Swan Valley wine region guide

The Swan Valley is a paradise for your tastebuds: a wine region full of gourmet delights. And thanks to its location within a major city, it’s incredibly easy to access! Discover how to plan a trip to the Swan Valley and some of the best wineries to hit up while you’re there.

Where is the Swan Valley wine region?

The Swan Valley is located in the Perth metropolitan area in Western Australia. Yes, it’s one of those wonderful wine regions you don’t even have to leave a city to get to! The Swan Valley can be reached within half an hour’s drive from the Perth CBD (city centre). So if you’re visiting Perth and don’t have time to visit the world-famous Margaret River wine region (which is more than three hours away), don’t despair – you can still enjoy a taste of the Western Australian wine and food scene.

The Swan Valley lies to the northeast of the city centre. Driving up Great Eastern Highway, once you reach the historic town centre of Guildford, you’re about to enter the valley of wonders. Suddenly you’ll find yourself leaving the city suburbs behind and being surrounded by large, country-style properties, with bushland, farm animals, and – of course – vineyards. 

The valley is bordered on the east by the Darling Scarp, where you can venture on to the Perth Hills wine region or enjoy nature in some beautiful national parks.

A little note: technically speaking, the Swan Valley is not actually a region, but a sub-region of the Swan District wine region under the official Australian Geographical Indications, which define the country’s wine zones, regions and sub-regions. The Swan District extends some 60km northwards, past Gingin, with the Swan Valley covering only the southernmost chunk. But since the Swan Valley is the best-known and most popular part, and is a compact area with a high concentration of wineries, this website will focus on the Valley. 

How to get to the Swan Valley

It’s easy to visit the Swan Valley by car (with a designated driver, of course) and explore the sights clustered around a 32km scenic drive. There are also numerous tours and cruises that will bring you to the area. Or with a bit of planning, you could explore it via public transport.

Find out how to get to the Swan Valley.

History of the Swan Valley wine region

The Swan Valley is on Wadjuk Noongar boodjar (land/country), and according to Noongar belief, the valley and Swan River were carved out by the wagyl (a Dreamtime serpent) tens of thousands of years ago.

The area was settled by Europeans in the very first stages of Perth’s development: the Swan River Colony, established in 1829, included settlements at Fremantle, Perth and Guildford. Vines were planted that same year, making this Australia’s second-oldest wine-growing region (after the Hunter Valley near Sydney). And it was actually Western Australia’s ONLY one for 150 years: the famous Margaret River region is a baby by comparison!

The Swan Valley’s soil is uncommonly fertile for Perth, and along with the warm, dry climate (similar to the Mediterranean), the region offered good conditions for growing grapes. The area flourished for agriculture, particularly table grapes. Waves of migrants from southern Europe (particularly Croatia) with viticultural experience during the 20th century shaped the valley into the successful wine region we know and love today.. 

Today there are some 40 wineries, including the likes of Sandalford, which has a history of over 180 years.

What kinds of wine is the Swan Valley known for?

The Swan Valley’s major white wines are chenin blanc, chardonnay, and verdelho. The main red wine varieties are grenache, shiraz, and petit verdot. There are also several wineries making sparkling and fortified wines.

Wineries to visit in the Swan Valley

Big and small, rustic and modern, with full restaurants or just offering intimate wine tasting – the Swan Valley has a range of wineries to experience. Here are a few of our favourites:

• Mandoon Estate has a large cellar door showcasing its range of highly-awarded wines through tastings and wine flights, as well as both a fine dining restaurant and a casual brewpub. Pizzas and beverages can even be enjoyed on their sprawling lawn.
• Olive Farm Wines produces over 40 styles of wine, all from 100% Swan Valley fruit, which you can taste at their small cellar door between vineyards and the river.
• Upper Reach Winery is an enthusiast’s dream: they go beyond the usual cellar door tastings, offering introductory wine appreciation classes and winery tours.
• The House of Honey is worth a stop for afternoon tea (think beesting cake and other sweet treats), plus it’s a chance to try mead – honey wine!

When to visit the Swan Valley

The Swan Valley is a great place to visit all year round: enjoy Perth’s beautiful weather for being outdoors in summer, or warm up with wine tasting in the winter. The vine-covered slopes will be a brilliant green in spring and awash with red and orange in autumn.

The region also hosts an array of wine-focused events. Put the dates for Entwined in the Valley (a weekend in October) in your diary, when a heap of one-off experiences are on offer – we’re talking special tours and tastings, long lunches, and other exclusive events (both ticketed and free).

How long to stay in the Swan Valley

With its proximity to the Perth city centre, the Swan Valley is easy to visit on a day trip. But if you can stay a night or more, you can immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of the area – and sample more of the wines!

Where to stay in the Swan Valley

There’s loads of luxurious retreat-style accommodation to be found in the Swan Valley, or family-friendly options like farmstays. Hotels can be found around Guildford and Midland, and there are some self-contained homes available on Airbnb and Stayz.

Want to take your wine worship to the max? You can stay overnight at certain beautiful Swan Valley wineries. Maya Maya at Mandoon Estate offers modern luxe hotel rooms, while Upper Reach Cottage is a cosy private hideaway among the vines.

Other things to do in the Swan Valley wine region

The Swan Valley is the ultimate gourmet destination. Aside from wineries, you’ll find breweries, cideries, distilleries and even a coffee roaster- something to satisfy everyone in your group regardless of their tipple of choice! And don’t forget the food: from locally-produced chocolate, honey, cheese and nougat to roadside stalls with fresh-picked fruit and veg, you can get everything you need for a feast.

International visitors keen to get a glimpse of Australian critters should not miss Caversham Wildlife Park, where you can get up close to cuddly koalas, wombats, kangaroos and more. On the less cuddly side, there’s also the West Australian Reptile Park.

Finally, for a dose of nature there are some beautiful hiking spots around, like the popular Bells Rapids Park.

Plan your wine trip!

Looking for more areas to explore? We’ve got you covered. Explore all WA wine regions.

Images courtesy of swanvalleywine.com