If Margaret River has a signature wine, it’s Cabernet Sauvignon. The region’s maritime climate and gravelly soils produce Cabernets that genuinely rival the world’s best.
What Makes It Special
Margaret River Cabernet is prized for elegance and structure — ripe dark fruit, fine-grained tannins and the ability to age gracefully for decades. The narrow strip of land between two oceans gives warm days and cool nights, ripening the fruit slowly and preserving natural freshness. The result is often compared to fine Bordeaux.
How to Taste It
Look for aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, mint and violet. Swirl to release the perfume, sniff, then sip and let it linger. Notice the balance between fruit, tannin and acidity, and how the flavour evolves from first taste to finish. A good cellar-door host will happily talk you through each vintage.
Cabernet on Its Own or in a Blend
You’ll find Cabernet two ways here. Straight varietal bottlings show the grape at full voice — firm, structured and built to age. Bordeaux-style blends soften it with Merlot, Petit Verdot or Malbec for a rounder, more approachable wine. Tasting both side by side at the cellar door is one of the best ways to understand the variety and find the style you prefer.
Cabernet and the Founding Estates
Much of the region’s Cabernet comes from Wilyabrup, home to the founding estates whose wines earned Margaret River its reputation from the late 1960s onwards. Tasting Cabernet here is tasting the region’s history in a glass — learn more in our history of Margaret River wine.
Cabernet and How Long to Cellar It
One of Cabernet’s joys is patience. A good Margaret River Cabernet drinks well young but often peaks after five to fifteen years, as firm tannins soften and secondary notes of leather, tobacco and dried herbs emerge. Many estates release aged “museum” vintages at the cellar door, so you can taste how the wine evolves — a highlight for anyone building a collection.
Food Pairings
Cabernet is classic with red meat — think a rare steak or slow-cooked lamb — but it also shines with hard, aged cheeses, which is why our cheese and wine pairings work so beautifully. Dark chocolate, another regional specialty, is a surprisingly good match too. Explore more in our guide to Margaret River cheese.
Experience it yourself on our signature tour. Our small-group 3-day Margaret River wine tour from Perth includes six wineries, cave and wildflower tours, cheese tastings, meals and accommodation — all from just $850 per person. Call 1300 456 788 or enquire online to book today.
