Friday 10 February: a wine tour by bike

 We’re up and off early and park the van behind the bike rental shop. Set up with two mountain bikes we head off into town to the Margaret River Bakery where we enjoy a coffee in a retro vintage setting with a young and lively vibe! Off on the trail we cycle through Bea tree lined avenues and then try to cut through one winery as recommended by the cycle shop guy but end up getting a bit lost and doing a large detour before we reach our first tasting at Xanadu winery. A few sips of 5 varieties doesn’t seem too excessive and we end up enjoying the Aussie take on French Viognier and Cabernet Franc. Then a shorter ride to Voyager Estate which is a colonial style building set in attractive gardens. More relaxed now we enjoy our tasting hosted by a rather attractive French girl. We go for a young wine similar to Beaujolais Nouveau and a slightly more pricey Cabernet Sauvignon. We eat our picnic in the gardens and then cycle off to our final destination at Stella Bella. Here we enjoy the classic Chardonnay and a Cabernet Merlot. I’m not sure many of these bottles will get home to the UK! We cycle back along a lovely path which follows the Margaret River back into town. Rucksacks now quite heavy with wine bottles.

It’s only a short drive to Prevelly beach and our home for the next few days  lovely pitch at the back with shade and privacy at last. Just a short walk to the beach  it’s very windy now and the kite surfers are out in force.