“What are some other best wineries in Margaret River we should visit while we’re down here?”

It’s a question we get all the time at the cellar door.

Usually just after a tasting,  when people are standing there, glass in hand, half-planning the rest of their day while trying to avoid ending up at the same obvious stops everyone else recommends.

And it’s a fair question.

Just not an easy one to answer.

If you’re searching for the best wineries in Margaret River, most lists will point you toward the same handful of names. They’re popular for a reason.

But they’re not the only way to experience the region.

So yes, we’ll admit it upfront. We’re probably a little biased.

We do think your first stop should be with us.

After that though, there’s a lot more worth exploring. And rather than giving you the usual list, these are the places we tend to recommend depending on what kind of experience you’re actually after.

Quick picks: Best wineries in Margaret River by experience

• Best for conservation and connection to the land: Passel Estate
• Best for families: Swings & Roundabouts
• Best for something different: LS Merchants
• Best view: Wise Wine
• Best for spending all day at: Glenarty Road
• Best hidden gem: Peacetree Estate
• Best for organic & minimal-intervention wines: Si Vintners

Our pick for conservation and connection to the land

Passel Estate

We’ll start here.

Partly because it’s us. Partly because we feel that we genuinely offer something a little different.

Our Margaret River winery sits within native bushland, and a big part of what we do centres around protecting the habitat of the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum. That’s not something we’ve layered on top of the winery. It’s built into how the property is cared for.

And you feel that when you arrive.

It’s quieter. Slower. There’s less sense of being moved through a tasting and more space to just… be there for a bit.

People tend to take their time without really deciding to.

You might start with a tasting, then end up outside: A picnic in the vineyard; local cheeses or chocolate bonbons; a glass in hand.

Stay a little longer, and if you’re there late enough, the light shifts, the bushland starts to settle, and the whole place changes again.

It doesn’t feel like your typical Margaret River wine experiences or cellar door visit. 

What to expect:
Give yourself at least 45–60 minutes. Longer if you lean into it, which most people do.

Why we think it stands out:
Because you’re not just visiting a winery. You’re spending time in a place where conservation, landscape and wine are all tied together.

Our pick for families

Swings & Roundabouts

If you’ve got a mix of people,  kids, groups, different energy levels,  this is one we come back to a lot.

There’s space. Movement. Noise, and no one really feels like they need to behave a certain way.

Kids aren’t being “accommodated”; they’re part of it. Running around, climbing, doing their thing while everything else carries on.

Which means the adults actually relax too.

You’ll see people settle in here without overthinking it. Order food, grab a drink, find a spot and just let it play out.

What to expect:
You might come in for a quick stop… and still be there an hour or two later.

Why we like it:
Because it works for the whole group, not just the person focused on the wine.

Our pick for something a bit different

LS Merchants

This is where the rhythm shifts.

There’s a bit more going on here.

People aren’t lined up neatly at a tasting bench, working through wines in order. They’re moving around, grabbing food, circling back, talking louder than they probably would anywhere else.

And that’s kind of the point.

Depending on the day, there might be a burger truck out back. Music, movement, a bit of energy that you don’t always get at cellar doors.

It feels like part of a newer generation of Margaret River. Less polished, more relaxed, and not too concerned with doing things the “right” way.

What to expect:
No real rush. No rigid structure. You’ll likely stay longer than planned.

Why we like it:
Because it breaks the pattern, and once you break that pattern, the rest of the day feels better.

Our pick for the best view

Wise Wine

Some places you remember for the wine.

Some you remember for where you were standing.

Wise leans into the second.

Set above Geographe Bay, it opens up in a way most inland wineries don’t. Wide, coastal, exposed, in a good way.

People naturally slow down here. Not because they’re told to. Just because the setting does that on its own.

You’ll notice it. Glasses sitting a little longer between sips, conversations stretching out.

What to expect:
Best in the afternoon, when the light softens and everything looks a little better than it did an hour earlier.

Why we like it:
Because the view isn’t just something in the background. It becomes part of the experience.

Our pick for spending all day at

Glenarty Road

This is one of those places where plans quietly disappear.

You might come in for a tasting or sit down for lunch, and then… just not really leave.

There’s a natural rhythm to it. Not overly polished, not rushed, just a steady flow from one part of the experience to the next.

It’s a working farm as much as it is a winery, and that comes through in everything. The food, the setting, the way the whole place feels grounded rather than staged.

You don’t feel like you’re moving through a set experience.

You just… stay.

What to expect:
Don’t plan too tightly around this one. Lunch tends to turn into the afternoon.

Why we like it:
Because it doesn’t feel like a stop,  it feels like somewhere you settle into.

Our pick for a hidden gem

Peacetree Estate

Not every place needs a big presence.

Peacetree is quieter. Smaller. A bit more under the radar.

It’s the kind of place people end up at almost by accident and then mention later like they’ve found something others haven’t.

There’s no big production here. No sense of being managed through an experience.

Just a slower, more personal feel.

What to expect:
You don’t need to be long here, but it’s better if you don’t rush it.

Why we like it:
Because it feels like a discovery, and those are the places people remember.

Our pick for organic and minimal-intervention wines

Si Vintners

This is a slightly different side of Margaret River again.

Less polished. More hands-on.

Si Vintners works with organic fruit and biodynamic farming practices, with a minimal-intervention approach both in the vineyard and winery.

You don’t need to understand the technical side of that to notice the difference.

You just feel it.

The setup is smaller, more relaxed and less structured than most cellar doors.

Things aren’t being run to script,  and that’s exactly what makes it interesting.

What to expect:
Go in open. It won’t feel like the others. That’s the point.

Why we like it:
Because it shows a version of Margaret River that’s still evolving.

A simple way to experience a few of these in one day

If you’re trying to fit a few stops into a day without it feeling rushed, this tends to work well.

What most people get wrong when visiting Margaret River wineries

Most people try to do too much.

They come down with a list. Try to hit as many as possible, and somewhere around the third stop, everything starts to blur.

A better approach is simpler.

Pick a few places that feel different from each other.

1. Something grounded.
2. Something with a bit of energy.
3. Something you can slow down in.

That’s when the day actually starts to stand out.

How to choose the right wineries for your visit

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t think in terms of “best.”

Think in terms of how you want it to feel.

• Want something more connected to the land → Passel Estate
• Travelling with a group → Swings & Roundabouts
• Want something a bit different → LS Merchants
• Chasing views → Wise Wine
• Want to settle in → Glenarty Road

That shift alone usually changes the whole day.

Can’t make it to Margaret River?

If you’re not visiting anytime soon, you can still experience Margaret River wines at home.

From curated mixed packs to single-vineyard releases, it’s a way to bring a small part of the region to you, wherever you are.

Order some Margaret River Wine

Frequently asked questions about the best wineries in Margaret River

What are the best Margaret River wineries for first-time visitors?

A mix of well-known and smaller cellar doors tends to work best, especially if each offers a different kind of experience.

How many wineries should you visit in one day?

Most people find 3-4 is the sweet spot without feeling rushed.

Are there dog-friendly wineries in Margaret River?

Yes, several wineries welcome dogs, (including us), particularly those with outdoor spaces and relaxed settings. Learn more about how Passel Estate is a dog-friendly winery.

What is the best time of year to visit Margaret River wineries?

Margaret River’s amazing local wineries can be visited all year round, with each season offering something different, from warm summer afternoons to quieter winter visits.