• Delivery
Wine clubWine clubWine clubWine club
  • Gift registry
  • Wishlist
  • FAQs
Ken Helm A.M. received the Order of Australia for his work with Riesling, for his contribution to the Australian wine industry, for his support of cool climate wine producers and service to the Canberra community. Helm placed the Canberra region firmly on the map for world class wines after his inaugural 1977 release won significant international accolades. Ken's flagship wines are Riesling and Cabernet, he retains strong ties with eminent wine makers around the globe. Trips to the vineyards and wineries of Mosel, the Rhine valley and Bordeaux provide new inspiration and contribute to the development of his Canberra wines. In 2000 Ken instigated the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, his continuing role as chairman allows him to constantly keep abreast of new developments in Rieslings around the.. Meet one of our nation's most peer respected winemakers»
Jack Mann reigns eternal as the greatest winemaker in the history of the Australian west. Jack Mann's son Tony grew up amongst the vineyards of Houghton but took a keener interest in things Cricket. He exelled at both pursuits but is best remembered as the legendary leg spinner Tony Rocket Mann. During his off seasons away from the pitch, Tony would plant parcels of vine alongside his illustruious father Jack and his own young son Robert. The fully grown Robert now makes his own wine, from fruit of the very vines sown by Jack and Tony Mann. Robert learned from his grandfather that great winemaking required a spiritual oneness with nature. The birds and the bees play a pivotal role in achieving a harvest of the most personable grapes. The ultimate quality of the ferments are decided by the character of yeasts as they.. Whence the west was won»
Three British Army officers, in their capacity as agents of the East India Company, established one of Western Australia's first agricultural enterprises in 1836. Named after Captain Richmond Houghton, it was not until Thomas Yule's stewardship that vines were planted and the first vintage of Houghton wine flowed in 1859. Thomas Yule now sources fruit from the eminent Justin Vineyard in Frankland River, a dark ruby Shiraz of lifted liquorice and intense brambleberry, seasoned by piquant pepper notes and supported by showroom tannins. The very elite of Frankland River Shiraz... Artisanal wines of distinguished sites»

Woodlands Wilyabrup Cabernet Franc Merlot CONFIRM VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec Margaret River Western Australia
Very few vineyards yield the quality of fruit that merits vintaging into a statuesque wine dominated by the prettily fragrant Cabernet Franc. Woodlands were established from the ground up with a view to achieving limited harvests of the arcane Bordeaux varietals, only a few hundred cases of good red wine per vintage. There are now two estate vineyards, located within two kilometres of each other in Wilyabrup Valley, dry grown and farmed through traditionally organic techniques. The sanctity of soil yields a vividly varietal Cabernet Franc of finite peerage.
An assemblage of fruit harvested off Woodlands Brook Vineyard in the Wilyabrup Valley of Margaret River. Grapes are picked in small batches, row by row as each parcel achieves complete and optimal ripeness. A special hopper lifts fruit into the air before gently shaking the bunches into the destemmer, which in turn removes stems by swinging a cage from side to side. This process is much more gentle on the fruit, ensuring that shot berries, dry and unripe grapes remain on the stems and out of the wine. Upon completion of ferments, batches are filled to a high proportion of new French oak barrels for fourteen months maturation.
Woodlands
1 - 12 of 13
1 2 next»
1 - 12 of 13
1 2 next»
Woodlands
Woodlands is a ten hectare vineyard located in the Wilyabrup region of Margaret River established in 1973 by David and Heather Watson and remains family owned and operated

Woodlands vineyard was one of the first five vineyards to be planted in the Margaret River Wine Region. David and Heather aimed to create wines to emulate the great vineyards of Bordeaux, namely Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet based blends. Woodlands came to fame early on with the release of the 1981 Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine took out trophies for Best Red Wine at the Perth Wine Show, the Mt Barker Wine Show and the National Wine Show. This wine was the first from Margaret River to achieve a National Red Wine Trophy. Subsequent Cabernets made by David Watson won trophies and critical acclaim across the country.

Woodlands

In 1992 Woodlands production virtually ceased while David and Heather brought their children up in private schools in Perth, and fruit was sold to other high profile producers in the region. In 1999, with the children out of school, Woodlands began to produce wines again, making the most of its fully mature vines. Woodlands now has an annual production of 4000 cases, specializing in red wine. David’s son Stuart has been the winemaker at Woodlands since 2002.

In 2005 Woodlands won Trophies at the Margaret River Wine Show and the Winewise Small Vignerons Awards. Woodlands also won gold medals at the National Wine Show, the Margaret River Wine Show (2 golds), the Perth Royal Wine Show, the Rutherglen Wine Show (2 golds), the Winewise Small Vignerons Awards, and the Boutique Winemaker’s Awards.

Winemaking is minimalist at Woodlands, the emphasis being on small open ferments and excellent barrel selection. Woodlands still aims to emulate the great wines of Bordeaux, and today stands closer to its goal then ever before. The Wilyabrup sub-region is in the heart the Margaret River wine-growing region, and contains most of Margaret River’s oldest and most respected wineries.

Woodlands

In 1973 cuttings were taken from the Moss Wood vineyard located across the road, and an initial planting of eight acres was made in rows heading east-west along the contour of the property - 3 meters between rows and 1.75 meters between vines. The initial planting comprised 3 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. A further 5 acres was planted between 1974 and 1976, comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. The old block was completed in 1985, with 4 acres of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon planted. Subsequent plantings now sees Woodlands with a total of twenty six acres (ten hectares) of vines.

The soil at Woodlands is composed of 30cm of top soil, a bed of 30 cm of gravel extending to 60 cm of gravel and then a bed of white clay, ensuring excellent sub soil drainage for root development. Woodlands is located within its own valley, with slopes rising in each direction and the Woodlands Brook running through the centre. Woodlands vineyard is dry grown and maintained by hand. Attention in the vineyard includes cane pruning, bunch thinning, hand plucking the leaves around the fruit zone, crop thinning and hand picking.

"The quality of the grapes, with a priceless core of 6.8 ha of 30+ year old cabernet sauvignon, more recently joined by merlot, malbec, cabernet franc, pinot noir and chardonnay, has never been in doubt. Whatever the shortcomings of the 1990s, these days Woodlands is producing some spectacular wines in small quantities. The larger volume Cabernet Sauvignon is also of very high quality. Some behind the scenes consultancy advice has played its part, and Woodlands is now a major player in the top echelon of Margaret River producers. " -James Halliday

Woodlands