Voyager Estate Margaret River has been on my WA bucket list since forever, and on my most recent trip to the Margaret River region, I finally stopped in to visit.
Its obviously Cape Dutch style was always intriguing to me – just how on earth did a clearly South African inspired winery appear tucked away in a regional area of Western Australia?
The history of this renowned Australian wine region only dates back to the 1970s – so just why was it built in the traditional Cape Dutch style? This design of building with its white washed walls, small pane wooden shutters, high roof, and ornate gables is instantly recognisable as Cape Dutch, with many of the Cape wine estates being built in this style as far back as the 17th century.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about visiting Voyager Estate Margaret River to discover the South African inspiration behind it.
Voyager Estate Margaret River
Voyager Estate is actually one of the founding wine estates in Margaret River.
Established by Australian Michael Wright (originally from a farming family), he was inspired by the grand cellar doors he visited in the Cape area of South Africa. He loved the style of the Cape Dutch architecture and thought it would be appealing to visitors and attract more cellar door visitors.
You can read the full story on how the estate was designed and built in the 25-year anniversary blog on the Voyager Estate website here.
I was very interested to learn that Michael had gone so far as to actually re-register the name of the Dutch East India Company aka the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), and this logo is on the top of all the wine bottle lids to this day. You can read more about this backstory here.
Voyager is currently owned by Michael’s daughter Alexandra Burt. She took over the estate in 2005 and has been the sole proprietor of Voyager Estate since 2018.
Their wine range includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot, Rose, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc Semillion.
Voyager Estate Cellar Door
We visited on a weekday in July outside the school holidays so it was nice and quiet, yet it had a constant stream of people there to browse and taste their wine range.
There are charges for wine tastings but they are redeemable against any purchases.
You can either taste at the bar or opt for a seated wine flight at one the many tables in the cellar door. The bar tastings were $10 for 5 tastings of 20ml each.
We chose the seated option, and went for the white wine flight which gives you tastings of 3 of their white wines for $15 per person. Tastings were larger than the bar tastings and you aren’t rushed through them.
The white wine flight included 2023 vintages of Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc. The sommelier poured each of our wines, some water and gave us his tasting notes on each wine, then left us to enjoy them in our own time.
The cellar door has a lovely range of gifts – we bought some wine along with 2 gorgeous branded classes to remember our visit, and some Bahen & Co chocolate as gifts for my friends who were looking after my horses while I was away.
There is also a display around the room sharing the history of the estate – I spotted a section all about Groot Contantia while we browsed the information!
The Voyager Estate Restaurant
The Voyager Estate was actually closed on the day we visited so dining here was not an option. It did look absolutely beautiful though so I would love to dine here one day. Head chef Travis Crane has been at the helm since 2022, and aims to ‘source thoughtfully, cook respectfully, and present beautifully’.
They offer a set menu of 7 courses (from snacks to coffee and petit fours) which is currently priced at $150 for food and $230 if you would like to pair their recommended wines with each course. They do offer a vegetarian version of their menu as well.
The crockery in the restaurant is an exact replica of those issues to officers and servants of the VOC, with even the company initials engraved on them. They’re also made by a South African potter, adding another South African dimension to the whole experience you’ll have at the estate when you visit.
The Gardens of Voyager Estate
Well, where do I start? The driveway is grand and I felt instantly transported back to the Cape Winelands, I could not stop gushing about how stunning it was!
At the end of the driveway stands one of the largest flagpoles in Australia – legend has it that the flagpole at Parliament House in Canberra was extended to ensure it was taller than this one!
Heading towards the main building, we walked along a beautifully landscaped pathway complete with old-fashioned lampposts which really make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. I later discovered that the cobblestone pathways around the estate were even imported from South Africa. So, it seems that every element of this estate has a South African touch to it!
The garden was originally designed by Marion Blackwell, but during the design and planting, a South African team was engaged to oversee it all – Ian Ford and Deon Bronkhorst. The gardens have a balanced axial design, running north south and east west. It features an expansive lawned area, a classic rose garden and a werf kitchen garden – a Dutch style walled garden – where they grow a variety of ingredients used in their restaurant.
Overall we loved our visit to Voyager Estate Margaret River and cannot wait to return on our next trip to the Margaret River region.
Have you visited Voyager Estate? Let me know how you enjoyed it in the comments below.
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