Cape Naturaliste Vineyard

To the south of Cape Naturaliste, in a picturesque valley behind Smith's Beach, nestles Cape Naturaliste Vineyard.

The valley's rich variety of soil types are ideal for the growing of premium wine grapes. Their maritime location, with grapes cooled on the vines by clean air from the Roaring 40's, gives their wine character and depth.

The property now known as Cape Naturaliste Vineyard started life as the coach inn for travelers journeying between Perth and Margaret River on horse and buggy – a journey taking about 3 days - a history going back 150 years. Some later years the property then became a dairy known as Thorn Hill.

During this time Whale ships came into the sheltered waters of Smiths Beach to purchase vegetables grown in the valleys rich alluvial soil.

In 1970 the surrounding land was discovered to be rich in mineral sands. A mining company purchased the land with the intention to mine the valley. Fortunately the government stepped in and declared it "A" zone national park.

Cape Naturaliste Vineyard was planted in 1997 by the owner, Craig Brent-White, who purchased the land from a mineral sands company in 1980.