Wine tasting in Western Australia’s Ferguson Valley
Dreaming of your next wine tasting weekend in Western Australia? Forget Margaret River: for a quick country escape within easy reach of Perth, a Ferguson Valley wine tasting trip should top your wishlist. With beautiful forests, rolling farmland (and vineyards), fresh produce galore, adorable towns and lovely little wineries, it truly ticks all the boxes.
A recent visit to my sister in Bunbury gave me the perfect opportunity to explore this compact area, which is part of the Geographe wine region. The crew consisted of me (planner of plans and taker of notes), little sis (a non-drinker, therefore designated driver), her husband (Spanish, therefore wine enthusiast) and their baby (present for the cuteness factor). Working around the one-year-old’s nap schedule, we had half a day to fill and plenty we wanted to do.
Driving into the Ferguson Valley in September, we were in awe of the rolling green hills. With cows dotted around and the occasional orchard, it’s like something out of a pastoral painting.
We looped around a few attractions first, taking a drive through the Wellington State Forest to see the Wellington Dam, the King Jarrah tree, and Gnomesville. The theme here seems to be big things: the dam boasts the world’s largest dam wall mural, and the King Jarrah tree is about 36 metres tall and estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old. As for Gnomesville, well, it’s a ridiculously enormous congregation of garden gnomes. It’s a quirky little place that you could spend hours poring over like a Where’s Wally book, noticing all the strange objects and messages people have left there.
But we had places to be! Namely (you guessed it) wineries.
St Aidan Wines
Named for the old church on site, St Aidan Wines is a boutique, family-owned property growing a range of grape varieties. Their rammed earth cellar door and restaurant has a small stand-up tasting area and a dining space enclosed by folding windows on three sides, ready to transform into a semi-outdoor space on pleasant days, no doubt!
They have a simple, seasonal restaurant menu, with kids’ meals available as well, and also offer the option of picnicking on their rolling lawn.
You can taste the wines standing in the tasting area, or at your table along with lunch like we did. They offer 5 samples – equivalent to about one glass of wine – for just $6 (or $10 paired with some small nibbles). You simply tick your chosen wines on a sheet of tasting notes and they bring them out together for you to taste at your own pace.
I went for a rainbow – sparkling, white, rosé and two reds – and really enjoyed slowly sipping and scribbling notes during our relaxed lunch. My brother-in-law strategically included a fortified wine in his selection and saved it to wash down dessert – appropriately, a burnt Basque cheesecake.
Green Door
Our next stop was Green Door Wines, which lives up to the Geographe region’s slogan “Experience Europe in a day” with mainly Italian and Spanish varieties. Their modern-meets-rustic cellar door features mosaic tabletops, an enormous green Moroccan door, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the hills.
Wine tasting costs $5 per person (refundable on purchase of a bottle) and is in a unique format, with wine samples measured into carafes with enough for your group. I loved their reds, especially the ‘Spanish Steps’ garnacha shiraz monastrell blend, and the simply named Vino Tinto (Spanish for red wine), which is 89% shiraz with a touch of monastrell.
They also offer grazing platters and a small range of tempting sweet treats. It would be a great place for a long, lazy gathering with a group of friends – indeed, there were a couple of large tables doing just that when we were there. And on a warm day, the little tables outside would be perfect to quietly sip wine, nibble cheese and drink in the views.
Other Ferguson Valley cellar doors
Alas, two bookings was all I can fit in (and all a toddler’s patience would allow for), but I can’t wait to return and visit some more wineries for Ferguson Valley wine tastings.
Ferguson Falls Wines Café is at the top of my list – their pizza comes highly recommended and their wine range sits at a friendly $20 to $25 price point.
Willow Bridge Estate also looks like a beautiful spot to spend some time.
Where to taste more Ferguson Valley wines
Many Ferguson Valley wineries don’t have cellar doors that you can visit for a tasting. But you may be able to track them down elsewhere.
I was excited to find two Ferguson Valley producers at the Bunbury Markets, which run twice a month on Saturdays. Henty View has a small range of wines around the $20 price point, including an unusually dark (almost red) rosé which I picked up and enjoyed with a cheese platter and good friends. And I enjoyed the Fifth Estate Wines range (six wines priced from $17 to $27) so much that I bought a bottle of everything.
What else to do in the Ferguson Valley
While you’re there, consider some of the family-friendly activities the Ferguson valley has to offer:
- See sights like Gnomesville, the King Jarrah tree and Wellington Dam
- Go for a hike in Wellington National Park
- Buy fresh produce for a picnic or even pick your own fruit
Where to stay in the Ferguson Valley
I’m dreaming of returning for a relaxing weekend, with my eye on boutique accommodation like Peppermint Lane Lodge. For families, Ferguson Farmstay offers the chance to make some fluffy friends.
Feeling inspired to head to the Ferguson Valley? Make sure to check out our complete Geographe wine region guide.
