High in the Yallingup Hills of the Margaret River Wine Region, a gentle breeze blends fresh notes of the ocean and the scent of jarrah and marri trees, sending them rippling over the valley. Clover flowers, the colour of youthful ruby wine, dance between fluttering cabernet vines as a chilled glass of 2024 chardonnay is slowly poured.
Feature by Jo Baker
This is Deep Woods Estate, the setting of the ethereal winery scene in Tourism Western Australia’s Walking On A Dream campaign. It’s one of Margaret River’s (Wooditjup) most awarded wineries for cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay and prolific production of layered varietal rosé. It’s where connection to the land, soil and nature is deeply rooted in the crafting of every drop.
Led by the Director of Operations and Head of Viticulture, John Fogarty, the cast and crew of Walking On A Dream are invited behind the scenes to see how Deep Woods is boldly generating a new wave in Margaret River. Combining traditional philosophy with modern sustainable vineyard practices, rewriting the winemaking rule book and embracing a connection to land that the local Wadandi people have practiced here for millennia.
“Working in the vineyards, on the land, in the environment, that's really what makes the wine. So that's where we need to spend so much time. We need to look after the land as much as we possibly can, because it's giving something back to us. It’s a really important part of what we do.
Deep Woods Estate
“We’re so lucky that we work with amazing soils, coastline, and environment here in this region.”
As the cast and crew taste the first notes of juicy white peach, candied lime peel and rich roasted cashews, John speaks of ancient, richly layered soils. Of warm and dry summers, creating a long and slow ripening season. And of cooling sea breezes from the Indian Ocean and Geographe Bay, developing distinctive flavours and aromatics.
“We're in the northern end of the Margaret River wine region here at Deep Woods, but the wine growing region spans quite widely compared to others. There are so many amazing wineries to see.”
Walking On A Dream, Margaret River
He laughs and admits that he’s probably a bit biased toward the South West, but his passion for the region is as compelling as the widely regarded wines he produces.
“We've got the greatest place in the world to visit. It’s a natural biodiversity hot spot in the southwest. Amazing flora and fauna. Beautiful forests and bush walks. Incredible wild coastlines.
“We have a Cape to Cape walk trail, which travels from the northern cape to the southern cape of the Margaret River region, following the coastline and taking you through the forests. It's breath taking.”
Surfers Point, Margaret River
He could go on. An easy drive from the cellar door is a string of sublime pale sandy beaches and glass-clear bays, framed by striking granite headlands. Point breaks worthy of World Surf League championships. The longest convoy of humpback whales stopping to rest and play in the coastal waters from June to December. Delicate spider and fairy orchids playing peek-a-boo in the lush spring undergrowth. Limestone caves decorated with mammoth wedding cake stalagmites and Paleolithic fossilised megafauna. Culinary luminaries curating wine pairings with extraordinary local flavours. Barefoot luxury retreats welcoming sandy feet.
“Walking On A Dream. That’s what I feel like, being here,” says John. “We’re walking on a dream all the time. We get to live, breathe, and play in this amazing place. We sort of have to pinch ourselves every day.”
Published February 2026.