Wine times in Perth
The Swan Valley is only a 20-minute drive away from Perth. Its fertile soil is uncommon in the (otherwise rather dry) Perth region and hence it is home to many great wineries. This makes it of course a destination not to miss for me, coming from a wine region myself. Aside from the wineries, several microbreweries, rum distilleries and local food producers call the Swan Valley their home. I went to the Swan Valley ten years ago on an organised group trip and again this year with my friend Liam – and I was pleased to see how the region has expanded its offering.
The Swan Valley has a warm, Mediterranean-style climate and rich, fertile soils. Regional wine styles include the Verdelho and Chenin Blanc (white wines) as well as the red wines Petit Verdot and of course, the Shiraz – probably Australia’s most popular type of wine. Fortified dessert wines are also very common in the Swan Valley.
In recent years, the region has attracted a strong food component in the form of a chocolate factory, coffee roasters, several beekeepers, a lavender farm, olive groves, a goat farm, cheese farms, dried-fruit producers as well as many restaurants and cafes.
The Swan Valley can be discovered in many ways; ten years ago we organised a group tour with some people in the hostel with Pink Bus Tours, which is still running tours today. We went for the half-day option, now priced at around 85 AUD (46 GBP). This included wine tastings at two wineries with a cheese platter and a beer tasting at Mash Brewing, which since then was awarded “Champion Australian Beer” for its Mash AIPA at the Australian International Beer Awards in 2014. It was a really fun day out and worth every penny. Another provider, Swan Valley Tours, also offers group tours featuring a cruise on the Swan River as full-day and half-day options, which are supposed to be fantastic in terms of both experience as well as value for money.
It’s also really relaxed to explore the Swan Valley with one’s own car. The scenic drive through the hilly country roads surrounded by vineyards alone makes the short trip from Perth worthwhile. Liam and I didn’t have much time since it was my last day in Perth before flying back to the UK but we still managed to squeeze in a short but fantastic visit starting at Lancaster Wines. For those who think whaaaaat drunk driving, that can’t be right – relax. Liam volunteered as a driver so this lucky lady was able to sample some yummy local grape juice. 🙂
I really liked the Verdelho they had on offer – an easy-to-drink, crisp and dry white wine as well as their fortified Sticky Shiraz.
Other great wineries in the Swan Valley include Ugly Duckling Wines, Sandalford Wines and Olive Farm Wines. Tyler’s Vineyard and Pandemonium Estate have also received great reviews on Tripadvisor.
When we stumbled upon an outdoor festival at The Hen pub in Henley Brook, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon listening to the relaxed live music they featured in their sunny garden and have a pint of beer until the sun was starting to set.
