Margaret River Shines for Renowned International Media

Numerous elite wine media visited Margaret River for an action packed week of celebrations for the wine region’s 50th Anniversary and the 6th Gourmet Escape.
 
Visitors included world renowned wine journalist Jancis Robinson MW OBE and Victoria Moore (The Telegraph) from the UK, Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate), Josh Raynolds (Vinous), Brian Freedman (Freelancer), Josh Greene (Wine & Spirits Magazine) and Ray Isle (Food & Wine) from the USA, CH’NG Poh Tiong from Singapore, James Halliday AM, Huon Hooke, Max Allen, Jane Faulkner, Nick Stock, Ray Jordan and Peter Forrestal from Australia.
On Thursday 16 November guests took part in the most comprehensive tasting of Margaret River cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay to date, at the ‘Fifty Years in the Making’ tasting. Set in the iconic surrounds of Vasse Felix, the region’s founding wine estate, the masterclass was carefully planned to tell the unique story of the region, spanning five decades of wine production. The event showcased wines from established pioneers along with new and upcoming producers.
On Friday 17 November guests joined the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting for an elaborate blind tasting of 20 exquisite 2014 vintage cabernets from the world’s finest cabernet producing regions.
 
Saturday 18 November saw guests attend the Cullen Wines 32nd International Chardonnay Tasting of 21 of the world’s best chardonnays from the 2013 vintage.  
 
All three events were provided an opportunity to taste with UK Master of Wine Jancis Robinson.
 
The program also included the Margaret River Grand Cabernet Auction and Dinner on Saturday November 18 which celebrated 50 years of regional collaboration. It included an En Primeur auction with 5 limited lots of a 2017 Margaret River Anniversary cabernet blend and label artwork by Mary-Lynne Stratton. Over 30 wineries came together in the winemaking by supplying parcels of their best 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. The five-course Grand Dinner menu highlighted regional ingredients and was crafted by top local chefs including Tony Howell, Dany Angove, Aaron Carr, Evan Hayter and Blair Allen. Ten wines from the Langton’s Margaret River Wine Show were matched to the menu.
 
Margaret River Wine Association Marketing Director, Amanda Whiteland said “Combining all these events into one week has created one of the most comprehensive looks into Margaret River wine in history.  It was an amazing privilege to bring some of the world’s most influential wine media together and showcase what Margaret River has achieved in 50 years.  The feedback from everyone was that Margaret River wines are well and truly unique and have quality that can confidently be put against any wines from other top regions around the world.”

Visitors also attended the book launch of The Way It Was on Tuesday 14 November.  Leading Western Australian wine writers Peter Forrestal and Ray Jordan teamed up to take readers on an extraordinary journey through the rich history of the Margaret River Wine Region, beginning in 1967 with Dr Tom Cullity.  Through a combination of captivating text, photos and Forrestal’s and Jordan’s wine expertise and intimate knowledge of the wines and the people, The Way It Was is a great read for those interested in the Margaret River Wine Region’s unique history.