Gralyn Estate, one of Margaret River’s most prestigious boutique wineries, is offering a new wine experience for visitors with the reopening of its original cellar door.
Planning an upcoming trip to visit the Western Australian winemaking region of Margaret River? You may want to ink this in your travel itinerary. Gralyn Estate, one of Margaret River’s most prestigious boutique wineries, has reopened its original cellar door to present a new premium wine experience for visitors.
First established in 1975, Gralyn Estate was founded by Graham and Merilyn Hutton, who named the estate with a blend of their first names. They planted vines to diversify from beef farming, and was first in the region to open a cellar door to the public in 1978.
That original cellar door has now been restored and reopened. As part of the experience, Annette and Scott Baxter, second-generation Gralyn Estate owners, viticulturists, and winemakers, will lead small group experiences at their Wilyabrup vineyard and winery, taking visitors from grape to glass.
Here oenophiles would then get the chance to experience museum wines dating back to 1980 perfectly preserved in Gralyn Estate’s temperature-controlled cellar, vinified from Margaret River’s cornerstone Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon varietals such as the 2018 Chardonnay, 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alternatively you can opt for a flight of premium fortified wines. These include the Tawny, Classic Muscat, Artizan Rare Muscat, Museum Rare Muscat, and 1981 Vintage Fortified.
“Gralyn Estate’s story is part of the Margaret River wine story but it’s also my family history,” says Annette Baxter, daughter of Gralyn Estate’s founders, Graham and Merilyn Hutton. “From the start, my parents cellared wine from each vintage, and it’s exceptional to have wine of this age and quality available in a tasting experience.”
“When Annette and I took the helm after Annette’s parents retired, we found perfectly preserved barrels of aged wines and fortified wines, carefully stored at the back of the climate-controlled cellar, shares Scott Baxter. “What we have here is unique, the first cellar door in its original state, tucked away for years beneath our modern cellar door – there’s people who remember that space, which is pretty much as it was with a few modern touches.”
“Now we’re sharing it with new generations of wine drinkers who are curious to see it and taste museum wines that might be as old or older than they are – the whole experience gives a real sense of our journey at Gralyn Estate,” he adds.
“We’re both super excited to share our little piece of Margaret River history, giving guests an idea of what it would have been like back in the early days and the chance to taste some aged and very rare wines,” says Annette.
[Image credits: Gralyn Estate]
The Gralyn Estate premium wine experience costs AU$495 per group, suitable for 2-4 people (larger groups can be accommodated on request). You can sign up for it here. Advance booking is essential.
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