This is your guide to some of the best sparkling wine in the Margaret River Region.
Well known as an epicentre for stand out Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, the growing depth of sparkling wine production ticks yet another box for wine travellers and wine lovers who love a little bubble in their bottle.
Though by no means an exhaustive list, these seven wineries offer a place to begin your journey.
The Margaret River Region’s founding wine estate Vasse Felix has been producing sparkling wine since the 1980s, but the 2018 first vintage of Ideé Fixe — a dedicated label for sparkling — has taken things up a notch.
Made using the traditional method and sourcing Chardonnay from its cooler climate Karridale vineyard, Ideé Fixe is a showcase for Blanc de Blanc: sparkling made using one hundred percent Chardonnay grape sparkling wines. The Premier Brut is a classic: all green apple aroma and an exuberant bead that makes this the perfect aperitif or celebration fizz. Add a little bit of Pinot Noir and you have the Brut Rosé: playful, balanced and just the right amount of dry to finish.
Though a well-known local player, Fermoy Estate flies a little under the radar for the region’s visitors. This is why we’re placing it front and center as an example of a Margaret River Region sparkling worth celebrating.
Pop the cork on the 2017 Vintage Brut Premier — winner of the Champion Sparkling Wine of Show award at the 2022 Australian Small Winemakers Show. A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, it’s a rich example of a classic aperitif wine.
If your spread includes a dozen of freshly shucked oysters, pair them with Fermoy Estate’s newly released Blanc de Blanc, starring beautifully bright and vibrant aromas of green apple and lemon blossom alongside more complex oyster shell, sea spray & kelp characters. And you can’t forget the Vintage Brut Rosé, it’s a delicate blush of sparkling for those that love a little pink.
The beautiful and plump red-eared Firetail finches can be difficult to spot in their native habitat in the Jarrah, Marri and Tuart forests. Unique to the South West, seeing one is always a cause for celebration.
While some signage will help you navigate the drive to Firetail’s cellar door, the sense of specialness at arriving is the same. A family affair, owners Rob Glass and Jessica Worrall have five hectares of estate-owned vines over the Margaret River and Geographe regions, including their award-winning 2016 Sparkling Chardonnay. The Silver Medal winner at the 2022 Australian Sparkling Show is a traditional method of sparkling aged for 72 months on lees.
But even if you’re not a sparkling fanatic, it’s worth the drive to Rosa Glen just to experience the space: set deep in the bush, the cellar door building is handcrafted from jarrah and used French oak barrels. That The Berry Farm with its famed scones is right up the road is an added bonus.
Howard Park Wines has been one of the Margaret River Region’s most experienced producers of traditional method sparkling for over quite some time. The elegant cellar door is the flagship space showcasing the family-owned winery’s Margaret River Region and Great Southern focus.
Howard Park’s exquisite sparkling range, Jeté, is proudly made onsite, from tirage through riddling, disgorging and packaging. Over the years, it has won multiple gold medals and awards, including ‘Best Australian Sparkling Wine’ in a prestigious international wine competition.
Petit Jeté NV, Jeté Premier Brut NV, Jeté Rosé NV or Grand Jeté — choose your favourite bottle and make for the sheltered lawn with a pick-your-own cheese and charcuterie board. Lawn games are on hand to keep the kids entertained.
From 100 percent hand-picked Sauvignon Blanc grapes, husband and wife team Travis and Elizabeth Wray make a Pétillant Naturel sparkling that’s all about orange marmalade, sherbet and pineapple, and made to drink now. The pet nat style is great for those looking for a bit less of a formal fizz.
If you get hungry after wine tasting it’s worth noting that House of Cards has an equally famed neighbour—the lauded and locally loved Chow’s Table run by talented Chinese Malay super chef, Mal Chow.
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay fruit grown in the Credaro Family Estate Vineyards, the Kinship Blanc de Blanc 2021 is a popular favourite amongst the range. Made in the traditional method, the wine reveals a gentle mousse with layers of lemon tart and apples. The palate unveils a lively complexity, showcasing brioche, honey, and toasty undertones. Rich lees creaminess gives way to a clean saline finish.
For the ultimate experience, savour this sparkling wine with family and friends at Credaro’s Yallingup Cellar Door while enjoying breathtaking views over the Wildwood Valley.
If you love Clairault Streicker’s show-stopping Chardonnay range, get your hands on the sparkling version: Streicker Blanc De Blanc 2018 is made in the traditional method spending over 36 months on lees. The wine is crafted from hand-picked chardonnay from their Bridgeland Vineyard in Karridale, chosen specifically for its acidity and the innate regional fruit characters that predispose it for sparkling winemaking. Rich flavours of freshly browned brioche, nashi pear and citrus blossoms bristle atop a maelstrom of natural acidity, green plums and a delicate mousse. Fine tendrils of white fruit tannin and drive deliver a mineral finish or wet slate and mother of pearl.
The Margaret River Bubbles Tour is the only winery tour in the region specialising in sparkling wine, and the owner Mark will take you on a great day out combining sparkling wine tastings and gourmet food.
