Western Australia has some of the finest family-owned wineries in the country. Today we’re shining the spotlight on three WA beauties – Hay Shed Hill, Forest Hill and Sittella. With their roots in different wine regions of the state, all wineries are a successful blend of fine winemaking and business acumen.
It’s not hard to support the WA industry with winemakers like these three continually producing award-winning wines for the cellar door, retail and export markets. Check out these wineries and show your support for the dedication and hard work of your local WA winemakers.
Hay Shed Hill
Originally established as a group settlement farm for returned WW1 soldiers, the vineyard sits on a picturesque property. Located in the Wilyabrup Valley in the Margaret River Wine region, Hay Shed Hills is just five kilometres from the cooling summer sea breezes of the Indian Ocean.
The property began its life as a dairy farm until vines were planted in the early 1970’s. The Hay Shed Hill brand began in the late 1980’s and its sister label Pitchfork was added later. Through ownership changes, the labels and style of wine were altered until the current owners went back to the original concept after purchasing the vineyard in late 2006.
Owner and winemaker Michael Kerrigan has almost 30 years’ industry experience and was a finalist for the prestigious national Qantas Winemaker of the Year award. Wife Leith Pavlinovich has developed the art gallery and cellar door at Hay Shed Hill.
Three of our top picks for Hay Shed Hill include:
Cabernet Sauvignon - mid palate Cabernet with massive fruit weight with dark cherry and blackcurrant flavours with a dense dark to black colour.
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot – a medium bodied wine with a vibrant and fruit driven palate. Enjoy its fleshy middle and soft mature ripe tannins. Deep crimson red in colour.
Sauvignon Blanc Semillion – bright and fresh with vibrant citric, gooseberry and lychee flavours. The palate extension has the flavour lingering to a clean, ultra dry finish.
Forest Hill
Located to the west of Mt Barker, Forrest Hill was the first cool climate vineyard planted in WA in 1965. Its first harvest in 1972 allowed for the first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon to be produced at Houghton’s Winery. The 1975 harvest produced the famous Riesling which won nine trophies and 12 gold medals and holds the record for the most awarded wine in WA. New varieties of grape were planted in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The current family owners began farming in Mount Barker in the early 1990’s before acquiring Forest Hill next door in 1996.
In 2004, the Forest Hill opened its cellar door and winery in Denmark, 40km south of the original vineyard.
Three of our top picks for Forrest Hill include:
Malbec – an abundance of blackcurrant and cherry on the palate followed by soft tannins and mocha on the lingering finish.
Sauvignon Blanc - Bright straw with green hues and lifted aromas of orange blossom, citrus peel and passionfruit. Partial barrel fermentation has built a textured palate with fresh citrus and tropical fruit.
Shiraz - dark red with purple hues and a bouquet of blackberry, pepper and cloves. An elegant palate with concentrated flavours of blackberry and Satsuma plums with silky tannins. The long finish is savoury and complex with balanced acidity.
Sittella
The Sittella winery and restaurant is a jewel in the Swan Valley producing high quality, traditional wines. Owners Simon and Maaike Berns are supported by a professional team of industry experts.
Named after a small Australian bird, Sittella uses its own and contracted vineyards in Margaret River and the deep south of the state to produce its award-winning wines. Last year Sittella was named Best Small Producer of the Year in Ray Jordan’s WA Wine Guide. Sittella also won the Best White Blend of the Singapore Airlines/Swan Valley Wine Awards and a gold medal at the Royal Show for the 016 Verdelho Swan Valley.
Three of our top picks for Sittella include:
Sparkling Chenin Blanc - Fermented in the bottle in the French tradition method, this is a serious but everyday style of bubbles.
Shiraz Grenache Tempranillo Red Blend - A blend capturing the richness of the Swan Valley while retaining fruit sweetness and depth, and minimal oak.
Silk White Blend - Smooth as silk, well balanced, crisp and packed with flavour, this is an equal blend of Chardonnay, Verdelho and Chenin Blanc varieties.
If you have any queries about top Western Australian wines, ask one of our friendly staff in-store or online.
