Pemberton Wine Region - Discover the secrets of Pemberton wineries plus invaluable wine collecting information for the beginner...

Pemberton is situated in the lower south west of Western Australia and has a reputation for being one of Australia's most exciting emerging wine regions.

Pemberton - A Wine Grower's Paradise

Pemberton's mild weather is not only excellent for grape growing, but provides the perfect setting for a relaxing nature-based getaway.

Vines were first planted experimentally in 1977 by the Department of Agriculture. Gloucester Ridge was the first commercial vineyard in Pemberton, planted in 1985. Since then, Pemberton has continued to develop and grow and has become widely acclaimed for it's spectacular wines and beautiful scenery.

Pemberton is located approx 335kms south of Perth and has the third tallest hardwood trees in the world. The Pemberton region is predominantly a forested area with undulating countryside. Summers are moderate with occasional hot days with cool evenings.

Grape Varieties

The main grape varieties grown in Pemberton are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

Below is a description of the varieties you are most likely to come across while wine tasting in Australia's south west region...

Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Shiraz
Verdelho
Viognier

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the number one red grape variety in the world. It is often blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz. Small and toughed-skinned, its grapes produce deeply coloured wine, rich in blackcurrant, mint and green pepper flavours and tannins that enable its wines to age for sometimes decades. Like Chardonnay it marries happily with oak.

Origin Bordeaux, France

Colour Full Red

Flavours & aromas Blackcurrant and red berry, mint and herbaceous leaf, capsicum, eucalyptus, chocolate, blackberry, raspberry, liquorice and pepper. Astringent dry finish.

Chardonnay

Styles vary from light and fresh, to heavily-oaked, buttery, tropical fruit flavoured wines. The grape is also used in sparkling wines and Champagne.

Origin Burgundy, France

Colour Full White

Flavours & aromas Green apple, peach, honey, fig, vanilla, grapefruit, citrus, cashews, butter, peach, tropical fruit / passion fruit pineapple, pear, melon, creamy butter, vanilla and honey.

Merlot

Merlot has a rounded soft tannin structure making it ready for drinking earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is used in Bordeaux and all over the world, to soften Cabernet based wines and to add complexity. Makes full yet soft red wine, rich in fruit low in tannin.

Origin Bordeaux, France

Colour Full Red

Flavours & aromas Herbaceous, perfumed, cherry, violets, plum, earthy, spicy and mulberry.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir has a certain sweet fruitiness and, in general lower levels of tannins and pigments.

Origin Burgundy, France

Colour Lighter Red

Flavours & aromas Strawberry, cherry, raspberry/red-berry, plumy, spicy, forest-floor and truffle. Fine velvety tannin smoothness.

Riesling

Riesling can make exceptionally fine wines with power, flavour, elegance and the ability to age. Its styles range from light and crisp to headily rich and sweet. The medium dry versions are excellent for sipping on their own.

Origin Germany

Colour Light White

Flavours & aromas Lime, lemon, passion fruit, floral, perfumed, mineral and kerosene.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is mostly enjoyed whilst young and fresh. They have a very characteristic aroma described as asparagus or even grassy. Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes used for blending particularly with Semillon or Chardonnay to create a Classic Dry White wine.

Typical flavours are asparagus, capsicum, herbaceous, hay, melons, tropical fruit, gooseberry, mown grass and passion fruit.

Origin Loire Valley, France

Colour Lighter White

Flavours & aromas Herbaceous, gooseberry, passion fruit, asparagus, cut grass, green pea, melon and tropical fruit. Thin racy fruit flavours with fine textured length.

Semillon

One of the traditional Bordeaux varieties, often blended with Sauvignon Blanc.

Origin Bordeaux, France

Colour White

Flavours & aromas Citrus, crisp lime fruit, herbaceous, grassy, pea-pod, straw, apple, pineapple, toast, nutty, honey-dew melon lightness.

Shiraz

Shiraz is considered the finest red wine grown in Australia. It is certainly the most widely planted red grape in Australia. Australian Shiraz has a richer sweeter flavour than the French. The grape creates a heavy red wine.

Origin Rhone Valley, France

Colour Full Red

Flavours & aromas Black-pepper and spice, blackberry, raspberry and chocolate. Dense yet soft flavour length.

Verdelho

Verdelho is a Portuguese variety which performs well in Australia and is used to produce dry, sweet and fortified wine styles. Verdelho is best described as a generously flavoured style, reminiscent of tropical fruits, and balanced with crisp acidity.

Origin Madeira, Portugal

Colour Very full white

Flavours & aromas Tropical fruit pawpaw, mango, guava. Rich textured palate, juicy tropical fruit flavours and soft acid.

Viognier

This grape has a particular perfume redolent of apricots, peaches, and blossom.

Origin Rhone Valley , France

Colour White

Flavours & aromas Viscous, almost oily wine, with a bouquet of apricot and peach blossom.

Enjoy the Alex Bond Gallery

Great range of wines from the Pemberton region

Fly Brook wines with our Pemberton Wine Centre cap
Channybearup Vineyard's "Flybrook Range" with our Pemberton Wine Centre Cap