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A local’s guide to the best wineries near Perth

Kirsty PetridesBy Kirsty Petrides
Indulge in a WA wine-tasting adventure.

Perth is renowned for its idyllic beaches and parks. But holidaymakers may not know that Western Australia’s capital is home to a number of wineries roughly 30 minutes from the city. So if you don’t have that extra few days up your sleeve to head to the state’s south-west, you can still have a superb wine-tasting experience – without having to say goodbye to phone signal.

Here are eight of the best wineries near Perth.

In short

If you only make it to one winery near Perth, make it La Fattoria. Book their Nonna’s Table food menu to follow your wine tasting, and enjoy the home-cooked Italian in their verdant hillside winery/trattoria.

Plume Estate

pouring durif wine into a glass at Plume Estate
Sip on durif while admiring the Bickley Valley view. (Image: Supplied)

Distance from Perth: 35 mins

You’ll find Plume Estate situated in the picturesque Bickley Valley. It’s a place nestled among the tranquil Perth Hills, where peaks are raised approximately 350 metres in the air. Plume takes advantage of its prime location, treating visitors to sweeping, panoramic views of green valleys and expansive vineyards (hot tip: book a post-tasting lunch to sit and bask in the vista.) Try their durif, a lesser-known red primarily grown in Australia, California, France and Israel. It produces tannic wines with a spicy, plummy flavour.

Address: 91 Glenisla Rd, Bickley WA 6076

H&C Urban Winery

wine barrels inside H&C Urban Winery, Perth
Enjoy barrel-aged wine tastings at H&C Urban Winery.

Distance from Perth: 25 minutes

Perth’s only urban winery, H&C Urban Winery takes up residence in a 1000-square-metre converted warehouse in the heart of Fremantle. They ferment and bottle their own wine (made from WA-grown grapes) on-site at the rear of the venue – while the front is a lively bar and restaurant space where you can do a tasting.

But you aren’t limited to just their wines – you’ll find an extensive list of drops from other regions, with a particular lean to smaller, lesser-known estates. So if you don’t get the chance to get out to other WA wine regions, you can still try them here.

Address: 181 High St, Fremantle WA 6160

Mandoon Estate

the Mandoon Estate winery surrounded by lush greenery
The winery is nestled among tranquil greenery. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Distance from Perth: 30 mins

Mandoon Estate has the enviable title of being WA’s most-awarded boutique winery. The sprawling venue encompasses a working winery, cellar door, restaurant, accommodation and sprawling verdant grassed area aptly named ‘The Llawn’ where you can throw down a picnic blanket, order good wine and woodfired pizzas and listen to live music. Try their verdelho, which has been highly regarded by Ray Jordan Wine.

Address: 10 Harris Rd, Caversham WA 6055

Lancaster Wines

Lancaster Wines in Swan Valley
Peruse the offering at the cellar door. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Distance from Perth: 35 mins

Lancaster Wines lay claim to some of the oldest vines in the Swan Valley – not that you’d know it from their humble abode. Stop by the tin shed for outstanding chenin blanc, verdelho, chardonnay and shiraz. But Lancaster Wines is renowned for its dessert wine, so be sure to pick up a bottle to take home. If you’re keen on a sweet treat, head across the road to the Chocolate Factory for something indulgent.

Address: 5228 W Swan Rd, West Swan WA 6055

Fairbrossen

the vines at Fairbrossen, Perth
Freshly pruned vines at Fairbrossen.

Distance from Perth: 35 mins

Fairbrossen’s charming tasting room is located in the lush Perth Hills, with beautiful views to enjoy on a grazing board or platter with your wines. Their boutique, artisanal winemaking follows environmentally sustainable and organic principles with minimal interventions, and produces sparkling, chardonnay, vermentino, rose, cab sav, syrah, tempranillo and malbec – but if you’re feeling adventurous try their saperavi. This lesser-known varietal is an 8000-year-old Georgian grape variety and the only wine of its kind from Western Australia.

Address: 310 Rowe Rd, Witchcliffe WA 6286

Myattsfield Vineyards

guests exploring Myattsfield Vineyards, Perth
Discover the essence of artisanal winemaking. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Distance from Perth: 35 mins

Myattsfield Vineyards is owned by married couple Josh and Rachael who both have their own supreme pedigree in winemaking, with the pair both growing up in winemaking families. While everything on the Myattsfield tasting list is worth trying, their sparkling is an absolute stand-out, thanks in large part to Rachael. She’s been dubbed ‘the sparkling whisperer’ of WA, with any wineries experiencing problems with their sparkling vintage getting her in to diagnose. They use the traditional French method – method traditionelle – to produce this show-stopping wine, so you know it’s good. Hot tip: take a picnic, buy a bottle after your tasting and enjoy on the lawn.

Address: Union Rd, Carmel WA 6076

La Fattoria

an outdoor garden among the vines at La Fattoria, Perth
Nab a table in the outdoor garden among the vines. (Image: Experience Perth Hills Kalamunda)

Distance from Perth: 35 mins

La Fattoria – or La Fat as the locals call it – is a family-run cellar door and restaurant that celebrates all things Italian. Their wines – which happen to be made by their neighbours over at Myattsfield – are a true representation of Italy. They produce standalone wines for each variety, resisting the temptation to blend with mainstream grapes, as they believe this provides customers with the chance to experience Italian wine in its purest form. Expect varietals like barbera, nero d’avola, nebbiolo and fiano – as well as grappa and limoncello. And make sure you book a post-tasting lunch – their Nonna’s Table is a feed-me menu of Sicilian-inspired dishes driven by home-grown seasonal produce.

Address: 211 Merrivale Rd, Pickering Brook WA 6076

Lawnbrook Estate

people drinking and dining at the outdoor garden of Lawnbrook Estate, Perth
The outdoor garden is an idyllic spot for elevated tastings. (Image: Lawnbrook Estate)

Distance from Perth: 35 mins

Lawnbrook Estate is a multifaceted place, with a distillery, winery, cellar door, and restaurant. The distillery creates incredible gin, as well as limoncello and coffee liquor, while the winery produces the likes of chardonnay, shiraz, rosé and vermentino. Decide on your favourite and take a bottle over to their restaurant to enjoy alongside their lunch menu, which is farmhouse fare with a modern twist.

Address: 19 Loaring Rd, Bickley WA 6076

Kirsty Petrides
Kirsty Petrides is a writer, wine-lover and cheese enthusiast. Whether she’s hunting down the best restaurant in Albania, foraging the Marrakech markets for spices or camping in the middle of Patagonian wilderness, she loves to seek out the authentic side of the places she visits, and share that with readers through her writing.
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6 reasons the best way to experience the Kimberley is by cruise

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
    Continue
    This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

    Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

    The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs.
    Adventure starts where the road ends.

    1. Discover Broome, and beyond

    Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

    At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

    If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

    Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea.
    Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

    2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

    Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

    At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

    Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

    Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

    A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters.
    Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

    3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

    You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

    Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

    4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

    These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

    If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

    Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

    A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs.
    Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

    5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

    Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

    A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance.
    See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

    6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

    You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

    Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

    If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

    aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia
    Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

    Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .