The Perth Hills Wine Region, situated in the Darling Ranges of Western Australia, encompasses areas like Chittering Valley, Central Perth Hills, Bickley Valley, and Serpentine Valley. It is recognized for its boutique vineyards and family-owned wineries that offer visitors the chance to interact with the winemakers, savor locally crafted wines, and experience artisanal produce amidst picturesque landscapes.
Various varietals are cultivated in the Perth Hills Wine Region, including Shiraz, Viognier, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Zinfandel, and Durif. These grape varieties flourish in the Mediterranean climate of the region, characterized by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, tempered by cooling sea breezes in the afternoons and night temperatures slightly lower than nearby areas like Perth or the Swan Valley. The climate resembles that of the Douro Valley in Portugal, making it an ideal environment for growing Shiraz.
A notable winery within the region is Aldersyde Estate, the oldest continuously operational winery in the Perth Hills, established in 1974. Aldersyde Estate cultivates Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Chardonnay. The vineyard's soil composition consists of underlying granitic quartz clays at varying depths, with gravels and medium to light loam content on hilltop slopes and loamy alluvial soils on gentle valley slopes.
Other prominent wineries in the area include MyattsField Vineyards & Winery, Hainault Vineyard, La Fattoria, and Fairbrossen Wines. Visitors to the region have the opportunity to explore these wineries, taste their offerings, and gain insights into the unique terroir and winemaking methods that shape the distinctiveness of Perth Hills wines.