Wine lovers in Perth eager to find and experience the ultimate wineries are spoiled for choice! Both the Margaret River and Swan Valley regions offer exceptionally fine wine and wine tasting tours that will have you satisfied in uniquely different ways.

But if you only have a limited time, you may be wondering which winery estate is more worth the visit. However before we get into the specifics, this article will educate readers with 30 Australian wine facts to keep in mind for your next wine tasting exploration.

Did you know?

#1 May is officially Aussie wine month, with all 31 days being dedicated to celebrating everything about local wine produce

#2 1.672 million tonnes of wine grapes in Australia are crushed on average each year!

#3 Globally, 30 million glasses of Aussie wine are consumed every day

#4 Australia is considered to be one of the top 10 wine producing countries in the world!

#5 Chardonnay and Shiraz are among Australia’s most favourite wines

#6 Australia’s most famous wine is Penfolds Grange

#7 Australia has the oldest Shiraz vines in the world!

#8 Many of Australia’s Shiraz vines that were planted in the mid-1800’s are still producing fruit today

#9 Australia possesses the oldest soils on the planet!

#10 Around 65 wine regions currently exist across Australia, all bearing different topography, soils and climate

#11 The newest of Australia’s wine regions is Mount Gambier, located in South Australia’s southeast

#12 The oldest of Australia’s wine vineyards is Langmeil’s Freedom vineyard in the Barossa Valley, planted in 1843.

#13 There are 65 wine regions around Australia, they all grow Chardonnay and Shiraz!

#14 There are over 100 different wine grape varieties planted across these regions

#15 However none of these wine grape varieties are native to Australia as they were originally imported from Europe and South Africa. Actually, Australia has no native grape varieties at all.

#16 Australia’s first wine grapes were planted in 1791

#17 Australia’s largest wine region is the Great Southern that extends to reach 200 x 100 kilometres in area

#18 The top 10 grape varieties grown in Australia include Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cab Sav, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscat, pinot Gris/Grigio, Colombard and Pinot.

#19 Australian wines are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide

#20 Australia’s wine industry is determined to take the lead in finding new ways to produce wines with less chemical preservatives

#21 Australia’s unique climate and soil type is able to produce all of the major types of wines including red wines, white wines, fortified wines (such as port), sweet wines and sparkling wines.

#22 With a total of 747 wineries, Victoria has the most wineries out of all Australian states

#23 After Victoria comes South Australia, which has a total of 706 wineries

#24 After France and Italy, Australia is ranked 3rd for food and wine experiences

#25 The Swan Valley in Western Australia is one of the hottest and driest wine regions in the world

#26 The Swan Valley is one of the closest wine regions located near a major city (Perth) in the world!

#27 Rosé wines are Australia’s fastest growing wine style

#28 The United Kingdom now imports more wine from Australia than it does from France

#29 Wine is best stored at a consistent temperature between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius

#30 There is roughly 600-800 crushed grapes in one wine bottle!

Margaret River or Swan Valley?

If you’re in Perth and have been recommended both Margaret River and Swan Valley wineries but you only have time to choose one, then it’s simple. Swan Valley Wineries are an absolute must to visit!

Here’s why.

Both Swan Valley and Margaret River each have many wineries and vineyard estates renowned for producing premium wines and other local produce. However, established in 1829, Swan Valley is Western Australia’s oldest wine region and is only a 25 minute drive from the Perth CBD. That is a massive plus considering Margaret River wines are located 272km from Perth, or to put it in perspective, that’s a 3.5 hour drive!

Most visitors have to arrive by car to Margaret River, as the nearest commercial airport is located in Perth City. Why venture all the way down to Margaret River when you can experience a wholesome selection of the best handpicked wineries and boutique breweries literally right in the vicinity of Perth.

At Top Gun Tours, Swan Valley wine tasting tours are perfectly planned and specialised. Plus there will be extra surprises to further tantalise your taste buds, and plenty of opportunities to indulge in the region’s most sumptuous food and desserts.  You can immerse yourself with Swan Valley’s breathtaking views along the way too.

Come along and join one of our Swan Valley Wine Tours today! You can create the most unforgettable wine tasting journey to share with your family and friends.