Margaret River Wine News & Reviews

Welcome to Passel Estate’s Margaret River Wine News & Reviews, your source for our latest Margaret River wine news and wine reviews. Here you will find updates on our new releases, awards and critical acclaim received plus insights from our vineyard and tasting room. Whether you are discovering Passel Estate wines for the first time or following the region’s wine stories, our blog keeps you connected to the world of our Margaret River fine wines.

A summer afternoon of jazz by the vines for the Lunar New Year

Gather friends and loved ones, shake out your picnic blanket and welcome the new Chinese year of the Horse with an afternoon of scrumptious Má Là dumplings and live summer jazz in the stunning surrounds of Passel Estate.

Saturday 21st February 2025, 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Tickets: $56

Passel Estate Featured in The Vintage Journal Margaret River Wine Guide 2026

Internationally recognised Master of Wine, Andrew Caillard, has just published his Margaret River Wine Guide 2026 for The Vintage Journal and we are very proud to once again be featured in it with a full suite of fantastic reviews.

High praise from Ray Jordan for Passel Estate’s latest releases

We are thrilled to share this flush of fantastic reviews for from leading Western Australian wine writer, Ray Jordan, as we prepare to release our newest vintages.

Margaret River Wineries Unite to Protect Nature

Across the region, landholders and community groups are joining the fight against one of the South West’s worst invaders – the arum lily. One of those leading the way is Passel Estate, working together with our friends next door.

Trophy News! Best Sparkling Honour for Passel Estate!

Trophy news! Passel Estate’s 2023 ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc has just been crowned ‘Best Sparkling Wine’ in the Australian Chenin Blanc Challenge 2025!

Introducing our new viticulturist, Tim Quinlan

We are absolutely delighted to introduce our new viticulturist at Passel Estate, Tim Quinlan. A master of precision wine-growing, Tim will be managing the vineyard year-round, working very closely with our winemakers, to cultivate exceptional fruit for our fine wines.

Passel Estate included in the 100 Best Australian Wines 2025

“Passel must be bursting with pride” says renowned wine critic, Matthew Jukes, as we take our place in his 100 Best Australian Wines Report 2025.

Meet the Margaret River Maker: Wendy Stimpson from Passel Estate

The Margaret River Wine Association has published this charming interview with Passel Estate co-founder, Wendy Stimpson. Pour yourself a glass of wine and spend a few minutes discovering Wendy’s tale. MRWA’s blog might just tempt you to explore the beauty of Passel Estate yourself.

Having a ‘Wine Blast’ at Passel Estate!

Owner, Wendy Stimpson, had great fun introducing Passel Estate to Peter Richards MW – one half of the married Masters of Wine duo behind the UK’s award-winning podcast, Wine Blast – when he visited Margaret River in the Spring.

New Plaudits for Passel Estate Wines from Leading UK Wine Writers

We had the absolute pleasure recently of introducing Passel Estate to two of the UK’s leading wine writers, Matthew Jukes and Richard Hemming MW, when they each visited the Margaret River Wine Region in the Spring.

Read on to discover the fabulous reviews Passel Estate wines received from these esteemed wine critics.

IWSC Wine Trophy Honour!

The International Wine & Spirits Competition today revealed their 2023 Wine Trophy winners, following an additional blind tasting of all GOLD-medal winning wines by the IWSC Judging Committee.

We are thrilled to announce that our Passel Estate 2018 Lot 71 Reserve Syrah was a Wine Trophy winner!

Passel Estate’s Bushland Sanctuary Featured in Explore Magazine

“At Passel Estate you can be a force for good by simply raising a glass” says Amy Cooper in her cover story for Explore Travel Magazine on 29 July 2023.

Introducing the Passel Estate 2017 Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Introducing the 2017 Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This stunning wine has won SILVER medals from both the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge, and more recently received an incredible 96 points from Wine Pilot’s Emma Farrelly.

Passel Estate is formally recognised for sustainable winegrowing

We have always been rigorous in managing our vineyards at Passel Estate in an environmentally sustainable way under the expert guidance of our veteran viticulturist team and have recently received formal recognition of our sustainable practices, through official certification by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.

Passel Estate’s Conservation featured in Australian Geographic Magazine

Passel Estate is proud to feature in Australian Geographic’s in-depth article in the January/February 2023 edition, about conservation and sustainability in the Margaret River region. Living the Good Life by Fleur Bainger covers a range of different conservation initiatives being carried out by tourism operators and other enterprises in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, which is the first certified ECO destination in Western Australia.

Welcome to Passel Estate; a dog-friendly winery in Margaret River

Here at Passel Estate, we understand that outings are much more enjoyable when your precious pet can join you, which is why dogs are welcome to visit our tasting room in Margaret River.

The Winemaker Files: Interview in The Wine Merchant UK Magazine

To mark Passel Estate wines arriving for the first time in the UK, The Wine Merchant Magazine had a chat with founder, Wendy Stimpson for The Winemaker Files in the January 2023 edition.

Interview with Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, LUXUO

LUXURY lifestyle magazine, LUXUO has published this fabulous interview with Passel Estate co-founder, Wendy Stimpson! Why not pour yourself a glass of wine and spend a few minutes acquainting yourself with Wendy and Barry’s story? After reading this interview, you may well be tempted to discover Passel Estate firsthand…