NOW EXPERIENCING:Voyager Estate
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Voyager Estate

Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
41 Stevens Road, Margaret River, WA, 6285
Phone
(08) 9757 6354
Website
voyagerestate.com.au
Instagram
@voyagerestate

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 07 Aug 2023

By
Max Veenhuyzen

From its elegant Cape Dutch-influenced cellar door to the meticulously made organic wines, Voyager Estate is an operation that nails the details in the glass and the polished service.

In the vines at Voyager Estate, Margaret River
Why you goAs far as first impressions go, Voyager Estate has shock-and-awe down to an art. The estate’s Cape Dutch-inspired tasting room, manicured garden, occasion-ready restaurant and knockout organic wines make it one of Margaret River’s showpiece cellar doors and a must for visitors to the region. But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Voyager story: Michael Wright, the late mining magnate who bought the property in 1991, was a teetotaller. Today, under the stewardship of Michael’s daughter Alex Burt, Voyager continues to evolve and refine its upmarket offering.
Why you stayVoyager Estate is a masterclass in sweating – and nailing – the details. The handsome cellar door is a picture-perfect example of Cape Dutch architecture: clock gable, cottage windows, whitewashed walls and all. (Tradies from South Africa were flown out during the building’s construction in the ’90s to ensure everything was just so.) A team of five full-time gardeners keep the property’s lawns, hedges and rose gardens looking pristine. The story is equally impressive inside – chandeliers and exposed rafters in the tasting area conjure a sense of grandeur, while outgoing, sharply dressed staff are equally polished. Make no mistake: Voyager is a class act and well equipped to inject plenty of special into any occasion.
The cellar door and gardens at Margaret River's Voyager Estate
A wine tasting at Voyager Estate in Margaret River
What drink to orderCabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, Margaret River’s two hero grapes, are well represented here. At the pointy end of the range are the estate’s top-tier chardonnays and cabernets – sweetly named MJW as a tribute to the aforementioned Michael John Wright – but there’s good drinking to be had at all price points. The Coastal range is a fine introduction to Voyager’s detailed, modern winemaking, while the cellar door is the only place to try and buy Voyager’s Project bottlings – trial, small-batch wines that speak to the winery’s constant striving for excellence. Driving? Non-alcoholic sparkling red and white grape juice have long been part of Voyager’s range.
What to pair it withAttention-to-detail levels are equally high in the restaurant, one of the region’s most opulent dining rooms and the perfect setting for long lunching. Like many cellar-door restaurants, the kitchen’s brief is to match the food to the wine. The result is intricate dishes along the lines of hibachi-grilled pork collar with a black garlic purée and roasted beetroot that shows off the cherry-like pleasures of Voyager’s Project merlot. Whether you opt for the full-length Discovery set menu or condensed Terroir menu, count on meticulous cooking, ingredients from the kitchen garden, and sharp service. For something more casual, cheese plates are available in the tasting area.
A meticulously plated dish at Voyager Estate
Regular's TipA lot of work goes into the upkeep of the garden – it’d be rude not to make the most of the ground crew’s efforts. Once you’ve finished your tasting and picked out your favourite (the tasting fee is $10 for estate wines or $20 for the higher-end stuff, refundable with any purchase) buy a glass – or bottle – and take it outside. If you’re lucky, some of those shaded fold-out picnic chairs will be free and you’ll have a fine spot to enjoy your drink and the scenery. Nearby Margaret River Woodfired Bread bakery, meanwhile, turns out hot loaves daily around 3:00pm. Swing past on your way out and be rewarded with the good stuff, still warm from the oven.
A winery tour in the barrel room at Voyager Estate
Make it fancyWhile team Voyager knows how to sprinkle a little fancy on any visit, booking in for a tour really lets the crew flex their hospitality muscles. An estate tour takes guests into the vineyard, winery, barrel room and other key parts of the Voyager story, while the sommelier-led Origins tasting shows off new and museum releases of key wines. If you really want to make a day of it consider the Voyager Unearthed all-day tour that takes in all of the above, along with lunch. Magnums and cellar door-exclusive museum releases make splendid souvenirs of your visit.
Who to takeVoyager and its wines undoubtedly reside at the more polished end of the market, but the atmosphere is far from stuffy. If you dig your wine – the estate doesn’t do much else drinks-wise – you’ll dig Voyager. Plan and book early (especially on weekends and if dining in the restaurant is on the wishlist) and you’ll have a beaut time.
Authour image
Max VeenhuyzenMax Veenhuyzen is a Perth food, drink and travel journalist who contributes to key Australian publications.
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Drinks DirectoryTakeawaysVego Food OptionsRestaurantOutdoor areaTop notch wine listGood for groupsMeal and a bevWheelchair accessibleRegional WAWineryFancy occasion
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