Crossroads Vineyard is our youngest site, but also one of our strongest performers. Planted in 2003, its ancient lateritic soils are home to sauvignon blanc, semillon, and chardonnay, as well as shiraz and small amounts of petit verdot, zinfandel and grenache.
Cape Mentelle Vineyards
A unique sense of place
Across more than 150 hectares, Cape Mentelle’s four estate vineyards capture the remarkable diversity of the Margaret River region. Each site offers its own unique combination of soils, aspect and microclimate, allowing every variety to express a distinctive sense of place.
From the historic Wallcliffe Vineyard, where the estate’s story began in the early 1970s, to the elevated slopes of Chapman Brook and the younger Crossroads Vineyard, every block contributes depth, balance and complexity to our wines.
Guided by decades of viticultural knowledge and a commitment to sustainable farming, we nurture each vineyard individually to ensure every vintage reflects the character of the land from which it comes
Discover Our Estate Vineyards
A pioneering spirit coupled with knowledge and understanding of sound viticultural practice led to the establishment of this 16 hectare vineyard in the early 1970’s. The basic viticultural principles of soil, site and variety, or in this case ‘varieties’, have created quality and consistency beyond all expectations, as evidenced by the iconic Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon. Picking and pruning is carried out by hand in the Wallcliffe Vineyard, to give the utmost respect to these vines and to ensure continued production of the fresh, vibrant and stylish wines that have become the trademark of Cape Mentelle.
Varieties planted at Wallcliffe are sauvignon blanc, semillon, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, zinfandel and shiraz and these vines have provided source material for new blocks as the vineyard has expanded. The site has the luxury of ample water and classic deep gravelly soils. It is sheltered by surrounding bush and fanned by gentle south-westerly winds. The east-west orientation of the rows was originally thought to provide protection from prevailing winds, but in some seasons this orientation necessitates judicious leaf plucking to even out ripeness.
The three cabernet sauvignon blocks are cane pruned. Row spacing is mostly 3 m, with 1.5 to 1.8 m vine spacing with predominantly vertical shoot positioning trellising. There is some bush vine zinfandel.
Evolving from the success of the Wallcliffe Vineyard, Trinders was developed on the eastern side of the Estate entry road in 1988 when Cape Mentelle purchased the 23 hectare site. The same viticultural principles apply, with soil, site and proven varieties being the key to the success of this now well established vineyard.
Plantings are of semillon, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and shiraz. This block has been the testing ground for many early ‘alternative’ methods, including making and incorporating compost for vine nutrition, undervine weeding and minimal chemical use for pest and disease control.
Numerous trellis systems have been tried in the past. Vertical shoot positioning is now used in most of the vineyard to facilitate ripening by keeping the canopies upright and ensuring even sun exposure.
Chapman Brook boasts some of the best growing sites in the region. The undulating slopes help to create wines of uncompromised freshness. The 40 hectare Chapman Brook Vineyard is located 20 km south east of the Margaret River township with a predominantly easterly aspect and some south east and north east slopes. Varying depths of sandy loam topsoil overlie ironstone gravel with varying degrees of heavy clay subsoil.
This vineyard was planted in the early 1990s, mostly to white varieties – sauvignon blanc, semillon, chardonnay and viognier. The GinGin chardonnay clone is planted here along with some newer clones (5, 76 and 95) of the main varieties. Vertical shoot positioning is used throughout this challenging vineyard with 2 m vine spacing and row spacing and unilateral cordons.
The steep slopes offer great views from high points as the land slopes down to the Chapman Brook.
Seasons in the Vineyard
Spring
As the vines awaken, new growth begins and the next vintage takes shape. The vineyards come alive with wildflowers, native wildlife and the promise of the season ahead.
Summer
Summer marks the beginning of harvest, as our team carefully picks fruit at optimum ripeness. Long days in the vineyard lead to the creation of each new vintage.
Autumn
With harvest complete, our winemakers focus on fermentation, blending and maturation, carefully guiding each wine as it develops complexity and character.
Winter
Winter is a time of renewal, with pruning, soil care and vineyard preparation laying the foundation for the next growing season.
Discover Cape Mentelle Experiences
Discover our wines, vineyard and stories through unforgettable experiences at our Margaret River estate.