Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Margaret River Region’s gin distilleries, each with their own unique characteristics.
Of course the Margaret River Region is famed for producing incredible wine, but there are some occasions when only a cocktail will do.
Whether you prefer a martini or a classic G&T, a self-guided tour of the region’s gin distilleries offers an opportunity to get a new view on the idea of terroir while discovering the unique characters and flavours of the region’s townships.
Read on for the Margaret River Region’s gin guide.
A talk and taste tour at The Grove Distillery is a good way to get an insight into what goes on behind the bottle. The copper still is at the heart of the operation, where gin is part of a broader expression of spirits and liqueurs. There’s accommodation on-site if the tastings get too intense, and a café where food is designed to be easy and cocktail friendly. Wilyabrup is in the middle of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste coastline and so makes this an easy stop on the way north, or heading south during a regional exploration. And pizza in the café will keep the kids happy!
491 Metricup Road, Wilyabrup. Open daily for tastings 9am to 5pm.
Uniquely Australian, West Winds Gin is the company behind the joint-venture distillery West Winds Tavern, located in the heart of Cowaramup. The Tavern’s quickly become a Cowie township centrepiece since it opened its doors, ready to mend cocktail cravings infused by a hot day on the coast. Speaking of, West Wind’s use of the region’s pristine water and natural botanicals – including sea parsley, bush tomatoes and Davidson plums – contributes to a gin named for the breeze that kicks in off the Indian Ocean. Tastings are available in the distillery, and bookings are essential for groups 8+.
29 Hasluck Street, Cowaramup. Distillery open daily from 10am-to 5pm, Tavern open daily from 11am to late.
Wilyabrup is well-known as the starting place of the Margaret River Region wine story, so it makes sense that the continuation of the regional narrative is there to be experienced at Dune Distilling, a South West gin brand that blends native botanicals with artistic endeavour. A part of the Black Brewing Co, the distillery works at the intersection between the rugged isolation of the South West and its delicate floral beauty: each gin is matched to an artist whose work adorns the label. The Pink Grapefruit Gin is almost as pretty as a painting in itself. The distillery is open daily for lunch, as well as offering unique Gin Tasting and Cocktail Making Classes for the ultimate Gin experience.
3517 Caves Road, Wilyabrup. Open daily 11am to 5pm.
Tucked away in the trees a stone’s throw from the Margaret River itself, the Margaret River Distilling Company embodies the low-key elegance and uniquely environmental spirit of the Margaret River township. Tours here are an incredible way to become familiar with the gin-making process: gin blending classes are a highlight, and an in-depth explanation of the history of botanicals means a new appreciation for the spirit. The gins themselves are blended to tell the story of quiet forest, striking coastline and the history of our region’s vines. Native botanicals weave in a strong sense of place, and Australia’s first hemp gin speaks to the township’s strong rooting in sustainable practice.
Maxwell Street (off Carters Road near the corner of Bussell Highway). Open Sunday to Thursday 10am to 6pm, and Friday to Saturday 10am to 7pm.
Perched in the heart of the Wise Family’s 60-hectare ocean-vistas property, Wise Eagle Bay crafts premium Gin and Spirits, produced and hand bottled on site. Enjoy a fabulous beverage on the Wise property, overlooking both the vines and the ocean. Not only is Wise using their own chardonnay and other grape varieties grown at the scene, but chipping in on the process is also Captain Barnacles, Tom and Jetty (the three custom-built 380-litre column stills), pristine rainwater and other traditional distilling methods.
237 Eagle Bay Road, Eagle Bay. Open daily 10am-5pm.
Winemaker and Distiller Greg Garnish has paired with Josh Kennedy and Chris Masten to develop gins that define country and origin. Beyond Distilling’s award-winning vodkas and gins are made from ingredients sourced within 500km of Perth, making them one of the lowest food mile gin producers in the country. View the Busselton distillery in action, with their talented distillers working the still, bottling and blending daily.
