Margaret River, on Australia’s west coast, has only existed as a wine region since the 1960s but has risen to become one of the most revered in the world since the first vines were planted there. While only accounting for 2% of Australian grape production, it produces 20% of the country’s ‘premium’ wine and has a reputation built on world-class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
For episode 146 of The Drinking Hour, host David Kermode talks to Alistair Cooper MW and Libby Brodie, both of whom recently returned from an in-situ IWSC Wine Judging in Margaret River, to discuss what makes the region so special. They begin by discussing what gives the Cabernet Sauvignon wines their distinct appeal and why, despite the comparisons with the red wines of Bordeaux, their style gives them some important advantages over French equivalents. The conversation then turns to how winemaking has changed and evolved in the region since the turn of the century, particularly in relation to Chardonnay, and which other grape varieties are thriving in Margaret River.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here
