Cellar doors and wineries throughout the Manjimup and Pemberton Wine Regions have banded together to form the first Southern Forests Wine Trail. Wine Industry Southern Forests Inc. (WISF), in collaboration with the Southern Forests Food Council Inc. (SFFC), have developed the self-drive trail, which is now live on the Trails WA website (www.trailswa.com.au).
Trails WA is an online platform for trails spanning the whole state, across eight categories from food and wine to art and heritage, encompassing 10 different trail types, including biking, hiking and self-drive. The Southern Forests Wine Trail is the first of its kind within the region.
The Southern Forests is a largely undiscovered, unheralded area that produces some of the finest wines to be had anywhere in the world. There is an eclectic range of cellar doors in spectacular settings where tranquil, unhurried wine tasting experiences are on offer.
Ashley Lewkowski, Wine Industry Southern Forests Inc. President, invites, “everyone from wine enthusiasts, to families on holiday, to spend a couple of days exploring the pristine Southern Forests, meandering from cellar door to restaurant and everything in between.”
The Southern Forests, is home to two of Australia’s finest cool climate wine growing regions, Manjimup and Pemberton, with the first commercial winery established in 1982. With rich, loam soil, the area has more than 50 vineyards, of which almost half are family-owned wineries, with many offering cellar door tastings and beautiful restaurants serving fresh, local, gourmet food.
The self-drive wine trail is a great way to enjoy the best of the Manjimup and Pemberton Wine Regions. Combine the trail with regional features of genuine fresh local produce, art galleries, behind-the-scenes tours, bike and walking trails, farm stays or nature experiences, and this trail is perfect for a weekend trip or extended stay.
Visitors can talk with the wine maker, grower or owner of the business at a leisurely pace with beautiful scenic drives traversing undulating orchards and farms, towering karri and jarrah forests, lush pastures and blue skies in between.
The Southern Forests Wine Trail maps out 10 of the regions wineries and cellar doors, with opportunities for future trail development possible.
“The Southern Forests Wine Trail is a collaboration across industry which showcases our regions great food and wine offerings. This is an open invite for visitors to come and enjoy your own genuine taste experience at your own pace.” said Bevan Eatts, Executive Charmain, SFFC.
Tourism Western Australia is responsible for promoting Western Australia as an extraordinary holiday destination. As part of the Taste 20/20 Strategy, Tourism Western Australia, are investing in the development of culinary trails, and associated collateral, to showcase local produce and dining experiences in each region.
Located in the lower south west region of Western Australia, Manjimup and Pemberton is a comfortable four-hour drive south of Perth and is 1.5 hours’ drive east of Margaret River or 2.5 hours North West of Denmark.
Head to Trails WA (www.trailswa.com.au) to see the full Southern Forests Wine Trail. Visitors can connect with the trails community on social media and share Southern Forests Wine Trail photos using the hashtag #SouthernForestsWineTrail.
The SFFC is supported by the Government of Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Royalties for Regions and the Shire of Manjimup. The Southern Forests region includes the towns for Manjimup, Pemberton, Northcliffe and Walpole.
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Media contacts
Ashley Lewkowski President Wine Industry Southern Forests Inc. info@lostlake.com.au
Bevan Eatts Executive Chairman Southern Forests Food Council Inc. bevan@southernforestsfood.com
SOUTHERN FORESTS WINE TRAIL – PARTICIPATING CELLAR DOORS
AND WINERIES • Chestnut Grove Manjimup • Woodgate Wines • Tall Timbers Manjimup • The Truffle & Wine Co. • Mountfords Wines and Tangletoe Cider • Silkwood Estate • Jarrah Jacks Brewery and Woodsmoke Estate • Hidden River Estate • Lost Lake Wines • Ten Chains Estate