Leeuwin Estate is one of the most prestigious names in Australian fine wine. Established in 1972 by Denis and Tricia Horgan, with early guidance from Napa Valley’s Robert Mondavi, Leeuwin helped define Margaret River as a world-class wine region. The first vines were planted in 1975, and just a few years later the global acclaim of the inaugural 1979 Art Series Chardonnay catapulted the estate to international renown. Since then, the Art Series range has become a flagship for fine wine in the southern hemisphere, celebrated for its purity, precision and longevity.

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.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular and versatile white grape varieties, originating from the Burgundy region of France. It is a relatively adaptable vine, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making it widely planted across the globe. Chardonnay ripens early to mid-season and is known for its ability to express terroir, as well as respond well to a variety of winemaking techniques, including oak ageing and malolactic fermentation.

Today, Chardonnay is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country. In France, it shines in Burgundy’s Chablis (crisp, mineral-driven) and Côte de Beaune (rich, complex), and is also a key component of Champagne. In the New World, regions like California, Australia (Yarra Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand, and Chile produce diverse expressions, ranging from lean and citrusy to full-bodied and buttery.

Cool-climate Chardonnays tend to show green apple, lemon, and flinty notes, while warmer regions yield riper flavours like tropical fruit, peach, and melon. Oak-aged Chardonnays may exhibit vanilla, toast, and nutty characteristics, while unoaked versions highlight freshness and purity of fruit.

This remarkable flexibility makes Chardonnay a favourite among winemakers and wine lovers alike, offering a wide spectrum of styles and flavours.