Davenport has a long history in the wine industry. He studied viticulture and oenology at Curtin University, and after graduating he worked in Sonoma and the Swan Valley. He then went on to establish Myattsfield Vineyards in the Perth Hills region in 1997, where he has stayed put ever since. “When you come to the Perth Hills, you’re visiting small, boutique producers and you’ll often meet the owner and winemaker themselves. It’s a small, intimate experience where you can sample award-winning wines,” he says.

Davenports describes the region as having orchards and wineries scattered throughout the rolling hills, surrounded by national and state forest. The area also offers magnificent waterfalls, as well as serene hiking and biking trails. “Not surprisingly, the area has embraced agritourism and apart from the boutique cellar doors and wineries, there are also cafes, restaurants, accommodation, distilleries, cideries and breweries,” Davenport details.

THE ORIGINS OF PERTH HILLS
“From a historical perspective, the Perth Hills was traditionally a fruit growing and orchard area,” Davenport explains. “Wine growing was a logical extension, with its soils, climate and proximity to Perth city making it a great opportunity for small, quality producers.” Although the first grapes were planted in the area in the 1880s, it wasn’t until the 1970s that most of the viticultural activity started in the hills. “The longest established winery is Hainault in the Bickley Valley, which was planted in 1978,” Davenport says.

The region is now getting national recognition for the wine it produces. “For example, the 2023 Battles Granitas Shiraz won Shiraz of the Year in the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, and its fruit was sourced from the Perth Hills region,” Davenport notes. “Similarly, Tonon Vineyard won Best Wine of the Show with their 2022 Sangiovese in the 2023 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show,” he continues. “It’s a vibrant area and we’re hoping to see further growth as part of the continued evolution of wine and viticulture in the region.”

THE DIRT ON TERROIR
At 350 metres above sea level, the Perth Hills wine region is on average 2-3 degrees cooler than Perth’s coastal plain. “The valleys and terrain of the Perth Hills provides choice of aspect and slope, ideal for creating specific climates suited for a wide range of grape varieties,” Davenport explains. The Darling Scarp
dominates the region and shelters it from Perth’s maritime influences. “With warm days and cool nights, the region’s climatic conditions are more continental than maritime, which accentuates the difference between minimum and maximum temperatures,” Davenport elaborates. “This leads to greater acid retention and results in fresher, more vibrant wines.”

There are other factors at play that make this an ideal region for growing wine. “Our undulating landscape leads to a huge variation in microclimates and great diversity in terroir across the region depending on specific site selection. It also provides good drainage and air circulation, which reduces disease,” Davenport describes. Perth Hills also has one of the oldest soil types in the world, with ironstone gravel over clay dominating the area – a soil profile which produces small but intense fruit.

A TOAST TO THE TRENDS
Davenport has noticed that in the Perth Hills region, there has been a general move to medium bodied wines with more complexity. “People are seeking subtle, savvy flavours that have lower or more balanced oak use that supports the fruit, rather than overpowers it,” he notes.