Cape Mentelle

Cape Mentelle is a premium, historic cellar door on Wallcliffe Road about 4km from Margaret River town on the run toward the coast. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the outdoor areas, and the pull is a refined tasting on the lawns and garden courtyard with your dog settled beside you rather than waiting in the car.

The dog setup

Dogs on leads are welcome on the lawns and in the garden courtyard; they are not allowed inside the cellar door building or the restaurant. Water is usually available on request, but pack a portable bowl to be safe. One event caveat matters: dogs are not permitted in the gardens during the winery's outdoor movie screenings, so check the events calendar before you plan a visit and aim for a relaxed daytime tasting well clear of any evening event setup.

Worth knowing

Cape Mentelle is known for its acclaimed, trophy-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, with bar or seated tastings of up to five wines. Walk-ins and bookings are both welcome, and there is a small grazing menu, though the cellar door is a tasting-focused operation rather than a full restaurant, so bring picnic provisions if you plan to settle in on the lawn. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

Max: check the events page before you go. On movie nights the gardens are closed to dogs, so a daytime visit is the safer bet.

Getting there and parking

The address is 331 Wallcliffe Road. From the southern end of the main street, head toward the coast along Wallcliffe Road and the winery is on the left, with on-site parking. A weekday or early afternoon visit is calmest for a tasting with a dog.

Close by with the dogs

Round out the day with dog-friendly stops nearby: the Rotary South Bank river trail in town is a good leg-stretch before a tasting, Walsh and Sons pours close by, and Xanadu Wines and Stella Bella Wines continue the loop south of town.

More options are on the Western Australia wineries guide and the Margaret River destinations page.