The Margaret River Tours Full Day Gourmet Wine & Dine Tour now includes a stop at Walsh & Sons. This addition to our tour offers guests the opportunity to taste a fantastic range of wines. The wines produced by Walsh & Sons’ reflect their winemakers’ unique approach to viticulture and winemaking and we think you will love their latest vintages as much as we do.
About Walsh & Sons
Walsh & Sons is a family-owned winery that showcases the integrity of Margaret River winemaking. Established in 2013 by Ryan and Freya, a dynamic duo who are the second generation of local winemaking families, Hohnen and Walsh. These families were integral in shaping the region's identity, with the Walsh family settling in Margaret River in 1993, and the Hohnen family being among the region's earliest wine pioneers, arriving in 1972.
This legacy of winemaking inspires Ryan and Freya’s commitment to producing outstanding wines that epitomise the unique characteristics of the Margaret River region.
Two Distinct Vineyard Sites
Walsh & Sons operates two vineyard properties, each contributing different characteristics to their wine portfolio.
The Burnside vineyard is located on the bend of the Margaret River, 1.7 kilometres from the Indian Ocean. Planted in 1981, it stands as one of the older vineyards in Margaret River. The 5 hectare site sits at an elevation of 13-53m and features micaceous black soils. The vineyard grows 4 hectares of Chardonnay and 1 hectare of Grenache. The Chardonnay rows are positioned on a steep northerly aspect, running northwest to southeast. The vine roots extend deep into the gravel loam, eliminating the need for irrigation.
The Osmington vineyard covers 8 hectares and is located in the eastern part of Margaret River, where cooler nights, due to its inland position, occur. The vineyard is sandy loam over clay soils, sits at 120m elevation and is approximately 20 kilometres from the Indian Ocean. It borders a coal seam that runs from Dunsborough to Augusta, contributing to lighter soil structure and expressed as enhanced aromatics in the wines. The vineyard includes 2.8 hectares of Cabernet, 2.6 hectares of Shiraz, and 2.7 hectares of Semillon. Ryan planted Syrah with his father on the Osmington vineyard using a post-hole digger during spring school break in 1995, while his younger brother Al helped plant Cabernet in his final school year in 1998.
Biodynamic and Lo-Fi Winemaking Approach
Since 2021, both Burnside and Osmington vineyards have been converting to biodynamic farming practices. This approach treats the vineyard as an interconnected ecosystem, emphasising harmony between soil, plants, and animals. Biodynamic viticulture combines sustainable soil fertility maintenance with a strong acknowledgement of the connection between plant growth and the rhythms of the earth.
The biodynamic method relies on preparations made from mineral, plant, and animal substances, avoiding traditional chemical sprays. Soil structure is enhanced through specially prepared composts and various emulsions like fish emulsion, leading to greater microbial activity, improved aeration, and better moisture retention around vine roots.
Walsh & Sons produces "lo-fi" wines, meaning low-fidelity or minimal intervention winemaking. This approach allows wines to express their natural character without manipulation. Wines are produced unfined and unfiltered, meaning that the processes often used to remove particles are skipped by Walsh & Sons, preserving the natural flavours and textures of the wines.
The winery also produces skin contact whites, sometimes called "orange wines." These wines are made similarly to rosés, with extended contact on grape skins, imparting colour, texture, additional flavours and tannins not typically found in non-contact white wines. This means that the wines may contain sediment, a characteristic of lo-fi wines.
The Tasting Experience
Walsh & Sons cellar door is on Caves Road in Margaret River. It offers seated tastings and shares space with a family-owned butchery and smokehouse, producing artisan meats and smallgoods from Western Australian farmers. In addition to tasting wine, our guests will have the opportunity to purchase fresh cuts, charcuterie, and sausages prepared in traditional style by Farmhouse Artisanal meats.
Why Walsh & Sons
We selected Walsh & Sons for their combination of affordability and quality. Using biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking across their two distinct vineyard sites, Walsh & Sons also reflect the highest integrity of crop to bottle processes.
Walsh & Sons’ cellar door staff explain their winemakers’ philosophies as well as offer guests a selection of wine tastings.
The added bonus is that with the opportunity to purchase some Farmhouse Artisanal Meats our guests can grab some prime accompaniments to enjoy with the wines they purchased throughout the day. We think this is the perfect way to end a tour when the day is done.