Organic, Vineyard-driven Margaret River at its Finest
The wines of this impeccably run estate ooze style and class. Even better, the quality continues to grow, reflecting the evolution in the vineyard and winery. It was Michael Wright who built this property into the beacon of quality it has become. While Voyager’s founder and visionary sadly passed away in 2012, he left a legacy of commitment to quality that today pervades every aspect of Voyager. The estate remains family-owned, with Michael’s daughter, Alex Burt, matching her father’s fanatical attention to detail with an environmental conscience that has kicked this estate into another gear.
Voyager is certified organic; all wines are estate-grown and reflect the unique climate and qualities of its home base in Steven’s Valley, Margaret River. They are in good company; Leeuwin Estate and Xanadu complete a revered triumvirate in this small but prestigious valley. Long regarded as a key subregion for the finest Margaret River Chardonnay, it can produce much finer and fresher Cabernet than the more northern subregions. The geology is among the oldest in Australia, and the gravel soils (free draining with a high mineral content), aspect and consistent maritime influence form the foundations of Voyager's perfumed, elegantly proportioned wines.
Winemaker Tim Shand joined the team in 2022. Perth-born Tim made the journey back west after an impressive near-10-year-stint at the Punt Road helm in the Yarra Valley. Together with viticulturist Mike Saunders, who joined in 2024, Shand has overseen a seamless transition to a new, exciting chapter, and the wines are reaping the rewards.
Over the last 25 years, Voyager Estate has put the health of their soils, vines and land first. In conjunction with organic practices in all vineyards and the winery, there are specific clones matched to appropriate soil types; each plot of soil is micro-managed with specific viticulture and harvest dates; grape marc and kitchen scraps are used for compost; a telemetry-controlled irrigation system is used to conserve precious water resources; and each parcel of fruit is hand harvested and fermented separately. Time and resources are deployed where they matter—the vineyard. It promises to kick into another gear with the dawning of the Shand and Saunders era.
Voyager’s marquee wines, MJW Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, are rightly fêted among the region’s benchmarks. The estate also produces a range of Cabernet and Chardonnay wines at different levels, from single-block and estate bottlings to the brilliant, well-priced entry-level Coastal range. Then, there’s a silky and seductive Syrah and a brilliant new bistro-style red blend called Vivid. It’s a range stacked with quality–Margaret River at its finest.
AT-A-GLANCE • The 1978-founded estate joined Margaret River's top flight under the late Michael Wright, who purchased and expanded it in 1991. • It is now run by his daughter, Alexandra Burt (née Wright). • The family's custodianship is characterised by fanatical attention to detail with an environmental conscience, culminating in organic certification in 2023. • With Leeuwin Estate and Xanadu, it makes up a triumvirate of esteemed producers sharing Stevens Valley. • Since 2022, talented winemaker Tim Shand has been at the helm, joined in 2024 by Kiwi head of viticulture, Mike Saunders. • Free-draining gravel soils with a high mineral content, aspect and consistent maritime influence form the foundations of Voyager's elegant, aromatic wines. • Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon—from entry level through estate to single block— form the backbone of the estate, with exceptional wines from Syrah, Chenin, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc also produced. IN THE PRESS “Voyager Estate is located on Stevens Road in the Boodjidup Valley, which is emerging as hallowed ground (Leeuwin, the western neighbour, Xanadu’s Stevens Road vineyard and the vineyards of Voyager Estate complete the trinity of prestige in this neck of the woods). The estate was established in '78 by viticulturist Peter Gherardi, and later purchased and expanded by Michael Wright in ’91. Michael’s daughter, Alexandra Burt, has been at the helm since ’05. As of ’23, the vineyard and winery are certified organic and there is extensive clonal and varietal experimentation in the estate vineyards.”★★★★★ Halliday Wine Companion
Country
Australia
Primary Region
Margaret River, Western Australia
People
Winemaker: Tim Shand
Availability
VIC
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