Wine Club
The best way to keep up to date with new releases, amazing specials, unique wine events and special tastings.
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ABOUT US / OUR VINEYARDS
All Great Wine is made in the Vineyard.
We are blessed with rich, ancient, bountiful soils evenly infused with the free draining red ochre gravel that characterises the soils of this great wine growing region. All our vineyards are dry grown. The vines have sent their roots deep into the ground and found the pristine water that lies below.
We planted our first vines in 2002 on a gently sloping block at the back of our property in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. We had bought the former cattle grazing property four years earlier but it wasn’t until we started digging beneath the surface that we
realised how amazing the soils were.
Our home vineyard is located in the middle of the Wilyabrup appellation mapped out by Dr John Gladstones in 1967. We first planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz using cuttings descendant from the famous Jack Mann super-clone. Then in 2004 we planted Chardonnay and Semillon and added a Sauvignon Blanc vineyard in 2008. We also established a Chenin Blanc vineyard in the Swan Valley in 2011.
In total we have 9.2 hectares or approximately 23 acres of vines.
HOME VINEYARD - TOM CULLITY DRIVE
Cabernet Sauvignon - 1.6ha - planted 2002
Shiraz - 1.60ha - planted 2002
Chardonnay - 2.13 ha - planted 2004
Semillon - 1.07 ha - planted 2004
Sauvignon Blanc - 1.60 ha - planted 2008
SWAN VALLEY VINEYARD - WEST SWAN RD
Chenin Blanc - 1.20ha - planted 2010.
ABOUT US / OUR REGION
Ancient soils and a pristine maritime environment.
Fresh sea breezes blow in across the Indian Ocean cooling the vines in summer and moderating the chill of winter preventing frosts on even the coldest days.
Many people call Margaret River the Bordeaux of the south because of its similarities to the famous French wine growing region. It’s no coincidence that some of the wines that grow so well in Bordeaux are the stand out varieties in Margaret River - particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. The Margaret River micro-climate is perfect for growing wine grapes. The soils are ancient and untouched. This southernmost corner of the Australian continent has some of the most complex, rich and fertile soils in the world and Margaret River’s close proximity to the coast means that the prevailing winds blow in across the pristine Indian Ocean cooling the vines in summer and modulating the chill of winter preventing frosts on even the coldest days.
The first vines in Margaret River were planted a few kilometres from our vineyard in 1968 by Dr Tom Cullity. He had recognised the suitability of the soils and the micro-climate of Margaret River after the region was surveyed by Western Australian soil scientist Dr John Gladstones some years before. The Wilyabrup sub-region is in the heart of the Margaret River appellation and is home to some of Australia’s finest wineries. Wilyabrup is the Aboriginal name for “place of red ochre”. It was home to the Noongar people for tens of thousands of years. The red ochre gravel is the key to the region’s free-draining loamy soils that make it so perfect for world class viticulture.
ABOUT US / OUR PEOPLE
Founders
Patrick Coward and Martin Black, the founders of Coward & Black Vineyards, met when they were six years old. Their parents had emigrated from Britain during Western Australia’s mining boom in the late sixties. They bought an old cattle grazing property in Margaret River in 1997 and opened The Margaret River Chocolate Company in 1999.
In 2006 they launched their wine label and opened their first cellar door in Margaret River. When it came to name their wine they reverted to the French tradition of naming the vineyard after the owners’ surnames. The logo pays homage to their journey across the seas.
Winemaker
Clive Otto has been making Coward & Black Vineyards wines for over ten years. Working with state of the art equipment at nearby Fraser Gallop estate, Clive works closely with the owners as the vintage unfolds. A former Australian Wine Maker of the year, Clive is renowned for his meticulous and thorough approach to wine making - so much so that he even specifies the forest that the oak must come from for the barrels.
Viticulturalist
John Standish has been our viticulturist since 2008. He is well known as one of the Margaret River region’s most accomplished and knowledgable viticulturists. John established our vineyard in The Swan Valley and has been working meticulously with the vineyard team bringing the very best modern viticultural practices to our vineyards.
Winemaker
With double degrees in winemaking, viticulture and agribusiness Fraser Gallop Estate’s winemaker Ellin Tritt works closely with Clive Otto to oversee our wine production each vintage. Ellin shares our view that great wine is made in the vineyard and works closely with our vineyard manager as the vintage evolves, forensically monitoring the developing ripeness, acidity and physiological flavour of the fruit as we approach each harvest to ensure that we hand pick the fruit on the day that it's at its absolute peak.
Our single vineyard wines use hand-picked estate grown fruit.
We believe that great wine comes from great fruit and we put our focus on nurturing the vineyard and our faith in the soil and the seasons. Our wines have won trophies and medals in competitions all over Australia and the world including: The Decanter World Wine awards in London, The Sydney International Wine Competition, The James Halliday Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenges, The Perth Royal Wine Show, The Royal Queensland Wine Show, The Royal Melbourne Wine Show, The Wine Awards of Western Australia, The Margaret River
Current releases: White wine
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2021 Sweetness & Light
The perfect sweet wine. Low in alcohol of 8.5%, palate is rich and candied with round generous flavours of ripe peach and tropical fruits.
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2017 Chardonnay
Pale straw colour with green hues, white peach, nashi pear and some grapefruit on the nose with hints of toast and brioche notes. Crisp acidity with a refreshing grapefruit like drive on the palate, minerally and not too oaky, well balanced.
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Blanc de Blancs
Great mousse with a fine bead. Aromas of pastry, lemon meringue, red apples and citrus, lanolin and beeswax. Quite complex.
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Organic Chenin Blanc Alcohol Free
This de-alcoholised Chenin Blanc was made using organic grapes that were hand harvested from our Swan Valley vineyard. Fermented in the traditional way, the alcohol was then extracted to create an indicatively delicious Chenin Blanc which, despite containing less than 0.5% alcohol, still retains all of the alluring presence and flavour of a traditional wine.
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2022 Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon
Made from hand harvested fruit from our boutique Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon vineyards in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River this delicious wine is packed with flavour.
Aromas of citrus lemon thyme, kiwifruit, pineapple, lime and cut grass with tropical fruits and zesty lime juice, green pineapples and passionfruit notes.
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2018 Blanc De Blancs – Magnum
Only 100 of these special magnums were bottled. Our first ever vintage, it went on to win silver at the 2023 Decanter World Wine awards, with a score of 93 points.
Great mousse with a fine bead. Aromas of pastry, lemon meringue, red apples and citrus, lanolin and beeswax. Quite complex.
$195.00
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Organic Chenin Blanc Alcohol Free
Original price was: $25.00.$13.00Current price is: $13.00.
Current releases: Red wine
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2018 The Black Prince Cabernet Sauvignon
Quite herbal reflecting the late cool season of 2018. Aromas of plums, dusty dried bay leaf and some dried sage. Also hints of lanolin.
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2020 The Black Prince Cabernet Sauvignon
A prestigious Trophy winner at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, the Coward & Black 2020 Black Prince Cabernet Sauvignon has been recognized as the best in the world. Surpassing entries from across the globe the judges praised its unique and intriguing complexity.
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2020 Show Shiraz
Soft powdery chalky tannins, cooler climate feel to this wine, elegance and finesse. Cinnamon spice, violets, plums. Great length and mouthfeel.
Current releases: Chocolate Liqueur
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Sambarino Hazelnut Mousse
This nutty twist on chocolate is perfect added to hot chocolate or drizzled over homemade cakes.
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Sambarino Espresso Macchiato
With dark chocolate and coffee who can go wrong? Fulfill all your cravings in one go with this perfectly married indulgence.
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Sambarino Classic Chocolate
This one brings out the chocolate lover in every adult. Tastes perfect on it’s own or with warm milk as a delicious night cap.
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Sambarino After Dinner Mint
This is the perfect way to end an evening. Reminiscent of the after dinner mints of our childhood. Enjoy straight over ice, or poured over ice cream.
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Limited Edition Sambarino Chocolate Liqueur
Enjoy Sambarino straight from the bottle, over ice-cream, with cold milk as a refreshing cocktail or as a night-cap with warm milk.
$26.95
Join us for a tasting of our range of wines at one of our two cellar doors.
We believe that great wine comes from great fruit and we put our focus on nurturing the vineyard and our faith in the soil and the seasons. Our wines have won trophies and medals in competitions all over Australia and the world including: The Decanter World Wine awards in London, The Sydney International Wine Competition, The James Halliday Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenges, The Perth Royal Wine Show, The Royal Queensland Wine Show, The Royal Melbourne Wine Show, The Wine Awards of Western Australia, The Margaret River Wi Awards and the Boutique Wines of Australia Awards.
MARGARET RIVER
Our Margaret River cellar door is located on Tom Cullity Drive in the heart of the Wilyabrup sub-region only a few hundred metres from the famous Margaret River Chocolate Company.
Coward and Black Vineyards - Margaret River 448 Tom Cullity Drive Wilyabrup Western Australia 6280
Telephone 08 9755 6355
Email mriver@cowardandblack.com.au
Open 9am to 5pm 7 days a week.
Open 10 to 5pm New Years Day. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
SWAN VALLEY
Our Swan Valley cellar door is only a 25 minute drive from the Perth CBD on the scenic Swan valley food food and wine trail.
Coward & Black Vineyards - Swan Valley 5123 West Swan Road West Swan. Western Australia 6055
Telephone 08 6274 4040
Email swan@cowardandblack.com.au
Open 9.00am to 5.00pm 7 days a week (closed Christmas Day, and New years Day)
The Coward & Black Wine Club
The best way to keep up to date with new releases, amazing specials, unique wine events and special tastings and dinners is to join our wine club. Membership is free and open to anyone.
Ordinary Membership
No Fee
Become a Coward & Black wine club member for the following benefits.
- Exclusive access to special promotions and events
- Regular newsletter.
- Invitations and priority access to all Coward & Black Vineyards events and new releases.