One of Australia’s oldest and largest family-owned wineries, Sandalford is an immaculate property and local icon, boasting a grand cellar door, highly-acclaimed restaurant and famous wine cruise.
Sandalford has been making superb West Australian wines for over 175 years. The primary property is the grand Swan Valley estate and offers an array of tours, courses and food & wine experiences. There is also the cellar in Margaret River, surrounded by beautiful, country gardens, vines and native forest.
A Notable History
Sandalford was established in 1840 in the early days of the Perth colony’s settlement. The property was granted to WA’s first Surveyor General John Septimus Roe by Queen Victoria, to honour his 57 years of Service to the Commonwealth. He named it Sandalford after a priory in his original home of Birkshire, England.
The property had a diverse agricultural history and originally thrived growing table grapes, which became a lucrative export. Winemaking accelerated after World War II with a growing community of Croatian and Italian migrants bringing their extensive knowledge and wine-making techniques to the young Swan Valley wine industry. In 1970 the Roe family expanded to Margaret River, planting a vineyard on prime land in Wilyabrup.
In 1990, Sandalford was acquired by the Prendiville family, who own a portfolio of iconic tourism and hospitality establishments around WA. The Prendiville’s have invested significantly in the brand, the wines and the impressive estate.
The Wines
Sandalford makes five ranges of wines from its vineyards in the Swan Valley and Margaret River. There are over 25 wines, including sparkling, red, white, dessert and fortified wines. The winery incorporates the state-of-the-art-technology, while retaining winemaking traditions, such as small batch fruit processing and using the best quality French and American oak.
Wine Tasting
The entire Sandalford wine range (and often other special wines) can be tasted at their Swan Valley and Margaret River estates. The grand Swan Valley cellar door is one of the largest in Western Australia and is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Tour / Cruise
Have you ever travelled to Sandalford Estate, Swan Valley by river boat? Perth’s Famous Wine Cruise with Captain Cook Cruises is the ultimate way to reach our vineyard. Cruise into the picturesque upper reaches of the Swan Valley as you sample fine wines from the Swan Valley before disembarking at Sandalford Estate’s private jetty for an exclusive behind the scenes tour, video presentation and Flight of Wines wine tasting. A gourmet 2 course lunch is presented onsite before a dessert buffet and afternoon tea is served back on board the vessel. Live entertainment follows as you enjoy complimentary wine on the return cruise.
The Restaurant
The multi-award-winning Restaurant has a rustic ambience of limestone, wood and a grand open fireplace, and alfresco encased by 125-year-old vines and vast vineyard views. The a la carte menu showcases fresh regional produce sourced from around WA, including Abrohlos Island Scallops, Rottnest Island Tuna, Cone Bay Barramundi, Linley Valley Lamb and Blackwood Valley Beef. Look out for a special selection of rare museum wines that can be enjoyed with meals. Open daily for lunch from midday.
Unique Highlights
Sandalford’s Winemaker Apprenticeship takes place on Saturdays and is another once-in-a-lifetime experience. A winery tour teaches the theory to prepare for the practical exam of wine blending. It’s the chance to get creative and make your own original WA wine. The process is endlessly entertaining and informative too. Sandalford experts judge all of the blends, then the whole tour group get to share them over lunch.
Halliday Rating
5 Red Stars