5 Reasons This Margaret River Cellar Door is a Must-visit

Just over three hours drive from Perth, Cape Mentelle is a must-stop on any Margaret River itinerary. For more than 50 years, this Western Australian winery has created award-winning drops with a quality-over-quantity philosophy, which is best embodied by its ultra-rare Zinfandel. Go behind the scenes and immerse yourself in the winemaking process, discover what makes the Margaret River region so special for growing grapes and taste the cellar door’s extensive catalogue of world-class wines. Here’s why Cape Mentelle should be on your radar.

Cellar Door Wine Tasting

Just four kilometres out of town, Cape Mentelle’s cellar door is open every day between 10am and 5pm. Enter the rammed-earth tasting room for a 30-minute ($15) journey through over half a century of winemaking history and sample the vineyard’s delicious offerings. “Our viticulture and winemaking team put a lot of time into training the staff who host tours and tastings,” says David Moulton, Cape Mentelle’s Chief of Winemaking and Viticulture. “They’re more than happy to share their knowledge of the region’s biodiversity and how it affects the quality of the grapes and wines with guests.”  

Private Wine Tasting 

On a 45-minute private wine-tasting experience, you’ll sample at least six finely-tuned drops in the original Cape Mentelle cellar door from 1978 including their signature Sauvignon Blanc, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignons and the singular Cape Mentelle Zinfandel. Despite the Zinfandel’s popularity, Moulton says there are no plans to add to the vineyard’s original 1.15 hectares of zinfandel grapes, planted in 1974. “We want to keep it unique, super high-quality and niche.”

Back Vintage Tasting

Another experience to savour at Cape Mentelle is the one-hour Back Vintage Tasting ($60) with the opportunity to sample rare Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Shiraz. The winery Cabernet cellar contains vintages that span from 1974 to 2024, the only year the collection is missing is 1975, when “the neighbour's cows got in and decimated the grapes”, says Moulton, who regularly studies these heirloom bottles with his team to help inform their future cabernet-making. “We always go back before we look forward – we are in awe of the quality of those wines.”

Behind the Scenes Tour and Tasting 

At Cape Mentelle the winemaking philosophy is about creating the best, rather than the most, wine. “High-class wines are grown, not made,” says Moulton. “What’s unique here is the viticulture and winemaking teams working together to make wines that embody Cape Mentelle.” You can explore this relationship during the Behind the Scenes Tasting Tour and Tasting experience ($40). The 90-minute session begins with an inspection of the vines at the Wallcliffe Vineyard, before wandering to the winery where you’ll see, smell and even taste wines in the midst of maturing. The tour concludes with a tasting and the option of paired canapés (for an additional $70). “It’s a pure and dirty behind-the-scenes tour,” says Moulton. “We try to make sure people are fully immersed in it.”.

More magic moments at Cape Mentelle 

Threaded with grapevines and hemmed by native bushland, the lush grounds of Cape Mentelle are nothing short of idyllic. Linger longer and order a picnic platter that’s packed with local Margaret River produce (from $70) to roll out on the lawn, enjoying wines by the glass. Or come for a moonlit movie (from Monday to Saturday during summer) and settle into a beanbag to sip your favourite Cape Mentelle drop. “It’s a beautiful place to hang out,” says Moulton.