Enjoy the Wine, not the Pretention

Going on an all-day tour of the beautiful wineries in the world famous Margaret River wine region is one of the top tourist ‘must-dos’ when visiting the South West.
But it has to be said – the pretention surrounding the wine industry can be intimidating.
Enter Wine for Dudes.
The Margaret River business was established 10 years ago and has grown to be one of the most popular – but down to earth – wine tour companies on offer.
“The name explains it all, really,” John O’Connor, the owner and one of the tour guides told me.
“There was a real feeling that wine tours were too pretentious, so the business was launched with a more relaxed feel about it, while still giving a high quality tour with a range of beautiful wineries.”
But don’t let the name fool you – John is an expert in his field and gives a professional tour with exceptional service at highly competitive prices.
It’s just really relaxed, and that’s what you want.
We went on the Daily Tour – Wine for Dudes most popular at just $95 per person.
You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in the morning, and dropped off there in the afternoon – or at the pub if you feel like kicking on!
John’s knowledge of the area is extensive, and his humorous way of telling the history of Margaret River is definitely worth a listen.
He has a proud reputation with winery operators which was reflected in the patient and courteous service of the staff.
Dare I say, it was also reflected in the rather generous tasting servings!
While the ‘line up’ of wineries can change, we visited Tassell Park, Ashbrook Estate, enjoyed an amazing lunch at Hay Shed Hill, and rounded off the day with a glass of sauvignon blanc at the picturesque Saracen Estates, overlooking their huge dam.
The wineries are broken up with visits to The Margaret River Dairy Company and Margaret River Chocolate Company, where there are tastings galore but I still couldn’t resist getting an ice cream the size of a basketball.
At Hay Shed Hill, where you can taste their award winning wines and enjoy a delicious lunch of gourmet pizzas or platters, visitors with Wine for Dudes also have the opportunity to try wine blending – something I failed at miserably but figured it gave me more pizza eating time!
While the wineries and food producers love it when you pull out the credit card, there’s absolutely no pressure to purchase anything, which makes for a comfortable and enjoyable experience with Wine for Dudes.
The tour bus is at capacity with 20 people, a nice sized crowd that’s not too big, nor too small.
This was the second tour I’ve enjoyed with Wine for Dudes, and I’m looking forward to the third.
By Tiffany Wertheimer
Visit Wine for Dudes website for more information.