Smallwater Estate is a little winery on the eastern side of the Geographe Wine Region, just a few kilometres south of Donnybrook, the Fruit Bowl of Western Australia. Purchased in 1993 by John Small and his late wife Robyn, Smallwater Estate is the most highly awarded boutique winery in the region.

Originally a Marron Farm, contract grapes were first planted in 1993. For the next decade or so, most grapes were supplied to Cape Mentelle. In 2005, John decided to make his own wine under the Smallwater Estate label. Through painstaking effort, John perfected the growing of the Zinfandel varietal, and the winery’s specialty Zinfandel vintage emerged in 2006.

Smallwater Estate now produces a total of 3000 cases per year. John has kept planting more varieties, with chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and the more recent petit verdot, fiano and saperavi sitting alongside its zinfandel. The winery is proud to have two superb winemakers in Bruce Dukes and Remi Guise of Naturaliste Vintners in Carbanup, who have produced some award-winning wines, rating highly on the national stage.

Since its founding, Smallwater Estate has won many awards for its wines. This year alone, the 2022 Wooded Chardonnay, 2022 Shiraz, and 2023 Roze (derived from Zinfandel) each brought home a Winewise trophy. 2022 saw many awards, including the Smallwater Estate’s Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show award, a trophy at the Geographe Wine Show, and a win at the Geographe Wine Show and the Wine Show of WA for their 2021 Precursor.

Smallwater Estate’s Restaurant and Cellar Door serves its signature dish: Chardonnay Marron Pie. Patrons can choose to dine inside the restaurant or on the deck in the glorious sunshine, taking in the views over the marron ponds and the pristine vineyard.

Smallwater Estate’s Wine Club members get 30% off recommended retail price, with free delivery anywhere in Australia. The winery also offers free camping sites upon request. What more could anyone ask for? Waking up to the Birds Singing overlooking the Marron Ponds and Vineyards. Truly breathtaking.