7 Best Sights in The South West Wine Region, Western Australia

This winery's Art Series wines—especially the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon—have a deserved reputation as some of the best in the country, and feature on Australia's "most collected" list. Complimentary tastings (Art Series wine imposes a fee) are conducted on the property daily, introducing you to the extensive art gallery in the cellar. Setting aside the entire afternoon is the way to go at Leeuwin's fine-dining restaurant, open daily for lunch.

In summer the estate holds its iconic Leeuwin Concert Series; many international superstars—including Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Sting, and the late Ray Charles—have performed here against a backdrop of tall, floodlit karri trees.

You'll find some unique blends of red wine and humorous gift items at this small country road winery. Steer down the long driveway, through the vineyard to arrive at this rustic, but welcoming cellar door and gift shop. It's hard to pass up a T-shirt with glittery wine glasses with sentiments such as “wines constantly” or “group therapy.” You'll also find funny cocktail napkins, artisan pottery, local artworks, and, of course, lots of wonderful wine. 

One of the "founding five" wineries in the area, Cape Mentelle planted its first vines in 1970 on a 16-hectare block just outside Margaret River. Today, it's still one of the most notable wineries, not only for its delectable drops but also for its seasonal movie nights. During the summer months, you can enjoy a balmy evening of food, wine, and film at the winery's outdoor cinema (a must-do). To learn more about the vineyard, take the 90-minute Behind the Scenes tours. There's also a food and wine pairing experience Monday through Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday morning; private tastings; and a picnic basket with wine flight option. As is the trend in the region, a A$10 per person fee is charged for wine tastings but refundable with a purchase. 

Biodynamic? Tick. Homegrown produce? Tick. Gorgeous vineyard setting? Tick. Stellar wines. Tick, tick, tick. Cullen isn’t the flashiest winery in Margaret River, but its rustic, cottage feel is a strong part of the allure. Family owned since it began in 1971 it has long followed an ethos to care for the planet and exist sustainably, and it seems Mother Nature is returning the favor. The Cullen Biodynamic Wine Room serves crisp, clean wines, along with fresh, flavorsome meals using seasonal ingredients from the on-site biodynamic spiral garden (visit for free independently). Seated wine tastings offer a personal service and in-depth experience from A$30 per person. General tastings at the bar start at A$15. 

Traveling in a group of six or more? Make a booking for wine tastings.

Winemaker and owner Michael Kerrigan—once chief winemaker at neighboring Howard Park and Madfish Wines—is on a mission to produce "modern wines from old vines" under several different labels. His hands-on approach, using the best grapes from the thirtysomething-year-old plantings, has won show awards and five-star endorsements by wine writers. The tasting room breaks from the usual Margaret River architecture—no rammed earth, timber, and stone here, rather a lovely white-painted clapboard building, polished concrete floors, and pitched ceiling. Tastings cost A$10 per person and you'll get it back if you buy a bottle. As the name suggests, the building is the original hay shed on what was a dairy farm. Rustico Restaurant serves tapas from 11 to 5 daily.

Rustic timber cottages and historic buildings characterize the small town of Nannup, 100 km (62 miles) east of Margaret River. Several scenic drives wind through the area, including the Blackwood River Tourist Drive, a 10-km (6-mile) ride along a section of river surrounded by hills with karri and jarrah forests. You can also canoe on the Blackwood River and wander through the Blythe Gardens. A map of the buildings used in the 2013 surf movie, Drift, is also available from the Nannup Visitor Centre (open daily, 10–4; v26495625www.everythingnannup.com.au). At various times of the year look out for Nannup's popular festivals: music, flower and garden, and art and photography. The Festival of Country Gardens displays an artist's palette of WA's spring and autumn colors.

The first vines planted in the region were here at Vasse Felix in 1967. Today, its ground-level cellar door provides free wine samples, while the upstairs restaurant offers fine dining and sweeping views of the vineyards and landscaped grounds. In the winery, Virginia Willcock, who was awarded Australian Winemaker of the Year in 2012, is at the helm, perfecting the region's strong suits of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as developing clean, flavorsome Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Shiraz. As is becoming the norm in Margaret River, a A$10 per person wine tasting fee is redeemable with the purchase of any bottle of wine. 

An on-site art gallery houses regular exhibitions from prominent Australian artists.