Three hours south, and a little bit of Fremantle
Walk into the homestead at Ampersand Estates and the jarrah underfoot has already been to Fremantle. The boards were rescued from the historic Fremantle Woolstores, milled from South West timber harvested nearly 150 years ago — and now they are home again, in a way, at the estate that saved them.
Ampersand Estates sits on the banks of the Donnelly River near Pemberton, a little over three hours south of Fremantle. Owners Melissa Bell and Corrie Scheepers bought the region’s oldest winery in December 2020 — closed for eight years, eaten out by white ants and written off by most. More than 20 local tradespeople spent two and a half years bringing it back.
Today the estate’s Pinot Noir is Western Australia’s back-to-back favourite wine at the Top Up Wines Awards, chosen by more than 25,000 public votes, and critic Ray Jordan has awarded the Homestead Syrah 96 points. Alongside them sits Esperluette, a Bordeaux-style red, and cool-climate Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grown on the property.
In January the estate was inducted into Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia, a hand-picked national collection of 30 wineries and one of only five in this state, alongside Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix, Voyager Estate and Mandoon Estate. It is also the only LGBTQIA+ owned and operated winery in the collection.
Rainfall Distillery by Ampersand Estates distils gin and vodka from rainwater and botanicals grown in its own gardens, every spirit in the range representing a colour of the rainbow.
There are three residences to stay in, open-fire degustation dinners by Chef Facundo Salas, and Oldfield’s Barn, a restored 1870s barn now hosting weddings and long-table dinners under the karri.
The cellar door is open seven days, 10am to 5pm, with seated tastings beside the lake.
Ampersand Estates & Rainfall Distillery
9883 Vasse Highway, Peerabeelup WA
E info@ampersandestates.com.au
P 0438 954 513
W ampersandestates.com.au
Ampersand Estates is giving four Herald and Voice readers a case of its Pinot Noir 2024 each.
Enter now via the entry form below.
