The designated Margaret River Wine region extends west from longitude 115 18' (Gladstones line) east through Dunsborough and Yallingup, South along the coast out of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge to Augusta, and east again out to its starting longitude.  Basically it comprises the tip of the peninsula that makes up Australia's Southwest corner.  The region is about 110km's long from north to South and 27km's from east to west, and in a relatively short time has become recognised as one of Australias premium wine producing regions.  On the advice of a report by eminent Western Australian agronomist Dr John Gladstones in 1965, vineyards were established in the area for the production of high quality table wines.  At the time Dr John Gladstones said prophetically...

"I believe that the climate in the area could be uniquely suited for production of winegrapes of the highest quality and, further, that suitable soils exist.  All known theoretical considerations point to a very good potential indeed."   

He was proven right.

The first commercial vines were planted in 1967 at Dr Tom Cullity's Vasse Felix vineyard.  However, the original wine pioneers were Di and Dr Kevin Cullen, who owned a property abutting Vasse Felix and planted an experimental acre in the previous year.  From these small beginnings, the Margaret River Wine industry has continued to grow, with the region now boasting 60 established vineyards and over 40 wineries.  Today Margaret River is arguably the purest wine enviroment in the world and has become renowned for producing wines of character and depth.

Soil types vary, but basically a gravelly loam topsoil over a clay subsoil predominates in the best vine country.  Ancient granite bedrock and outcrop of limestone have broken down to produce pockets of soil well suited to premium grape cultivation.  The presence of tall redgum trees is also indicative of suitable for viticulture.

The area has an advantageous climate characterised by relatively high winter rainfall and dry warm summers, although with global warming the winter rainfall average has dropped, from approximately 1150mm annually, down to 700 – 800mm. There is usually a low incidence of frost, cloud, rain, and hail during the ripening period. The moderating climatic effect of the Indian and Southern oceans is also a primary factor in the predicability and stability of the climate in the area. Thus a number of Margaret River vineyards are unirrigated. The size of the wine region however gives rise to several distinct microclimates and soil changes. An interesting variance in styles of wine can be detected in the same variety from different parts of the cape. Naturally, other factors play a role here also, including viticultural and winemaking technique and topographical location, but it is often possible to distinguish a wine produced in say, the Wilyabrup subregion from one originating in the southern reaches of the Margaret River winegrowing region.