www.foresterestate.com.au

Forester Estate is a locally owned winery situated in the northern Margaret River Region. The Estate is surrounded by huge Eucalypt trees that once supported a thriving forestry trade that started in 1850’s. The Forestry Industry was the first industry that supported jobs and opening new land in the South West of Western Australia.

A saw pit that was used by the original forestry pioneers (“faller’s”) to cut logs, have it transported to the mill or siding by “teamsters” with bullocks, remains as a trigger from the past. This timber, predominately the hardwood Jarrah, was shipped out from Geographe Bay to countries around the world. Even today, many streets, paving and bridges of London still have the Jarrah milled from the forests of Margaret River, Western Australia.

As you thread your way along a gravel track up a hill through a thicket of trees you are suddenly confronted with what appears to be an enchanted castle. But this is no fairy tale. It is in fact a 17th-century French chateau reminiscent of the Renaissance architectural-style that thrived under King Louis X1V.

But its seclusion and proposed use will keep it from the public's eyes. The building is a culmination of the ideas of the "three musketeers", Kevin McKay, Redmond Sweeny and Michael Langridge at Forester Estate. Just like the 17th-century swashbuckling heroes of Alexandre Dumas' novel, it's a team on a mission.

They want to create something unrivaled in the Margaret River wine region.

- Rob Bennett, Rural Press, Western Australia, 22^nd August 2006

The winery exists because the brand has a strong desire to achieve and produce wines of the best calibre and terrior from the Margaret River region.

The winery was built in the summer of 2002 and houses the best of new technology with proven traditional techniques to ensure the exceptional quality grown in the vineyard is preserved in the finished product. Outstanding quality is further assured by bottling all wines on the estate.

White Wines

The grapes for our straight varietal white wines are hand picked and fermented in stainless steel under temperature controlled conditions. The juice is cold settled prior to the commencement of fermentation. Where appropriate, selected parcels of Chardonnay are fermented and/or matured in French Oak Barriques to provide an added dimension of complexity. Our whites consistently exhibit delightful fresh and lively fruit flavours balanced with crisp acidity and deliver a delicious, lingering, dry finish.

Red Wines

Fermentation of all our red wines is carried out in open fermenters, again under temperature controlled conditions. This control allows ferments to be extended and allows time to ensure optimum contact and aeration between juice and skins. Gentle pressing is undertaken towards the end of ferment to avoid over extraction and harsh tannins, and all wines spend between nine and eighteen months in French Oak Barriques. Tremendous varietal character, excellent balance and complexity, subtle oak and a lovely soft tannin finish typify Forester’s reds.

Wine tasting notes with more detailed descriptions are available for trade and distributors on the website.

Viticulture

The home vineyard was planted totally on an Open Lyre trellising system in 1995, ensuring our commitment to ultra premium fruit. Open lyre demands more manual labour and less machinery doing the work, which suits our gentle approach to fruit handling. In addition to the Forester Estate Vineyard, selected fruit parcels from additional mature vineyards managed by Forester Estate supplement the production base. This flexibility provides Forester Estate the ability to grow in a controlled fashion.

Control of vine vigour and judicious vineyard management has resulted in vines that are low yielding and grapes that are small in size but intense in colour and flavour, essential for production of premium quality table wines.

Forester Estate employs a qualified viticulturlist that ensures all fruit delivered to Forester Estate meet the high benchmark set by the winemaking team.

Winemakers

Kevin McKay – Winemaker and vigneron - 20 years experience.
Michael Langridge – Winemaker 10 years viticultural & winery operations experience.