50 Years of Margaret River Wine: Vasse Felix
In honour of the Margaret River wine region’s 50th birthday, we’re looking at some of the key founding wineries, all of which are still going strong today. Part 1 looks at Vasse Felix, the founding winery in the region.
2017 is the year that one of Australia's leading wine regions turns 50. This is the Margaret River wine region. While only being 50 years old, and a small producer of Australian wine, the region accounts for 20% of the premium wine market.
In honour of this region's 50th birthday, we're looking at a few of the key founding wineries, all of which are still going strong today.
Vasse Felix
Any talk about the foundations of this region has to begin with Vasse Felix. Vasse Felix was the founding winery in the Margaret River region, with vines first planted in 1967 by cardiologist Dr Tom Cullity. The Holmes à Court family bought the winery in 1987, with it still being run as a family business today. Their current chief winemaker is Virginia Willcock, one of the most awarded female winemakers in Australia.
If you're new to this winery, Vasse Felix sorts their wine into different tiers, so there is something for everyone. Start with their Classic range (below $20), then work up to their Filius ($20 - $30 range), Premier ($30 - $40 range), and then Icon range, where they are most famous for their Heytesbury series.
Prices don’t fluctuate much, so anytime is a good time to try something from Vasse Felix.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the estate, look out for the aptly named Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec. At $160 a bottle, it's not the cheapest drop, but if you err on the side of sentimentality, this would be one to keep in your cellar. It's rated 98 points by James Halliday.
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