Geographe Wine Region

Geographe is a premium wine region located in Western Australia, south of the Indian Ocean coast. The area is blessed with great natural beauty, from magnificent hills to world-class beaches. Geographe wine region is famous for its cosy wine cellars and boutique wineries, offering a wide array of red, white and rosé wines produced from diverse grapes. The high quality of Geographe wines is noteworthy and attracts many wine lovers from all over the world; also, they are appreciated by numerous wine connoisseurs. Indeed, this locally crafted wine and the region’s stunning landscapes will undoubtedly meet your expectations.

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Where is Geographe Wine Region located?

Geographe is a sub-region of Western Australia wine region, situated in Australia, south of the Indian Ocean coast, close to Collie river, and 2 hours drive from the city of Perth. Western Australia is the country’s largest and most prominent region, uniting eight sub-regions. The neighbouring wine sub-regions to Geographe are Margaret River, Peel, and Blackwood Valley. The region surrounds Geographe bay. The vineyards’ area stretches 790 hectares, extending up towards Harvey, back down through Capel and Busselton and over to Donnybrook and the Ferguson Valley in the east.

The history of Geographe Wine Region

Geographe has a long and colourful history of grape growing. It’s an acclaimed wine appellation that was granted the status in 1999. Still young, the appellation has become more attractive for new winemakers since the 2000s. The region is named after Geographe Bay. The bay was initially discovered by French explorer Baudin in 1801, who first explored it with his two ships, the Geographe and the Naturaliste. Nowadays, there are 57 winegrowers, 26 producers and 36 different grape varieties flourishing in this dynamic wine sub-region of Geographe.

Geographe Wine Region terroir

A maritime climate influences the cultivation of land. The weather is warm, but the breezes from the Indian Ocean, all year long, are frequent. The average annual temperature is 22.4°. The Collie River provides sufficient water supplies to various Geographe wine estates, making the land perfect for viticulture. Summers are typically drier, showered by heavy rainfall throughout the winter, developing a layer of humid temperature conditions during the growing season. The total contribution of the Geographe region to Western Australia’s wine industry is ten per cent. 

The vines sit at an altitude of 400 metres maximum and enjoy limestone soil with excellent water-holding capacity in the coastal part, allowing free-draining and rich mineral content. The low soil fertility in coastal vineyards hinders the growing process, extending the time for berries to ripen and stipulating the acidity in the taste of wines. Consequently, the grapes produced are smaller in size, with intense aroma and concentrated flavours. However, more in the inner land, the soil the vineyards sit on is of higher fertility, derived from sandy loam and gneissic rock.

Geographe Wine Characteristics

Geographe wine region produces its wines from different grape varieties. Due to its climate and other geographical conditions, the wines are robust, full-bodied, and fruit-driven. Red wines mainly come from Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo grapes; the Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend is rampant. The red wines are elegant, with moderate tannins and good ageing potential. As for white grape varieties, Chardonnay is the king here, but Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon grapes are pretty standard; they are sometimes blended, too. Geographe white wines are crispy, citrusy and moderately acidic, best to be consumed young. 

Food to pair with Geographe Wine

Continental Roll

Continental Roll is a traditional Western Australian sandwich with Italian accents. The sandwich consists of a crispy demi-baguette or a white panini bread, mozzarella or similar cheese, Italian meat cuts like mortadella or salami, fresh heirloom tomato cuts, rocket leaves massaged in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sometimes sun-dried tomatoes or aubergines are added to enhance the flavour. This stuffed and flavourful sandwich is an excellent accompaniment for Geographe red wine, and it makes a good combination for picnics on the beach or lazy afternoon meals. You can find this kind of sandwich largely in the lunch bars of Western Australia.

Dhufish

Dhufish is a Western Australian local fish, similar to perch. It is pretty fleshy and has white meat; it is usually grilled or steamed with salt and black pepper seasoned with juicy ​​citrus dressing. Pairing quality fish with a glass of aromatic white wine is a classic, and indeed, the crispiness and citrusy, acidic tones of Geographe white wine go exceptionally well with the taste of Western Australian dhufish.

Chaumes cheese

Chaumes cheese is a soft, unpressed cow’scow’s milk cheese. It is made in the style of Brie but has a more robust flavour. The cheese has a pale yellow colour and washed rind. It has a nutty flavour and soft, moist texture that is silky and slightly elastic when young, becoming more crumbly as it matures. Being French originally, this exquisite cheese is excellent to pair with fine white wine, like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

Places to visit in Geographe Wine Region

Busselton Jetty

The Busselton Jetty is a common tourist attraction in Western Australia. It is situated on the coast of the Indian Ocean; it is an essential sight as there is one of the six underwater observatories in the world. It has a length of 1.8 km and is made from concrete blocks that have been cast with a concrete mortar mix that includes sea sand, coal tar pitch and ferrous oxide to create a waterproof sealant.

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse 

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is a heritage-listed lighthouse located in southwestern Australia. The lighthouse is situated on the rocky cliffs of Cape Naturaliste, one of Western Australia’s most significant sights. The Cape lighthouse is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Western Australia; you can discover more about the local plants and animals and their importance to ocean currents there. You can also learn about migrating humpback whales, who rely on these currents during their journeys.

Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary

The Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary is a partially enclosed coastal wetland in the southwest of Western Australia; located on the coast of the Indian Ocean and has been recognized as a significant wetland area, listed with the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (DIWA). The estuary is an integral part of local culture and has been home to many various species of animals and birds.

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