The Distinguished Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
If Chardonnay is the Queen of Margaret River than Cabernet Sauvignon is the King! There is no easier task than finding a good cabernet in the region largely because the majority are incredible.
More than any other varietal it has propelled the region into the consciousness of wine drinkers around the world. Bordeaux is the cradle of the cabernet, but Margaret River is part of a select band of west coast wine regions across the world that excel at Cabernet.
If you ask any winemakers or locals about this hero wine, you should prepare to get settled in because the passion they have for this rich wine is endless. Thanks to Your Margaret River Region we are able to get all the low down from some of Australia’s most respected makers of Cabernet. Once we got them started it was hard to get them to stop but for a little teaser of what they had to say check out the video below.
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Classic Margaret River Road Trips
There’s nothing like jumping behind the wheel and setting off into the unknown in the South West of Western Australia on a road trip. Adventure beckons in the Margaret River Region with rugged coastlines, stunning beaches, vineyards and more just waiting to be explored. See below for 5 classic road trip itineraries to help get you started.
Click Here for the latest travel advice to the Margaret River Region.
1. The Scenic Drive | Approx. 1 – 3 hours
Start at Cape Naturaliste Road drive leaving from Dunsborough and ending at the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.
Highlights:
- First stop Old Dunsborough with a jetty, grass, picnic tables and hot showers if you’re up for a dip
- Meelup National Park will take you to Castle Rock Beach (the gorgeous location for Gourmet Escape’s iconic Gourmet Beach BBQ) and Meelup Beach for the perfect photo opp of white sand and crystal blue waters.
- Make a pit stop at Eagle Bay Brewery (currently selling takeaway and food on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Head towards Bunker Bay, a perfect beach for kids and coffee available at Bunkers Beach House
- Final stop is the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse with a stunning viewing deck overlooking the ocean.
- Start in Yallingup, considered to be the heart of surf country. Smith’s Beach is also great for less experienced surfers.
- Next stop is Gracetown where you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time. North Point in the right weather conditions has the heavy swell. If you aren’t up for the challenge, grab a pie from Gracie’s General Store and sit on the beach to watch the surfers get barrelled.
- Surfer’s Point in Margaret river is one of the best spots to catch a sunset. It’s also one of Australia’s most iconic surfing destinations. Pack a picnic and sit along the grass in the late afternoon and watch the sunset over the water.
- Start in Yallingup. With coronavirus restrictions easing, make sure you do your research and book if you want to stop off for some food or wine tastings. Options also include takeaway hampers with wine available from Swings and Roundabouts, Arimia and Cullen Winery.
- Look closely during your drive and notice the deep greens of the Karri trees. Jarrah, Karris and Marris trees tend to get thicker the further south you drive.
- Stop by some of the prolific vineyards along the way
- End point for the drive is the Boranup forest. You’ll know once you’ve reached there with impressive towering trees.
- Start in Busselton and explore the foreshore filled with sculptures. Make sure you walk to the end of the Jetty to discover Ian Mutch’s life-sized whale paintings. Head to The Goose for coffee to catch the myriad of wall murals by local artist Chloe Wilder.
- Cow statues will be there to welcome you to the artist town of Cowaramup. There’s loads of art installations to explore from Pioneer Park in the main street, to supersized local birds painted just around the corner from the Lion’s Shed.
- Head into the Margaret River Visitor’s Centre where you’ll spot a few more works and also in town where you’ll spot Ian Mutch’s mural.
- For Russell Sheridan’s sculptures, take the scenic drive down Wallcliffe Road towards Prevelly.
- Head down Caves Road through the Boranup forest and make sure you stop at the Boranup Gallery.
- For your final stop, head to Hamelin Bay which hosts the Margaret River Sculpture Park featuring animal sculptures carved from wood and stone.
5. The Road Less Travelled | Approx. 2 – 3 hours
Start at Leeuwin Road Augusta and finishing at Redgate Beach.
Highlights:
- Start at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse which is the most south west point of Australia where two oceans collide.
- Don’t miss the views via Flinders Bay and stop for a coffee at The Colourpatch.
- Stop by Hamelin Bay and the nearby Cosy Corner to meet a friendly family of stingrays.
- Take the unsealed track down Conto Road with places to explore rockpools, the cliffs and Conto beach.
- Final stop is Redgate beach where on a clear day, you’ll be able to see the Georgette Shipwreck. If you time it right, grab a takeaway and a bottle of wine and enjoy it while watching the sunset at the beach.
Image credit: Dylan Dehaas | margaretriver.com
International Burger Day
To celebrate International burger day, we’ve got you covered with all things burgers with our pick of recipes from Australian Good Meat for you to try at home and where to find the best burger places in Perth.
Our Top Australian Good Meat Burger Recipes
For something super quick and easy, check out this recipe for Mini Beef Sliders. Click here for the recipe.
Makes 12 | Prep Time 15 Minutes | Cooking Time 15 Minutes
Have leftovers? This Tunisian-Style Pulled Lamb Shoulder Burger shows how to turn leftovers from a Lamb Should Roast recipe into a delicious burger. Click here for the recipe.
Serves 2 | Prep Time 20 Minutes | Cooking Time 10 Minutes
If you’re feeling like a head chef, check out the Texas Chopped Brisket Burger recipe featuring slow-cooked brisket for the ultimate southern delight. Click here for the recipe.
Serves 4 | Prep Time 120 Minutes | Cooking Time 180 Minutes
Where to Find Perth’s Best Burgers
3230 Smoke & Grill, Jandakot. Burgers filled with brisket, beef and fried chicken with all the burger combinations you can think of.
Brooklyn Lounge, Claremont. The King Kong burger definitely reigns high in the burger pecking order featuring two beef patties, bacon, cheese, a Doritos crumbed mac and cheese patty, mayo and onions all in a glorious burger.
East Village, Perth & Hillarys. American classic burgers with a variety that can cater for everyone. Give the Dirty Burger a try if you’re stopping by.
Greenhorns, Perth. If you like things hot and spicy, give The Scorcher a go, a beef burger loaded with cheese, maple bacon, tomato, lettuce, onion rings and hot sauce.
Hoodburger, Northbridge and Inglewood. You have to try the peanut butter and jelly cheeseburger uf you’re popping by Hoodburger for a feed with special burgers in the kitchen each week.
Meet & Bun, Perth & Fremantle. Check out the Ari Gold and the Chilli Chilli Bang Bang burgers, recommended to be washed down with their amazing shakes.
RoyAl’s Chicken & Burgers, Vic Park, Wembley and Northbridge. Great American style burgers with the classic beef burger, buttermilk fried chicken and more.
Short Order Burger Co., Perth & Fremantle. Order the Double Short Order burger or the BBQ bacon cheeseburger with chips and you won’t be disappointed.
TBSP, Baywater. The Kimcheese Burger and Buttermilk Fried Chicken burger are the two you come to TBSP to devour.
Varsity Burgers, Joondalup, Nedlands, Northbridge, Morley, Waterford. If you’re feeling adventurous, five the Presley burger a go which is topped with bacon, banana and crunchy peanut butter.
Check out @BestBurgersOfPerth on Instagram for more burger places across Perth.
Did we miss a burger joint you think should be on this list? Let us know by emailing info@gourmetescape.com.au
Top 5 Wine Tasting Tips
We caught up with Gourmet Escape regular, Vanya Cullen from Margaret River’s iconic Cullen Wines to find out her top 5 tips for wine tasting.
Tip 1
Choose a fruit or flower day on the biodynamic calendar for tasting your wine for the best flavours
Tip 2
Choose a beautiful wine glass to enjoy your wine.
Tip 3
Select a screw cap rather than a corked wine bottle so you don’t have to worry about cork taint.
Tip 4
Make sure that your wines are not too hot or cold. Recommended temperatures for tasting are 16°C for whites and 18°C for reds.
Tip 5
The process for tasting wines:
- Pour into a glass
- Check the colour of the wine
- Aerate, sniff hard at the perfume of the wine and imbibe in the wine’s scent
- Taste a little, making sure you swirl and aerate in your mouth before swallowing
- Write tasting notes if you’re able to
- Most important of all, enjoy the wine tasting and the whole experience.
See below for one of Cullen Wine’s wine tasting videos with Vanya Cullen.
Check out Cullen Wine’s Instagram page for more wine tasting videos
Image credit: Frances Andrijich Photography.