In the southwest corner of Western Australia, there is a very remote appellation with stunning beach views and rich flora and fauna, and vineyards dotted between forests and fields, forming a harmonious and wonderful picture... This is the Margaret River region. This appellation has a very important position in Australia, although its wine production accounts for only 3% of Australia's total wine production, but the high-end wine produced here accounts for 20% of Australia's high-end wine production, which can be seen.
Vineyard scenery in margaret river appellation (Image: margaretriver.wine)
The Margaret River appellation has excellent viticulture conditions. The climate here belongs to the Mediterranean, but it is also heavily influenced by the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean, the climate is mild throughout the year, the seasonal difference is small with the temperature difference between day and night, and the rainfall is mainly concentrated in winter, and the summer is warm and dry. The soils in the production area are mainly gravel, granite, gneiss and sandy loam, which have good drainage and can conserve heat. At the same time, the low nutrient content of the soil here makes the vines less viable, which helps to produce grape fruits of excellent quality.
Margaret River Vineyard Soil (Image: Margaretriver.wine)
Supported by exceptional terroir, cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Semillon blends from the Margaret River are internationally renowned.
Among these wines, a blend of white wines by Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc is now becoming one of the region's signature wine styles. This wine is a classic blend of Bordeaux, but it also has a very good performance in the Margaret River. These two varieties are the two most grown white grape varieties in the region, with Semillon bringing rich flavor and rounded texture to the finished wine, and Sauvignon Blanc with bright acidity, and the two styles complement each other.
Semillon grapes (Credit: Doris Schneider, Julius Kuhn-Institut)
In order to produce the desired blend, winemakers can either choose fruits of different ripenesses, adjust the ratio of Sauvignon Blanc to Semillon, or change the blending time (e.g. whether to blend as soon as fermentation is complete or before bottling). In addition, the use of oak barrels also has an impact on the style of the wine: wines that are not affected by oak barrels are very lively and crisp, while wines fermented or matured in oak barrels have a better complexity, sense of volume and concentration. It is these bold, diverse and exquisite winemaking techniques that create the charm of Margaret River Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends.
Oak barrels used in margaret river appellations (Credit: margaretriver.wine)
Overall, the Margaret River Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends are known for their lively and crisp properties, exuding fresh fruity notes of lemon, gooseberry, passion fruit, grapefruit and lemon sauce, accompanied by notes of herbs and herbs, lively acidity and crispness, and more depth and complexity after aging in oak barrels. These wines are a classic pairing with seafood, as well as chicken and food cooked with light curries and lemon sauce.