Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon: Traditional, Sustainable and Organic Practices
With dramatic coastline, signature clones and ambitious, premium-focused producers, Western Australia has a reputation for beautifully balanced wines with intense fruit and elegant acidity.
Although the first modern vineyards only took root in the 1960s, the Margaret River region is something of a prodigy, achieving early success, prestige and international acclaim for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in particular.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the hero variety for many in Margaret River. The wines show an astonishing balance of fruit ripeness, acidity and defined tannin structure, and are suited to long-term cellaring.
Meet viticulturists and a winemaker from three pioneering Margaret River wineries and find out why Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in this region. Hear about the region’s traditional, sustainable and organic practices from Glenn Goodall (Xanadu Wines), Bart Molony (Vasse Felix) and Alex Miller (Voyager Estate).
Glenn, Bart and Alex will talk about the sustainable practices across their vineyards and wineries, as well as others in the region, which include implementing biodiversity, smarter irrigation, and reducing emissions. The producers will discuss why the ‘light touch’ approach to viticulture and winemaking is so appealing, and why numerous wineries are taking their commitment to sustainability to the next level through certifications. They will also look at how the adoption of organics is changing things in the vineyard and in winery.
The winemakers will be discussing these wines:
- Xanadu Wines Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
- Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
- Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
- McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
- Cape Mentelle Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
- Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
This panel discussion is one of many CONNECT Conversations to feature on Australian Wine CONNECT - a dynamic, virtual platform bringing the global wine community together to build connections with hundreds of Australian wineries for powerful commercial outcomes. It is free-to-use for all wine trade wishing to extend their knowledge of, and business reach with Australia.
Featured Presenters
Jamie Goode
Jamie Goode is a UK-based wine writer, lecturer, wine judge and book author. With a PhD in plant biology, he worked as a science editor, before starting wineanorak.com in 1999, which became a popular wine website. Since 2005 he’s been the wine columnist for UK national newspaper The Sunday Express, and has written regularly for a range of publications. He is active as a speaker/lecturer and also a wine judge, and is one of the co-chairs for the International Wine Challenge. Goode’s books include the The Science of Wine, Authentic Wine, I Taste Red and Flawless. He’s also prolific on Twitter (@jamiegoode) and Instagram (@drjamiegoode).
Alex Miller
For over a decade, Alex has been a champion for environmental sustainability at Voyager Estate, leading the transition toward organic certification and playing a critical role in driving their mission to nurture the land for future generations.
Hailing from Tamworth, New South Wales, Alex studied Applied Science (Viticulture) at Charles Sturt University, graduating in 2005. Spending her formative years working in the Hunter Valley, Margaret River, and the UK, she gained experience in both the vineyard and winery, developing a healthy respect for both sides of the fence.
Alex’s journey with Voyager began in 2009, initially joining the team as Vineyard Technical Officer. In 2010, she was critical in rolling out the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Pilot Program across the Estate, with a strong focus on revegetation and land rehabilitation.
It wasn’t long before her position evolved from basic record keeping, to taking on a more strategic role in research and development, making crucial improvements to vine quality. When the decision was made to transition the Estate to more sustainable farming methods, she was instrumental in developing and implementing the systems to convert to organic farming. As the business moves toward full organic certification by 2023, Alex’s focus is to maximise soil and vineyard health, while remaining vigilant with organic compliance.
In December 2021, thanks to the dedicated work of Alex and Voyager’s Environment and Sustainability Team, Voyager was accepted as an Applicant Member to International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) – confirming an ongoing commitment to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. Since joining IWCA, Alex has taken a lead role in empowering departments across the business to understand their portion of the footprint and facilitating pathways to reductions, ensuring the business remains on track to be Net Zero by 2050.
“From a wine production perspective, living in a region with such a healthy natural abundance, we have long focused our attention on land restoration and catchment preservation. Joining IWCA signifies Voyager’s leap into a new frontier of looking beyond our beautiful Stevens Valley and outward to the impact our practices are having on a global scale” – Alex Miller.
In 2020, Alex was named as a Finalist for Viticulturist of the Year in the Australian Women in Wine Awards, and in 2021, she was named runner-up for Viticulturist of the Year in the Margaret
River Wine Show. She also sits on the Sustainability Board for the Margaret River Wine Association.
Bart Molony
Bart Molony is the Chief Viticulturist behind Vasse Felix’s four specialty vineyards located in
selected sites throughout Margaret River, including the region’s oldest vineyard. He joined as Vineyard Supervisor in 2004.
Bart has a passion for sustainable viticulture, where every practice is guided by a strong focus on vineyard biodiversity and responsible, natural farming practices. He promotes a constant focus on soil biology in all vineyards. This is enhanced by Margaret River’s natural suitability to sustainable viticulture, as a result of its climatic and environmental attributes.
Study at Charles Sturt University, as well as work excursions to established wine regions in Victoria, Western Australia, New Zealand, Croatia and Germany, further developed Bart’s knowledge and understanding.
Bart has managed several significant Vineyard expansions in his 13 years at Vasse Felix. He was responsible for the expansion of the Home Vineyard at Wilyabrup in 2006, to focus on Margaret River’s key varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Bart also oversaw the inclusion of the Karridale Vineyard in 2010 and the Gnarawary Vineyard in 2015, an addition of approximately 100 hectares to the Vasse Felix Vineyard collection.
In 2011, Bart was awarded the Margaret River Wine Industry Association ‘Viti Excellence’ Award for his work at Vasse Felix. He was also nominated for '2021 Vineyard of the Year Awards' from Young Gun of Wine.
Bart has completed 19 vintages in Margaret River, as well as vintages in Victoria and international vintages in Croatia and Germany.
Glenn Goodall
Originally from Northland in New Zealand, Glenn began his wine career in 1989, working in the vineyard at Cassegrain Wines in Port Macquarie, New South Wales. A vintage at Domaine La Grave in Bordeaux the following year (1990) cemented Glenn’s passion for wine and he was encouraged to take up studies at the University of Adelaide (Roseworthy), completing his Bachelor of Agricultural Science. Over 9 years at Cassegrain, Glenn worked his way from the vineyards to the cellar before eventually earning the position of Winemaker. The years following allowed him to gain valuable experience overseas including vintages in South Africa (1992, 1998) at Glen Carlou Vineyards, in New Zealand (1996) at Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay, and at Mac Rostie Wines in California, USA (1997).
When he returned to Australia to settle in Margaret River, Glenn eventually found his niche as a winemaker at Xanadu Wines, joining the team in 1999. Several months after the Rathbone family purchased the winery, Glenn took on the role of Senior Winemaker and has been at the helm since the 2006 vintage.
Glenn has an intuitive approach to winemaking, with a deep respect for the vineyard where he believes true quality begins. He recognises that it takes more than one person to make the wines and is proud to lead a great team who share his focus in both the vineyard and the winery.