Leeuwin Estate is an Australian vineyard and restaurant located in Western Australia’s Margaret River wine area.
History
Denis and Tricia Horgan founded Leeuwin Estate in 1973. The area was originally used as a cattle ranch before being turned to grapes at the suggestion of the Western Australian Department of Agriculture after being bought as part of a transaction to buy a plumbing business by Denis Horgan in 1969.
After contacting the Horgans in 1972 to promote Margaret River’s potential as a wine area and to explore for investment possibilities, Robert Mondavi gave considerable help during the estate’s design and setup stages. The first plantings were Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir.
In 1978, Bob Cartwright was named chief winemaker. The first crop of wines was produced the same year Cartwright was appointed. The vines had matured to the point where they could produce enough grapes for commercial production and bottling. Cartwright served as lead winemaker for 28 straight vintages before retiring in September 2005.
Tim Lovett is the current senior winemaker. Denis and Tricia Horgan continue to own the winery, with their son Justin and daughter Simone serving as Joint Chief Executive Officers.
Denis Horgan received a Centenary Medal, and he and Tricia Horgan were made Members of the Order of Australia in 2001 for their contributions to tourism in Western Australia.
Leeuwin Estate contains 121 acres of vines and produces around 60,000 cases of wine every vintage.
The “Art Series Chardonnay” is Leeuwin Estate’s most well-known wine. It has been regarded as “Australia’s finest example” of Chardonnay by wine expert James Halliday, and it is rated “Exceptional” by Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine. The inaugural vintage of the Art Series Chardonnay was from 1980, with the first vintage gaining a recommendation from Decanter as the greatest Chardonnay in the world in 1982, bringing Leeuwin Estate to the attention of the wine industry. A substantial percentage of the grapes used in this wine come from the “Block 20” vineyard, which has been recognized as one of the best in the world.
Leewin Estate also makes four more signature “Art Series” wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc, in addition to the Chardonnay. Each of the five “Art Series” wines in each vintage features a fresh painting by an Australian artist on the label.
The “Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon” is classified as “Distinguished” by Langton’s, and is defined by Langton’s as a “quintessential southern Margaret River style” and by Robert Parker as “one of Australia’s great Bordeaux-styled Cabernets.”
Under the “Prelude” and “Siblings” labels, a number of lower-priced wines are issued.
Leeuwin Estate has bottled all of their wines under a screw cap since 2002.
Stevens Rd, Margaret River
Western Australia 6285
Telephone: (61 8) 9759 0000
Facsimile: (61 8) 9759 0001
Email: winery@leeuwinestate.com.au
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