On March 2nd, 1990 after some fifteen years of planning, Brian Edwards, Edwards Winery founder and amateur pilot, left Binbrook Airfield in England bound for Australia. Flying solo in his 1943 Tiger Moth “Matilda”, he set off to achieve his goal to fly the route of the great Australian aviation pioneers, Bert Hinkler and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. His trip also set out to honour the memory of his late father Clifford, who went missing in action in World War II, and to raise money for Legacy who had cared for him and his mother for twenty years.

It was an epic journey to say the least, from the first disastrous day of the journey where he had to make a forced landing due to a snapped crankshaft all the way to his successful completion of the journey and arrival at Langley Park in Perth on May 13th, 1990.

In 1991 Brian and his wife Jenny looking to a ‘tree change’, purchased some land in Western Australia’s wine region of Margaret River. This piece of land was particularly appealing to Brian because he could get an airstrip along the back boundary.

Two years later in 1993, the first vines were planted at Edwards - a modest six acres of Semillon. This vineyard rapidly developed and has now grown to sixty-five acres. Estate grown grapes now include Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – all varieties perfectly suited to the conditions in the region.

In 1994, Brian and Jenny’s youngest son Christo moved to Margaret River, attracted by the surf and lifestyle. As a trained horticulturist he then took over the running of the vineyard. Almost a decade later - after working as a geologist, completing a graduate diploma in Oenology, a stint in the Napa Valley in the USA and a four year position as Assistant Winemaker at Voyager Estate - their eldest son Mike joined Christo at the vineyard as a full-time Winemaker.

Brian Edwards passed away in 2003 from Leukaemia, but his memory and the dream he achieved, both on land and in the air, lives on through Edwards Wines and the Tiger Moth “Matilda” which sits in pride of pace in her own hanger adjacent to the Edwards Cellar Door.

Two Brothers – One Passion

Recently awarded 5 stars as an “Outstanding Winery” by James Halliday, Edwards Wines is still very much a family affair run by brothers Michael and Christo Edwards - being winemaker and viticulturist respectively.

Centrally located on Caves Road, Edwards is 5 minutes drive north-west of Margaret River. This picturesque 25 hectare vineyard is home to some of the region’s most elegant and vibrant award winning wines, produced through a hands-on approach in the vineyard coupled with experience and attention to detail in the winery. Edwards Wines are available Australia-wide as well as internationally.

In the words of Western Australian Wine Critic Ray Jordan, “This is one venue you should mark in your diary. Better still, drop in – you will like the people.”