Margaret River Wineries: Edwards Wines

I finally have had a moment to finish this blog post as we actually visited Edwards Wines in Margaret River last year and what a beautiful spot it is! It was our first stop on our way back to Perth on the Sunday morning and we showed up eagerly at the cellar door just as they were setting up for the day. It was safe to say after seeing the bean-bags on the lawn overlooking the vineyard that we really didn’t want to go back to Perth but instead spend the day sipping on wine in the comfort of those bean-bags.

The Cellar Door Experience:

While they were setting up the tastings we decided to have a wander around the grounds. There is so much space to chillax and a myriad of lawn activities to keep small and big kids amused such a pétanque and ring tossing (not sure the exact name for this game, but the idea is to throw the rings onto a vertical stick/pole a few metres away).

The cellar door is full of light and the staff member on the day was super friendly and chatty. We tried our way through the range on offer and every single wine brought a lot ‘mmmming’ sounds to the room.

There is also a barrel room and a plane hangar on the grounds! Yes you read that right. The hangar is home to Matilda, the Tiger Moth (Gipsy Major) who plays a very important role in the story behind Edwards Wines. Find out more below!

Edwards Story:

Brian Edwards is where this story begins. After 15 years of planning, Brian journeyed from Binbrook in the UK on the 23rd of March 1990 in his Tiger Moth plane Matilda and arrived home in Perth on the 13th of May 1990. The journey was a total of 12,000 nautical miles and followed in the footsteps of Australian aviation pioneers, Bert Hinkler & Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.

He made the flight to raise money for Legacy, which is an organisation that cared for him and his mother for 20 years after his father, Officer Clifford Edwards went missing in action in World War II. Brian raised a whooping $55,000 for Legacy.

Upon arriving back to Perth, Brian and his wife Jenny purchased the Edwards Wines property in 1991. This particular property caught his eye because he’d be able to get an airstrip down the back – he sure had a love for flying! Two years later in 1993, vines were planted and Edwards has now grown to a vineyard of around sixty acres. It’s only a few minutes drive from Margaret River town and has stunning vineyard views.

Sadly Brian passed away in 2003 from leukemia however his memory lives on through Matilda and the cellar door. Sons, Mike and Christo now look after the winemaking and viticulture and I have to admit they’re doing a darn good job!

When visiting Edwards in Margs you really experience the history and passion behind not only the wines but the Edwards family – you simply need to pop in on your next day out in Margs to taste, smell, see and hear all about this awesome spot. It’s one of those stories that gives me goosebumps – so much passion and motivation and the best bit is we get to share the story with Edwards through their wines.

My Pick of the Bunch:

It’s no surprise that my pick is the Chardy, however I have to admit the Merlot Malbec blend and Shiraz were very close runners-up (my Dad was particularly in love with the Merlot Malbec blend). I have to also mention that I just love the Edwards wine labels, talk about a great conversation starter for your next dinner party!

Edwards 2012 Chardonnay:

We stopped in at the @edwardswines cellar door on our way back to Perth from Margaret River recently. We were all completed captivated by the story behind the winery and the boys absolutely loved seeing the plane in the shed at Edwards. I’ll leave the full story for my upcoming blog post but naturally I fell in love with their Chardonnay…. The 2012 Edwards Chardonnay is a pale yellow on the eye with aromas of creamy fruits (nectarines, honeydew melon), lovely refreshing oak and it’s simply just mmmmm on the nose. So well balanced on the palate with a good oak oomph, refreshing fruit characters, crisp acidity and an everlasting buttery, lip licking finish. There’s no doubt about it, Chardonnay is truly my wine-soulmate! RRP $32. All opinions are based on my own taste buds. 

Visiting Edwards Wines

Address: 687 Ellen Brook Rd, Cowaramup WA 6284
Phone: (08) 9755 5999
Email: Contact here
Opening times: Monday-Sunday 10:30am-5pm
Wines/Varietals: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine tasting cost: Free!
Food available: No
Website: www.edwardswines.com.au
Social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram