Perfectly positioned between Margaret River and Pemberton, Ampersand Estates provides a luxurious base for exploring the best of two wine regions.
When it rains in Western Australia’s South West it pours, and in Ampersand Estates’ case, that’s a good thing.
The boutique winery and distillery that’s set among old growth forest and located within an hour’s drive of Margaret River and Pemberton has received a steady flow of accolades since opening in 2021, but it’s the estate’s unique position within this pristine pocket that co-owner and sommelier Melissa Bell believes to be the secret behind their success.
“Not only are we a winery within a national park, privy to this incredibly wild spot where there’s such biodiversity and preservation of native species, but the area’s ancient soils, botanicals and micro-climate mean we’re able to produce virtually everything we need," says Melissa.
The boutique winery sits along the forested banks of Donnelly River.
With water an essential ingredient for viticulture and spirit production, Melissa says abundance and purity of rainfall is one of their greatest assets. “Our proximity to the Southern Ocean means rain falling on the estate is some of the purest in the world – and when it rains here, it does so in biblical levels," she says.
Ampersand Estates
founders Melissa Bell and Corrie Scheeper.
Enjoy lakeside pinot at the estate.
Sample the estate’s award-winning pinot noir.
Recently inducted into Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia (UWEA)’s collection, Ampersand Estates, on the banks of the Donnelly River, is where I’m gathered in the cellar door with a crisp glass of sparkling and small group of others to be the first to experience two new behind-the-scenes offerings.
Melissa guides us around the grounds, originally founded by Scottish settlers in the 1870s, before housing one of the region’s first wineries, Donnelly River Wines, in 1985.
She explains how she and business partner Corrie Scheepers have transformed the once-vacant estate with the inclusion of a new distillery, renovated cellar door, wellness Summit Studio and meticulous restoration of historic dwellings into luxury accommodation.
The most recent addition, however, is the Rainfall Distillery Gardens and we explore them via Ampersand’s new Terroir Tasting Experience. It’s an immersive journey to original chardonnay vines and the gardens themselves where we sight, smell and sample various fruits, spices, herbs, and botanicals used in Rainfall Distillery’s single-estate vodkas and gins.
Reaching the greenhouse at the top of the hill, we are seated for a private tasting of Ampersand’s award-winning wines before trickling down terraces to the distillery. After an informative session here where we taste a selection of spirits including Karri Honey Roasted Macadamias vodka, and Australian Rain and Scarlet Bottlebrush gin, we relax at The Homestead and freshen up for dinner.
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AI Prompt
Spending a night among the vines
Take in scenic surrounds from The Homestead.
Part of UWEA’s second new offering, Ampersand Estates’ signature experience, A Marriage of Luxury & Nature, gives guests exclusive overnight access to architecturally designed accommodation.
The Homestead, Vintner’s Residence and Settlers’ Cottage provide luxurious bases, with the addition of a five-course degustation dinner prepared by a private chef, gourmet breakfast and complimentary wines, spirits and tasting experiences included throughout a stay.
Indulge in a
feast cooked over open flames.
Cosy up by the fire.
The luxury
accommodation has a residential feel.
From the balcony of my upstairs bedroom, I watch as fairywrens flit in the light of late afternoon and kangaroos bound from karri forest. At dusk we gather in the elegant events space converted from the estate’s old barn and, taking our seats under the stars, we watch in wonderment as Argentinian fire chef Facundo Salas prepares a feast over the flames.
Basking in the glow of good company, food and wine, just like the pinot noir in hand, Ampersand Estates proves a delightful drop between regions.
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Turn your stay into a regional road trip
Single-estate vodkas and gins are infused with fruits and botanicals.
Ampersand Estates is 300 kilometres (three-hour drive) south of Perth, or 100 kilometres from Busselton Margaret River Airport (45-minute drive). Luxury transfers via Rolls Royce or helicopter can also be arranged.
Accommodation at Ampersand Estates starts at $995 per night, while the all-inclusive Marriage of Luxury & Nature package for one to four people starts at $3145. The Tasting terroir experience (for up to 10 guests) costs $180 per person.
With WA’s premier wine region under an hour’s drive away, start your day in Margaret River with artisanal pastries from Egberts, followed by breakfast bubbles at the region’s first sparkling salon, Idée Fixe.
After a swim at Gnarabup Beach, enjoy the Art, Wine & Ultimate Lunch experience at Leeuwin Estate, or the Cellar Experience at Vasse Felix, with both wineries also part of UWEA’s collection.
Exploring the smaller cool-climate wine region of Pemberton, 30 minutes from Ampersand Estates, grab coffee at Wild at Heart cafe before a guided Beach & Forest Eco Adventure with Pemberton Discovery Tours.
Spend the rest of the afternoon tasting wine at Pemberley of Pemberton or Below and Above (appointment only) before viewing (or climbing) the famous Gloucester Tree. Or soaking in the serenity at Pemberton Pool – with a new floating sauna set to open later this year.
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Bonita Grima is a freelance travel writer with a background in television and radio production. With a passion for immersive storytelling, Bonita believes travel has the power to challenge, inspire and educate us, and encourage empathy by providing a window into the worlds of others. Based in Margaret River, when not working on a story, you’ll find her at the beach, on a trail, drinking great coffee, discovering what’s new around town, or simply dreaming up the next adventure!
Trade early morning phone alarms and city chaos for bucolic serenity and gastronomic delights.
Peaceful birdsong and coastal winds meet rolling green hills and turquoise waters; there’s no better place to start your day than in Western Australia’s Denmark. This picturesque coastal town, a 4.5-hour drive from Perth along the pristine Rainbow Coast, offers bucolic bliss in spades.
A hidden retreat lies just a 10-minute drive from the town centre, inviting guests to slow down and connect with nature. At Heyscape Denmark, the ultimate refuge from the rat race and the perfect setting for a rural escape await.
Whether it’s for a refreshing weekend away or a regenerative week-long sojourn, this idyllic pocket of the world will leave you feeling anew.
Where to stay
Make the most of outdoor baths. (Credit: Jarrad Seng)
Located on the 880-acre Raintree Estate, Heyscape Denmark is an award-winning, off-grid cabin retreat ideal for anyone craving time in nature while also enjoying sustainable, luxury comfort. Just 15 are sensitively embedded in the rural environment, ensuring privacy and the perfect setting to switch off. Choose from one-bedroom, two-bedroom or 4-person cabins. Four-legged friends can also join in on the fun with pet-friendly cabins available.
Check in, to check out.
The modern accommodations are well-appointed with queen beds dressed in lush linen and pillows; a bathroom with a warm shower, flushable toilet and botanical shampoo and conditioner; and an indoor kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee maker. Outside, find timber decks with seating to spot resident kangaroos from, Heston Blumenthal barbecues for whipping up delicious meals using local produce, and outdoor baths to soak up incredible nighttime skies – Denmark’s lack of light pollution makes it an exceptional spot for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping Great Southern Ocean, William Bay National Park and Karri tree views.
Wellness is at the forefront of Heyscape Denmark with thoughtful touches including Note to Self prompts, gratitude cards and a botanical sleep spray ready to help you unwind. And for the ultimate weekend of R&R, two-bedroom cabins are fitted with saunas.
Where to eat
Catch your own freshwater crayfish, then have a chef prepare it for you.
The Great Southern region’s Mediterranean climate and nutrient-rich soils make for some of the most incredible produce in the world – and a stay at Heyscape Denmark lets you sample the very best of it. The estate farms over 200 black Angus cattle, marron – a freshwater crayfish endemic to the South-West of Western Australia –, hemp and French black truffle.
Just steps from these cabins sits the estate’s paddock-to-plate restaurant, The Dam. Featuring lofty jarrah ceilings, polished concrete and expansive windows revealing calming dam views, it’s a stunning spot for lunch or dinner, alongside an outdoor playground to keep little ones happy and busy.
Acclaimed chef Jason Jujnovich utilises ingredients from Raintree Estate’s regenerative farm in his hyper-local, Modern Australian menu. Seasonally changing dishes include the likes of wagyu beef lasagna and pistachio crumbed chicken cotoletta. Or join in for pizza night on a Friday, where the mushroom and truffle pizza is an easy winner.
Meals are designed to be paired with sips from the property’s innovative Cannabis Botanical Distillery, which concocts house-made hemp spirits and seltzers using ingredients grown onsite. Taste unique drops such as the Sativa Gin with warm citrus and pepper notes and the Pineapple Passion seltzer.
Another stand-out gastronomic offering is Heyscape’s Marron Catch & Cook Experience, which lets you hand-catch freshwater crayfish from the property’s pristine dams and have them prepared and cooked to perfection for you by chefs. Those wanting to enjoy a meal from the comfort of their cabin can fire up the barbecue and grill their fresh catch or order a gourmet dinner box with mouthwatering wagyu steak and antipasti against golden peaceful sunset views.
Things to do
Spend a day enjoying the idyllic Lights Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA)
There’s no shortage of things to do in Denmark, and basing yourself at Heyscape Denmark puts you within easy access to it all. Nature lovers are spoiled with unbeatable spots for swimming and snorkelling, plus coastal hiking trails at William Bay National Park – a protected coastal reserve with approximately 1734 hectares of stunning landscapes ready to be explored.
Hire an e-bike from the property and cycle just 15 minutes to the unbelievably clear waters and white sands of Greens Pools, a naturally sheltered beach. Or the idyllic Lights Beach, which features three beaches, dunes, natural wading pool and scenic walking trails. Keen surfers should turn their attention to Ocean Beach with its world-class surf breaks.
Wander the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. (Credit: Tourism WA)
Stroll past towering Karri and giant Red Tingle trees on the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The 600-metre walkway rises 40 metres above the ancient forest floor and meanders through the hardwood trees, endemic exclusively to the Great Southern region.
Denmark is also a haven for creatives, and Butter Factory Studios is a must-stop on any itinerary. The contemporary art gallery, working artist studio and gift shop are housed within a historic building where workshops and exhibitions support and showcase creators from the region.
With the winning trifecta of delicious food, a pristine environment, and secluded accommodation, Denmark proves to be the ultimate destination for relaxation.
