Food & Drink Experiences in Margaret River

Margaret River food and drinks experiences are built around the region's wine estates. Tastings come paired with chocolate and cheese, lunches stretch across verandahs and barrel rooms, and some tours add a canoe or a bushwalk before the first glass. The full list of Margaret River wine tasting and winery tours sits one level down, and the Margaret River region page covers the rest of the trip.

Where Margaret River's food and wine experiences happen

The region runs from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south, a 1 to 1.5-hour drive end to end, and Perth is a 3-hour drive away. The estates behind these experiences are scattered along that stretch: Passel Estate at Cowaramup, Leeuwin Estate on Stevens Road in Margaret River, and Evoi Wines on Osmington Road at Bramley.

Most experiences meet at the estate itself, so work out how you'll get there before you book. The private tour starts in Margaret River town, and the canoe and winery tour leaves from the Margaret River Visitor Centre on Bussell Highway.

Wine paired with chocolate and cheese

Passel Estate in Cowaramup pairs its wines with chocolate and cheese. The seated wine and chocolate pairing runs for an hour, with four wines each matched to a handcrafted chocolate bonbon. A portion of each booking goes to the estate's conservation program, which includes a ringtail possum sanctuary.

The 90-minute sunset tasting adds a platter of local artisan cheeses and a chocolate bonbon, with wine poured as the sun goes down over the vineyard. The 2-hour nature walk covers the bushland conservation area first, then finishes with four wines, a cheese platter and a bottle to take home. The nature walk runs in spring, summer and early autumn.

Morning tea and degustation lunches at Leeuwin Estate

Leeuwin Estate runs its experiences from the estate on Stevens Road, Wednesday to Sunday, starting at 10.30am. The 90-minute morning tea and tasting starts with coffee and cake on the verandah overlooking the karri forest, then moves on to a tour of the estate's art gallery, a look at how the wine is made, and a pairing of five wines with food.

For a longer day, the 5-hour degustation experience adds a guided tour and tasting, then a seven-course lunch built from seasonal ingredients from local producers, each course matched with a Leeuwin wine. The tour also covers the estate's art series wine labels and its concert series.

Lunch with a canoe, a 4WD and a bushwalk

Some food and wine days in Margaret River leave the cellar door. The small-group canoe, cliffs and winery tour mixes a 40-minute canoe paddle, a 40-minute 4WD run along the Cape to Cape Track and a 40-minute nature walk with a 1-hour lunch in the barrel room at Fraser Gallop Estate. Lunch comes with premium wine, and you meet winemaker Clive Otto. National Park entry is included, and waterproof jackets are supplied as needed.

Small-group and private tastings

The Evoi Wines tour is a 1-hour behind-the-scenes visit limited to 6 people, with tasting straight from the barrel and the winemaker on hand. It runs at 10.30am, Wednesday to Saturday.

The private wine tasting tour suits couples and small groups who'd rather plan as they go. There's no set itinerary, the guide drives a Mercedes and picks the stops, and the tour takes in wineries and coastal scenery. Tickets are for 2 people or for a group of 3 to 4.

How to choose a Margaret River food and wine experience

Start with the time you have. A short slot fits a pairing or a barrel tasting, a 90-minute slot fits a sunset tasting or Leeuwin's morning tea, and a long lunch takes most of the day.

Then look at the day of the week. Leeuwin experiences run Wednesday to Sunday, Evoi Wednesday to Saturday, and Passel Estate sessions run daily. Check the food side too: Passel Estate says some dietary requirements can't be accommodated, so tell the estate when you book.

In whale season, a winery lunch fits neatly after a morning on the water. Whale watching cruises from Augusta and Dunsborough run from May to December.

Frequently asked questions

What food and wine experiences can you book in Margaret River?

Margaret River food and wine experiences include wine and chocolate pairings and cheese-platter tastings at Passel Estate, morning tea and a seven-course degustation lunch at Leeuwin Estate, a barrel-room lunch on a canoe and winery tour, a small-group barrel tasting at Evoi Wines, and private winery tours.

Do Margaret River winery experiences include food?

Many Margaret River winery experiences include food. Passel Estate tastings come with chocolate bonbons or a cheese platter, Leeuwin Estate experiences include morning tea or a seven-course lunch, and the canoe and winery tour includes a lunch with premium wine.

How far is Margaret River from Perth?

Margaret River is about 270 km south of Perth, a 2.5 to 3-hour drive. The wine region stretches from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, which is a 1 to 1.5-hour drive end to end.

How old do you need to be to taste wine on a Margaret River tour?

Guests must be 18 or over to taste wine on Margaret River winery experiences, and photo ID may be asked for on arrival.

Can Margaret River wine and food experiences cater for dietary requirements?

It depends on the estate. Passel Estate says some dietary requirements can't be accommodated and asks guests to say so when booking, so check each listing and tell the estate in advance.

Can I combine wine tasting with other activities in Margaret River?

Yes, the small-group canoe, cliffs and winery tour combines a 40-minute canoe paddle, a 40-minute 4WD run and a nature walk with a barrel-room lunch at Fraser Gallop Estate.

Margaret River food and drinks experiences come down to how long you have and what you want on the plate: chocolate and cheese, a long lunch, or a day that starts on the river. Browse the wine tasting and winery tours, pick a start time, and book online.