Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River are one of Australia's very best producers. While more famed for their Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, their Shiraz is a beautiful, slightly fresher and brighter expression of the grape. Out in the cooler, wetter conditions of Margaret River, there's almost an old-world feel to Shiraz, with elegance favoured over power. 

Leeuwin Estate consistently produces wines that rank with many of the world’s finest. Under the direction of two generations of the founding family, who work alongside a dedicated team of winemakers to maintain the high levels of quality that are synonymous with the Leeuwin Estate. In 1972, legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Robert Mondavi, identified the future site of the Leeuwin vineyard as being ideal to produce premium wine and provided early mentorship to Denis and Tricia Horgan in the transformation of their cattle farm into Leeuwin Estate. Enjoying its first commercial vintage in 1979, Leeuwin was thrust into the international spotlight.

The Margaret River wine region, located in Western Australia’s southwest, is renowned for producing premium wines of exceptional quality. With a Mediterranean climate, it enjoys warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, providing consistent ripening conditions. Cooling afternoon sea breezes from the Indian and Southern Oceans help maintain acidity and extend the growing season, enhancing flavour complexity.

The region’s ancient soils are predominantly gravelly loams over clay, offering excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture to sustain vines through summer. This combination supports balanced vine growth and concentrated fruit expression.

Margaret River’s signature grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon, alongside Merlot and Shiraz. Cabernet Sauvignon often displays cassis, blackberry, and fine tannin structure, while Chardonnay is typically elegant and refined, with flavours ranging from citrus and stone fruit to nutty, toasty notes from oak maturation. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blends are vibrant and aromatic, offering tropical and citrus fruit with crisp acidity. Shiraz tends to be medium-bodied, with spicy red berry and plum characters.

Wine styles from Margaret River are celebrated for their purity of fruit, finesse, and age-worthiness. The combination of climate, soil, and skilled winemaking has established the region as one of Australia’s most respected and consistent producers of world-class wines.

Syrah, also known as Shiraz in Australia and parts of the New World, is one of the world’s most celebrated red grape varieties. Its origins trace back to the Rhône Valley in France, where it thrives in both the northern Rhône’s steep, granite slopes and the warmer southern regions. Syrah vines are hardy and adaptable, tolerating a range of soils, but they prefer well-drained sites with ample sunlight. The grape is naturally vigorous, with small, thick-skinned berries that produce deeply coloured wines rich in tannin and flavour.

Today, Syrah is planted widely across the globe. In France, it remains dominant in appellations such as Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie, and Crozes-Hermitage. In Australia, Shiraz is the country’s flagship variety, producing styles from bold, ripe Barossa bottlings to elegant, cool-climate Yarra Valley expressions. Significant plantings also exist in South Africa, the United States (notably California and Washington State), Chile, and Argentina.

The style of Syrah/Shiraz varies with climate and winemaking approach. Cool-climate examples offer notes of black pepper, violets, and fresh blackberry, with firm acidity and structure. Warmer regions produce richer, fuller wines with flavours of ripe plum, black cherry, chocolate, and spice. Across styles, Syrah is prized for its depth, versatility, and ability to age gracefully.