Margaret River: Boutique Wine Tour w. Blind Tasting + Lunch

Margaret River wine tours usually mean cellar door after cellar door. This one breaks up the tasting with a guided blind tasting, a surf-break lookout, chocolate, olive oil, woodfired pizza, and a brewery stop. The blind tasting is the clever bit: you learn to judge wine by sight, aroma, taste, and profile before trying to identify a mystery glass.

I like the small group of no more than 13 people, which gives the guide room to explain things without turning the day into a lecture. I also like the mix of food and scenery. Olio Bello supplies a proper shared lunch, and the coastal stop adds a useful link between Margaret River’s weather, soils, waves, and vines.

The main consideration is pace. Six hours covers a lot, and three winery visits plus the other tastings can leave you feeling a little wine-heavy by late afternoon. Pickup is also limited to Margaret River, Cowaramup, Gracetown, Prevelly, and nearby areas unless you arrange something farther out.

Key points at a glance

• Blind tasting with a practical method: Break each wine into sight, aroma, taste, and profile, then test yourself with a mystery wine.
• Three small wineries: The venues change from day to day, keeping the focus on boutique producers rather than one fixed cellar door.
• A real lunch stop: Olio Bello serves shared woodfired pizza, seasonal salads, and a glass of wine.
• More than wine: Expect chocolate, organic olive oil, skincare products, a surf lookout, and a craft brewery.
• Good value at $112: Lunch, wine, cheeseboard, tastings, guide, and local transfers are included.
• A guide makes the difference: Jeremy receives repeated praise for his humor, area knowledge, and relaxed teaching style. Gerry is also singled out for making the blind tasting memorable.

Why the blind tasting is the star of the day

The most useful part of this tour is not simply trying several wines. It is learning a way to think about what is in your glass.

Your guide leads you through three wines using an intuitive tasting template. You record what you see, smell, and taste, then consider the wine’s overall profile. The language stays practical, so you do not need a trained palate or a notebook full of wine terms to take part.

After the first flight, you face a mystery wine. This is not a formal exam, and you are not expected to identify the vineyard or vintage. The point is to apply the method and notice what your senses are telling you.

I like this because it gives the day a purpose beyond collecting samples. You can use the same four-part approach at a Margaret River cellar door, in a restaurant, or at home. It also helps people who normally feel lost during tastings. Instead of nodding politely while someone talks about structure and finish, you have a simple order to follow.

The experience is offered only by Waves of Wine Tours, according to the tour details, and access to the tasting template continues after the day. That makes it more useful than a one-off demonstration.

Starting with chocolate and a coastal view

The morning begins at a local chocolatier. You receive a chocolate tasting, while coffee is available to buy. This is a gentle opening, especially for people who do not want to begin a six-hour outing with wine.

Coffee is not included, so bring that small extra cost into your plans. The stop also gives you something sweet before the wine starts and lets the group settle into the day.

From there, the route heads toward the coast for broad views of one of Margaret River’s famous surf breaks. This is not a surf lesson or a long coastal walk. It is a lookout stop, with your guide explaining how the region’s climate and soils affect both its waves and its vineyards.

That connection is worth your attention. Margaret River is not just a collection of cellar doors. The coastal setting helps explain why the area can produce quality wine, and the viewpoint gives the day a change of rhythm before the formal tasting begins.

From June through November, the lookout may also offer a chance to spot whales. Sightings are not guaranteed, so treat this as a seasonal possibility rather than a promised part of the tour.

Olio Bello turns lunch into a proper pause

Lunch at Olio Bello is one of the strongest practical features of the outing. You sit down to shared Italian-style woodfired pizzas and seasonal salads, with a selected glass of wine included.

This matters on a tasting day. A quick sandwich between cellar doors would leave you hungry and make the alcohol harder to manage. A shared meal gives you time to slow down, talk with the group, and enjoy something substantial.

The menu is not presented as a personal choice from a long list. It is a shared table with pizza and salads, so this works best if you are happy with a communal meal and seasonal offerings. The food received positive comments for being plentiful and good, though one visitor described it as simply nice enough rather than a major culinary event.

That feels like the right expectation. Olio Bello is here to support the wine day, not replace it. You are paying for an enjoyable regional lunch, not a fine-dining tasting menu.

Boutique wineries and changing cellar doors

After lunch, the tour continues to two boutique wineries, followed by a third scenic vineyard where you receive a glass of wine and cheeseboard. The wineries and brewery change each day, so the published route is an example rather than a fixed promise.

This flexibility has two effects. On the plus side, the company can choose venues that fit the day and keep the focus on smaller producers. You are less likely to spend the whole afternoon at large commercial sites. On the other hand, you cannot select a particular winery in advance or assume you will visit the same cellar doors described elsewhere.

The winery visits also give you a chance to use the blind tasting method in a real setting. You have already learned how to assess a glass, so you can pay closer attention to what each producer is offering instead of simply waiting for the next pour.

A scenic vineyard stop with wine and cheese provides a pleasant late-day break. It is also a good point to enjoy the setting without needing to concentrate on a full lesson. The cheese board is included, and it adds a welcome savoury note after the chocolate and lunch.

One useful point from the feedback is that the level of explanation can vary from one winery to another. Montague Wines was praised for especially strong explanations, while another participant wanted more white wine in the line-up. If you have a strong preference for white wines, tell your guide early, but do not expect a custom tasting list.

Olive oil and skincare add local flavor

The visit for olive oil and skincare sampling is a smart change from wine. You can taste organic olive oil and sample related skincare products, giving you a look at another part of Margaret River’s food and farm culture.

It also helps prevent the day from becoming a blur of cellar doors. The products are different enough to reset your palate and your attention. You may want to budget for purchases, since additional goods and drinks are not included.

This stop suits people who enjoy local produce and small makers. If you are joining only to taste wine, it is less central, but it remains a useful pause between winery visits.

Finishing with a brewery stop

The final stop is a local craft brewery. It rounds out the day with a drink that is not wine and gives you one last chance to see the region’s food and drink scene from another angle.

Beer is not included at the brewery, so any beers you choose will cost extra. The stop is best viewed as an optional final tasting rather than part of the prepaid drinks package.

I like the logic of ending here. After several wine tastings, a brewery creates a clear change of pace. Just remember that the day already includes a fair amount of alcohol. You do not need to order another drink to get value from the stop.

What the guide adds to the experience

The guide is central to this tour. Jeremy is repeatedly praised for being fun, personable, well informed, and good at explaining both Margaret River and its wine. He also shares local stories, including information about the area’s Indigenous people.

Those details matter because the tour is not only a transport service between cellar doors. A good guide links the stops together and helps you understand the area beyond the glass in front of you. Jeremy’s style appears to be relaxed and social, with plenty of laughs, while still giving the day structure.

Gerry is also praised for making the blind wine tasting especially enjoyable. Guides can vary, but the company’s format gives them a clear teaching tool to work with.

The small-group limit of 13 is another advantage. You still share the day with strangers, but the group is compact enough for questions and conversation. It is a good size for solo visitors, couples, and small friend groups who want company without a large coach atmosphere.

Is $112 good value?

At $112 per person, this tour offers solid value if you plan to enjoy most of its parts. The price includes pickup and drop-off in the main service area, three winery visits, the blind tasting session, lunch with a glass of wine, the scenic winery glass and cheeseboard, chocolate tasting, olive oil and skincare sampling, the coastal stop, and the brewery visit.

You would pay separately for extra drinks, coffee, brewery beers, and personal purchases. Still, the included food is more than a token snack. Pizza, salads, a wine pour, and a cheeseboard cover the main hunger points of the day.

The value is strongest for first-time visitors to Margaret River. You get an overview of wine, produce, coast, and local hospitality without needing to plan a driving route or decide which cellar doors deserve your time.

It is less suited to a serious wine collector who wants long appointments at a small number of named estates. Because the venues change, the tour is about variety and regional introduction rather than a specialist producer itinerary.

Timing, pickup, and what to wear

The experience lasts six hours, with starting times based on availability. Pickup is included from accommodation in Margaret River, Cowaramup, Gracetown, Prevelly, and their immediate surrounds.

You should be outside and ready at the agreed time. Pickup is scheduled within five minutes either side of the allocated time, and delays can affect the whole day. A message is sent before 6pm on the day before the tour to confirm your address and pickup time.

Some accommodation farther away may be possible, but extra costs or longer vehicle time can apply. Check this before booking rather than assuming every South West address is covered.

Wear smart casual clothing. Cellar doors often have simple dress expectations, and smart casual keeps you comfortable without looking out of place. Bring a water bottle, too. You will be tasting through the day, walking between venues, and spending time outdoors at the coast.

The tour is conducted in English. Participants must be at least 18, and the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Who will enjoy this six-hour outing?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time visitors who want an easy introduction to Margaret River wine
• Couples looking for a day with food, scenery, and tastings rather than wine alone
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting a small group
• People who want to understand wine without taking a formal course
• Anyone who would rather be driven than plan a responsible route between cellar doors
• Food-focused visitors who like chocolate, pizza, cheese, olive oil, and beer alongside wine

You may want a different option if your main goal is a particular winery, a large amount of free time at each cellar door, or a fully bespoke wine program. You should also think carefully about the pace if you are sensitive to alcohol. One participant found the wine stops mentally tiring, and another wished the wine had been spaced out more.

Should you book the Waves of Wine tour?

Book it if you want variety, a friendly guide, included food, and a useful introduction to Margaret River’s wine culture. The blind tasting gives the day a real teaching element, while the coast, chocolate, olive oil, cheese, and brewery keep it from feeling repetitive.

I would be especially happy booking this for a first visit, a birthday outing, or a day when nobody wants to drive. Jeremy’s strong reputation as a host is a bonus, though the guide and venues can vary.

Skip it if you need a fixed winery list or prefer a slow, specialist tasting at only one or two estates. For most people, though, the combination of transport, lunch, three boutique wineries, and several local flavors makes $112 a fair price for a full six-hour introduction.

FAQ

How long does the Margaret River boutique wine tour last?

The tour lasts six hours.

What is included in the $112 price?

The price includes accommodation pickup and drop-off within the stated service area, visits to three boutique wineries, the blind tasting, access to the tasting template, lunch at Olio Bello, a glass of wine with lunch, a glass of wine and cheeseboard at a winery, chocolate tasting, olive oil and skincare sampling, the coastal lookout, and the brewery visit.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes shared Italian-style woodfired pizzas, seasonal salads, and a glass of wine at Olio Bello.

How many wineries will I visit?

You will visit three boutique wineries. The specific wineries change from day to day.

What happens during the blind tasting?

Your guide leads you through three wines using four categories: sight, aroma, taste, and profile. You then apply the method to a mystery wine.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included within Margaret River, Cowaramup, Gracetown, Prevelly, and their immediate surrounds. Pickup from farther away may involve extra cost or additional travel time.

Are drinks at the brewery included?

No. Beers at the final brewery are not included. Additional drinks at venues are also extra.

Can I go whale watching on this tour?

The coastal lookout offers seasonal whale-watching opportunities from approximately June through November. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.