Margaret River

Margaret River is a protected wine-origin designation in Australia, anchored in a protected-origin area in Western Australia that does not yet have a dedicated geographic parent row in wineknowledge.regions. It belongs in the appellations layer because it describes the legal name that may appear on labels, while any broader region row remains geographic and cultural context.

Characteristic grapes include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Shiraz. The wines often show refined Cabernet structure, citrusy Chardonnay, and fresh Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends shaped by maritime influence. The grape list is a practical orientation rather than a claim that every bottle uses every variety.

Australian GI rules protect origin name and boundary; they do not prescribe a single grape variety or European-style production recipe. The rules protect origin and labeling, while producer choice, vintage, site, and cellar decisions still determine the final wine.

The GI adds an important premium Australian origin beyond Barossa Valley. For EncyclopediaOfWine, the row keeps the legal designation separate from the larger region and from grape-variety reference content.