Established in 1981, family-run Wignalls Wines was founded by Bill, Pat and Rob Wignall. The winery, now based on the outskirts of Albany, was passed onto the second generation of winemakers with Bill’s son Rob, and daughter in law Claire in 2004, for the next evolution in Western Australian winemaking. A multi award-winning winery, Wignalls Wines’ biggest win was for its premium chardonnay, winning ‘Australia’s Best White Wine’ and ‘The Best New World Wine’ at the Japan International Wine Challenge, the third largest wine show in the world at the time.

Wignalls Wines’ new generation has renewed emphasis on sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir. These main varieties all express their individual terroir styles from Western Australia’s most southerly based vineyard. The wine region of Albany is defined differently to other western regions – it is relatively mountainous, is on the cool Southern Ocean and features two significant rivers: the King and Kalgan rivers, bringing humidity and cooling influences into the many vineyards in the region.

Along with Wignalls Wines super-premium wine styles, it also produces styles for your everyday enjoyment, such as unwooded chardonnay and cabernet merlot, along with favourites such as a rosé and port, all available at the cellar door or online.

The cellar door is a truly memorable traveling experience from the Albany region. Only eight minutes from Albany’s central business district, it is the closest winery to the city center and unlike most Western Australian cellars, Wignalls Wines’ is old world, you will not find any polished concrete or stainless steel here. The unique, rustic cellar door was constructed in 1986 on site out of an old hay shed, featuring local stone and rough sawn jarrah timbers. Wignalls Wines’ belief is that an older winery should portray its heritage, and it does this beautifully. 2004 saw Wignalls Wines’ cellar door benchmarked by the Winemakers Federation of Australia as one of the best twenty-five cellar doors in Australia, a testament to the Wignalls foresight of going against the grain with a quaint cellar door, built out of local solid stone that the vineyard thrives in.

The atmosphere of the cellar door is warm and appetising, surrounded by lawn and garden area that forms a great environment to sit outside and enjoy. Over the summer months, Wignalls Wines plays host to large events, including providing a much-needed city venue to large international music acts. Once inside, peruse the “brag wall” to see Wignalls Wines’ extensive collection of medals and concert paraphernalia – a favourite with locals and returning customers from yesteryear.