FOUNDING VINEYARDS

Swan Coastal Region | Tuart Country

Western Australia’s Swan Coastal Region is home to some of the State’s most stylistic wines. It is also home to our founding vineyards which remain today.

The area is contained within a narrow strip never more than 4kms wide, which stretches south of Yanchep, 40kms north of Perth, to the Ludlow Tuart Forest near Busselton, 230kms south of Perth.

What distinguishes the region from any other is the fertile sandy top soils over a limestone base, and the majestic Tuart trees (Eucalyptus Gomphocephala) that thrive in the region.

The major climatic factor influencing the region is its close proximity to the Indian Ocean. This provides a mild maritime climate, with dry warm summers, cool wet winters and no frosts during the growing season.

The consistent occurrence of the afternoon sea breeze during the summer months ensures cooler nights and helps the morphology of the vine. This allows excellent flavour and character build up.

Paul Conti was the first winemaker to produce premium bottled wine from Tuart soils in 1968 – he pioneered modern wine-making in the region with his Mariginiup Hermitage [renamed as Mariginiup Shiraz].

Since those early days, shiraz has grown in stature in the region. The quality of shiraz, and also cabernet sauvignon, is unquestionable.

The reds show great depth of colour, character, flavour and especially refinement on the finish which is a direct result of limestone present in the soil.

Chardonnay and chenin blanc also excel in the region, with the alkali soils again being a major influence. The resultant wines are full-flavoured classic dry whites with abundant flavour.

Fruit today is exclusively hand-harvested from four Conti vineyards located at, Woodvale (the homestead property – black sandy soils within Yellagonga National Park); Mariginiup (lighter Tuart soils/jarrah country), Carabooda (heavier Tuart soils/redgum country) and Margaret River (located within the esteemed Wilyabrup sub-region).

The local sites were chosen for their limestone-based soils and close proximity to the Indian Ocean providing cool coastal sea breezes in the dry summer months and near perfect maritime conditions.

No vineyard site is any more than 6 kilometres inland from the coast.

Varieties grown between the four vineyards include, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, malbec, merlot, chardonnay, chenin blanc, semillon, Muscat Petits Grains and nero d’avola, all of which excel in the region.

“Special insight into the relationship between the vineyard and the final product results in wines of balance, structure and finesse that will complement any meal and possess a quality that will never waver.” Paul Conti.