Healthy, balanced vines, in a healthy, balanced environment

The Margaret River Wine Region sits within one of the Earth’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, representing the most vital environments on the planet. Just 2.7% is planted to vines, upon some of the world’s most ancient viticultural land, prized for its tough soils. 46.4% of the region remains preserved as remnant forest.

Vasse Felix owns specialty vineyards on exceptional sites throughout the region, including Margaret River’s oldest – our Home Vineyard in the Wilyabrup area, planted in 1967. We believe that great wines are made in healthy vineyard environments, must be authentic expressions of their place, and are the work of a great team of passionate people.

Our viticulture and winemaking principles consider the unique requirements of Margaret River’s pristine environment, and we’ve modelled a specialised approach that is sensitive to nourishing soil health, vine longevity and natural biodiversity within our ecosystem. This draws upon over 50 years of balancing organic principles and careful, targeted and tactical inputs to maximise quality and long-term sustainability.

Most of the year is dedicated to the ‘soil season’, where nutrition, replenishment and microbiology of our ancient soils is priority. During the ‘growing season’, we work intuitively and intensively with each vine’s structure and canopy to maximise the quality and natural resilience of our grapes.

Environmental expression is at the core of our approach, and to achieve this, every plot of fruit is cared for individually from harvest, through to fermentation and maturation. Traceability to each individual vineyard plot enables the viticulturists and winemakers to improve quality of land and vine, beginning from the earth.

Vasse Felix winery and its vineyards are Certified Members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and members of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) (download our APCO Report here).

Home Vineyard

The original Vasse Felix vineyard planted by Dr Tom Cullity in 1967 and the site of Margaret River’s oldest vines, with careful expansion made over time. The vineyard is home to Vasse Felix’s beautifully equipped winemaking facility where all Vasse Felix wines are made and bottled, as well as the Vasse Felix Cellar Door and Restaurant which are regarded as one of Australia’s draw-card winery destination experiences. Located just 4km from the ocean, the Wilyabrup ridge elevation offers enhanced sea breeze exposure and lean, well-draining gravel loam soils suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Grows fruit for the Icon and Premier wines.

First Planted 1967 
Latitude & Longitude 33°49’S, 115°02’E 
Soils Gravel loam over clay 
Locality Wilyabrup 
Altitude Range 80 - 110 m
Total Area Under Vine 52 ha