of the region; farmers and producers, following farm-to-plate fusion and the joy of foraging. Tours change with the seasons and explore beautiful areas such as the Margaret River region, Busselton, Augusta, Nannup, Donnybrook, Bridgetown, Karridale, Ferguson Valley and more.
A visit to the Margaret River region wouldn’t be complete without a memorable experience and something to take home. At Wilyabrup winery Clairault Streicker Wines, a Wine Blending Experience allows travellers to delve deeper into the world of winemaking and create their own estate-grown Margaret River wine to cork for later. They can follow the experience with a three-course lunch and get ready to indulge!
In the Southern Forests and Valleys region, fertile soils in Manjimup, also known as Australia’s truffle heartland, give life to one of the world’s most expensive luxury ingredients; the Périgord truffle. During the winter months (June – August), Truffle Hill takes visitors on an authentic experience in the oak tree orchards, following the highly trained truffle dogs as they hunt and unearth the black gold.
Also in the Southern Forests region, nestled by the majestic Donnelly River and ancient karri forests of Easter National Parks on the outskirts of Pemberton sits Ampersand Estates. This winery, luxury accommodation and wedding venue is also Australia’s first single harvest Rainfall Distillery – a marriage of luxury and unrivalled natural beauty offers visitors a tranquil setting to enjoy premium wine, spirits and picnics.
Tours and Transport
For a broad range of day tours, extended tours and private tours of the Margaret River region, McLeod Tours offers an excellent marrying of spectacular scenic beaches, forests, caves and fantastic wine, craft beer, delicious food and hospitality. The McLeod family has a long history in Margaret River, settling in the region way back in 1860. Today, Neil and his wife Coralie and son Lincoln operate McLeod Tours from part of the old family farm that Neil grew up on, sharing the Margaret River experience with visitors from near and far.
In the Margaret River region, guests can relax and immerse in bespoke itineraries with professional chauffeur drivers offering flexibility in style. MyDriver will ensure travellers can sample their way through a selection of cellar doors in the region at their own leisure. South West Luxury offers premium luxury transport in Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River and surrounding regions. This door-to-door service has unmatched and exclusive access to the region with a premium fleet of Mercedes Benz V-Class AMG Line Vans which seat up to 7 people, a new Porsche Macan and ‘Black Beauty’, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van which seats 14 people.
To delve into the complex and elegant wines of the Great Southern Wine Region, Busy Blue Bus tours of Albany and surrounds have unparalleled local knowledge.
As Australia’s largest wine region, the Great Southern is made up of five sub-regions; Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup, with more than 40 cellar doors. The region is blessed with a variety of soil types, altitudes and pristine conditions, creating a unique cool climate environment. Visitors can sit back and let the experts at Busy Blue Bus show them the best on the best on half-day, full-day or private tours.
Lead image: Earn Your Vino Pick & Sip Experience
For more inspiration, visit the Australia’s South West website or click here for a list of trade-ready product in the region.
AUSTRALIA’S SOUTH WEST
DESTINATION OF THE MONTH
WEEK 3 OF 5
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