Leeuwin Estate, a family winery located in one of the world’s most spectacular and isolated wine regions, Margaret River, Western Australia, has earned an international reputation for producing outstanding wines and for staging spectacular alfresco summertime concerts featuring an eclectic mix of the world's finest musicians and entertainers including Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, k.d lang, Simply Red and Sting.
Leeuwin Estate is a benchmark Margaret River family winery with an outstanding international reputation for producing wines ranking with the worlds finest. Attracting thousands of discerning wine connoisseurs each year, visitors to the Estate can indulge in gourmet cuisine from the award-winning restaurant, enjoy the annual series of spectacular alfresco summertime concerts, inspect Leeuwin’s unique collection of contemporary Australian Art, experience a behind the scenes tour of the winemaking process, conduct private meetings in the boardroom and of course, savour Leeuwin’s outstanding premium wines.
In 1972, following an extensive search for the area most suitable to produce the best varietal wines in Australia, legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Robert Mondavi, identified the future site of the Leeuwin vineyard. With Mondavi acting as consultant and mentor during Leeuwin’s establishment, the winery has evolved under the direction of the Horgan family and now exports its wines to over 30 countries. Leeuwin Estate was thrust into the international spotlight when Decanter Magazine gave its highest recommendation to the 1980 "Art Series" Chardonnay in an international blind tasting. The accolades have continued. The Estate has been ranked as a five star winery by James Halliday and received Hugh Johnson’s highest ranking. On three occasions Leeuwin has been included in the prestigious category of International Winery of the Year by US Wine & Spirits magazine and included in the prestigious French publication, 100 Vins De Legende, as one of the world's great wine legends. Leeuwin wines have featured on the cover of WINE SPECTATOR and been included in the Editor’s annual selection of top 100 wines a number of times. Scoring 98/100 points Editor at Large, Harvey Steiman, wrote of the 2001 Art Series Chardonnay “This gets my vote for the greatest white wine Australia has ever produced.”
The winery incorporates a Gold Plate Award winning restaurant, Art Gallery, and serviced boardroom. Numerous special events are held throughout the year, culminating in the annual series of spectacular summertime alfresco concerts. The tradition of the Leeuwin Concerts began in 1985 when Leeuwin Estate provided financial support for the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s tour to Australia. As part of the visit the Orchestra performed in this unique vineyard setting, thereby launching what was to become an institution - the annual “Leeuwin Concert Series”. Described as the most extraordinary concerts ever held in Australia, these sellout concerts now enjoy a 26-year history. A highlight in Australia’s social and cultural calendar, visitors make the annual pilgrimage to the Leeuwin attired in anything from top hats to t-shirts, to picnic on the sprawling winery lawns. As the sun sets over a majestic backdrop of karri forest and music fills the natural amphitheatre, Leeuwin's famous kookaburras commence their cackling chorus to the amusement of guests and entertainers alike. Some 1600 Corporate Guests, invited by many of the country’s leading businesses, enjoy a black tie dinner with dancing in a stunning marquee at the conclusion of the performance, whilst other guests enjoy the live post concert entertainment as they continue to picnic in the main arena. In 2005 following the South East Asian Boxing Day Tsunami Leeuwin Estate was instrumental in staging the STING – LEEUWIN ESTATE TSUNAMI BENEFIT CONCERT which raised $4.9million for victims of the disaster. In 2010 Leeuwin will celebrate it’s 26th anniversary Concert Series with performances by The John Butler Trio on January 16 and then Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald on February 13 and 14.
For bookings, information and concert tickets call (08) 9430 4099 or www.leeuwinestate.com.au or email info@leeuwinestate.com.au