Pair'd Margaret River Region is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Western Australia calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Various wineries and venues in Margaret River Region, in the heart of one of Australia's most distinctive wine areas. It is an annual event with an established local audience and a consistent place in the regional calendar.
WA Government-owned festival. 20+ events. Sommelier-led tastings, Michelin-starred wine dinners, karri forest long lunches, beach clubs. 150+ WA businesses involved. $5M+ economic impact (2025). Program announced mid-2026. Wine festivals across Europe typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, live music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy directly from producers at cellar prices. Many events run across multiple days or weekends, allowing visitors to sample different parts of the programme according to interest, and combine well with the area's wider tourism offer. The event is organised by Tourism Western Australia / Mellen Events, We Are Gather, AHOY Management, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
Western Australia produces only around 5% of Australia's wine but punches far above its weight in quality terms — the state's premium wines have been called the most internationally underrated in the country. The Margaret River region, on the southwestern coastal peninsula, is the international quality reference, with cool maritime conditions producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends of remarkable refinement. Producers like Cape Mentelle, Leeuwin Estate, Cullen, Vasse Felix and Moss Wood lead the regional quality. The Great Southern region (including Mount Barker, Frankland River, Porongurup) is even cooler, producing premium Riesling, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. The Swan Valley near Perth is the historic wine area.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for 19-22 November 2026. Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at pairdmargaretriver.com. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Western Australia is reached via Perth airport (PER), with Margaret River 3 hours south of Perth (or via Busselton airport for direct access). Margaret River pairs wine tourism with the area's world-class surfing beaches (Yallingup, Margaret River Main Break, Surfers Point), the Cape Naturaliste-Cape Leeuwin coastal walk, the Karri forests of Boranup, and the strong contemporary food scene of the area. The Great Southern region (Mount Barker, Frankland River, Porongurup, Denmark, Albany) is reached via Albany airport.
