Woodlands
Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon
About
Woodlands is one of Margaret River's founding estates — a family winery established in Easter 1973 by David and Heather Watson on a small property on Caves Road in Wilyabrup. Born from a love of Bordeaux Cabernet blends and a dream to create a stellar wine of their own, Woodlands became one of the first five vineyards in the Margaret River region.
The property's loam over gravel and clay soils, slopes in every direction and a water course running through the valley created a unique site for viticulture. David and Heather planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir without irrigation, and after years of patient development produced wines that would go on to win national recognition — the 1981 Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon becoming the first Margaret River wine to take a National Red Wine Trophy.
Today Woodlands is led by brothers Andrew and Stuart Watson, with David and Heather still actively involved. The two vineyards — Woodlands Vineyard (certified organic) and Woodlands Brook — span 28 hectares across the Wilyabrup Valley. The estate's wines are built around Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with a portfolio of named wines — Margaret, Emily, Clémentine, Chloe — each carrying the story of the family and the land that produced them.
The cellar door has grown into a lively community gathering place, with a kitchen, seasonal food and vegetable gardens below the vines. Woodlands holds events for its community in Australia and around the world — a reflection of a winery that has always been about more than wine.
Regions
History
1974–1976 — A further two hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc are planted without irrigation. The vines take many years to establish and no wine of any real quantity is produced until 1981.
1981 — The 1981 Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon wins trophies for Best Red Wine at the Perth Wine Show, the Mt Barker Wine Show and the National Wine Show — the first Margaret River wine to achieve a National Red Wine Trophy. Subsequent Cabernets made by David Watson win trophies and critical acclaim across the country.
1989 — Despite early success, Woodlands has almost ceased production by 1989. Cabernet Sauvignon fruit is sold to keep the dream alive. After discussion with great friend Peter Anderson, David creates a right bank blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Emily is born.
1992 — David and Heather introduce a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, named Margaret after Heather's great grandmother.
1996–1998 — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec are planted on the southern half of the vineyard, completing the Woodlands Vineyard at 10 hectares.
1999 — Sons Stuart and Andrew Watson begin investing more time in the vineyards and wines. Andrew takes responsibility for vineyard operations; Stuart for winemaking. The Woodlands Vineyard Chardonnay is made again in the Burgundian style and named Chloe, after Stuart and Shelley's daughter born that year.
2007 — The Watson family purchases the Woodlands Brook vineyard on Puzey Road in the Wilyabrup Valley, two kilometres inland from Woodlands.
2008 — Five hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon are planted at Woodlands Brook without irrigation on free-draining, south-facing Wilyabrup soils.
2010 — David and Heather Watson are awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Margaret River Wine Industry Association.
2013 — Woodlands begins establishing seven hectares of Chardonnay on the Woodlands Brook Vineyard, using selection massale cuttings from the Chloe block — the Wente (Mendoza) clone — planted at 5,000 vines per hectare on sandy loam over clay.
2015 — The first Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested from Woodlands Brook — 20 barrels of powerful wine too good to blend away. The wine is named Clémentine, after Andrew and Marie's daughter born that year.
2016 — David and Heather Watson are joint recipients of the prestigious Jack Mann Memorial Medal, awarded annually for significant contribution to the WA wine industry.
2018 — The first Woodlands Brook Chardonnay is produced from the south-facing Chardonnay vineyard established in 2013.
2020 — Woodlands welcomes a kitchen into the cellar door, with a full time chef, house-made breads, grazing boards and seasonal plates. Vegetable garden beds are installed below the cellar door, enabling fresh produce from vineyard to plate.
Today — Woodlands remains family owned, with brothers Andrew and Stuart Watson at the helm and David and Heather still actively involved. The two vineyards span 28 hectares, with the Woodlands Vineyard certified organic. The cellar door has grown into a lively community meeting place, hosting events for the Woodlands community in Australia and around the world.