MARGAN WINES

Margan Wines is a family-owned wine brand run by Andrew and Lisa Margan, a husband-and-wife team. Established in 1996, the winery produces a wide range of wines, including reds, whites, rosés and sparkling varieties.

Margan Wines prides itself on creating high-quality wines using sustainable practices. The vineyard protects and embraces the environment as part of the winemaking process. The winery has won numerous awards and five-star ratings from many of the most respected wine critics and organisations. There is also an award-winning restaurant on-site, serving up delicious local produce sourced from local growers and harvested daily from Margan’s own estate.

Margan Wines was founded in 1996 by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Lisa Margan. Andrew is originally from Sydney but spent his childhood in his parents’ vineyard next to the famous Tyrrell’s winery in the Hunter Valley. The legendary wine grower Murray Tyrrell inspired Andrew’s winemaking career.

Andrew and Lisa met at Hawkesbury Agricultural College. After graduation, Andrew worked at Tyrrell’s before the couple moved to France for a few years, where Andrew worked as a winemaker and Lisa as a chef. When the Margans returned to the Hunter Valley, Andrew continued working at Tyrrell’s before the couple planted their first vineyard in 1991 and opened Margan Wines in 1996. Their farm-to-table Margan Restaurant opened in 2007.

Today, the winery is an award-winning business, producing 25,000 cases annually for wine lovers across the globe to enjoy.

Margan Wines is based outside the picturesque village of Broke in Hunter Valley, just over an hour’s drive from central Newcastle.

Located in New South Wales, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region. With a warm, humid climate and rolling hills, the region is famous for its Semillon and Shiraz wines. A variety of grapes thrive in the Hunter Valley’s fertile soils, and the winery also grows premium Chardonnay, Albariño and Verdelho.

Margan Wines makes wines using Hunter Valley traditional varieties as well as experimenting with less common varieties like Albarino and Barbera. Its most popular wines include Shiraz, Mataro (Mourvèdre), Semillon, Verdelho and Chardonnay.

One of the winery’s most successful ranges is the Halliday Wine Companion award-winning Fordwich Hill range, featuring Shiraz, Semillon and Chardonnay. The Shiraz is elegant and medium-bodied, with smooth tannins and notes of dark berries, vanilla and clove. The Semillon is also an award winner – pure and fresh, with intensely concentrated notes of citrus and ripe papaya.

Another popular choice is the Ceres Hill Albariño from the Margan Ceres Hill vineyard. This Spanish variety thrives in the Hunter Valley’s warm, humid climate, creating fresh, acidic wines with a characteristic salinity. Look for notes of citrus, pear, sea spray and lemon balm.

Sustainability is a top priority at Margan Wines.

While it was certified by Sustainable Winegrowers Australia in 2019, the winery has had an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in place since 2010 to reduce its environmental impact. This plan involves reducing greenhouse gas production, minimising waste, and making water and energy use more efficient.

Margan Wines’ sustainability goals for the future include becoming carbon neutral and offsetting its carbon emissions to the lowest possible amount. The winery also aims to become certified organic and biodynamic.

As of the 2021 vintage, all Margan red wines can be enjoyed by vegans – the winery doesn't use animal products to fine and filter its wines.

However, not every white from Margan Wines is vegan-friendly, so if you're interested in a specific bottle, you may need to do some research.

The Margan Winery cellar door is open to the public seven days a week.

Visitors can enjoy a glass of wine in the tasting room or open-air courtyard. Alternatively, take part in a guided tasting with one of three options available – the museum vintages, seasonal favourites or reserve releases.

Enjoy your wine with a platter of cheese and charcuterie, or try a complete dining experience in the award-winning Margan Restaurant, which is open for lunch or dinner from Thursdays to Sundays. Fresh produce is harvested daily from the Margan estate for hearty and delicious farm-to-table dishes.

Visitors can even enjoy a guided tour of the Margan farm – the winery also has an orchard, olive groves, lambs and free-range chickens.