Wine tasting at Tall Timbers in Manjimup

If you want to get a taste of Western Australia’s Southern Forests wine region, there’s one thing that should absolutely be on your to-do list: wine tasting at Tall Timbers in Manjimup. It’s a one-stop-shop to sample local drops right on the main street of town.

Tall Timbers is a venue like no other in WA. It offers all-day dining, a brewery and a cellar door where you can taste wines from several local wineries.

Let’s quickly talk food first. For lunch and dinner, they have a pub-style menu with all your favourites. There’s a steak sandwich, chicken parmy (that’s parma for certain east-coasters… or parmigiana for non-Aussies), sirloin steak and so on, plus a good selection of share plates, sides and salads and $10 kids’ meals. Portions were generous and tasty – and the desserts in the cabinet looked pretty darn appealing too. On weekends they also do breakfast.

Then there’s the beer. Having acquired a brewery just across the road, they now produce a range of craft ales and lagers, as well as a cider made from local apples. So that’s something to satisfy any non-wine-drinkers in your group.

And now for the best bit. The ‘cellar door’ area spanning the back part of the main restaurant showcases the winemakers of the Southern Forests wine regions. Since many wineries in the Manjimup and Pemberton regions aren’t open to the public, this is absolutely the best way to get a taste of what they have to offer. Plus, it’s open seven days a week.

Wineries represented include 10 Chains, Bellarmine, Below & Above, Pemberley, Chestnut Grove, Peos Estate, Picardy, Silkwood, Truffle Hill, and Woodgate.

They use Enomatic wine dispensers, which keep open bottles of wine fresh, to offer a self-service tasting experience. 10 x 30ml samples are just $15. You purchase a card pre-loaded with value, then simply tap it on the machines and select a wine to dispense. A staff member is on hand to offer advice and information if you want help choosing from the 30+ options!

The wines are also available to enjoy with your meal. Found a new favourite? Tall Timbers isn’t licensed to sell bottles to take home – but you will find all the wines stocked at their bottle shop just across the road. So note down the names to pick up afterwards.

Beyond wine, they showcase other gourmet local products such as truffles (the kind pigs sniff out in the ground, not the chocolate kind) as well.

Keen to try wine tasting at Tall Timbers? Check out our complete Southern Forests wine regions guide to start planning your visit to Manjimup and Pemberton.