Wayfinder Opens Its Estate Winery in Margaret River, Western Australia
Wayfinder has completed construction of its new purpose-built estate winery in Cowaramup, Margaret River, opening this week, just in time to receive fruit for vintage 2026.
The gravity-fed, off-grid facility marks a significant milestone for Wayfinder Wines, enabling all winemaking to take place on site for the first time. The vineyard and winery now operate as a single system, eliminating transport emissions and preserving fruit integrity.
A Gravity-Fed Winery Designed for Estate Winemaking
Built partially below ground on a former dam site, the winery uses gravity to move fruit and wine through the facility, significantly reducing pumping and mechanical handling. The design prioritises calm, control and precision during the fast-paced and prolonged Margaret River vintage season.
Fruit is hand-harvested from the surrounding estate vineyard, chilled overnight, and processed directly on site. This close proximity allows for gentle extraction, long fermentations and careful decision-making at each stage.
An Organic, Off-Grid Winery Certified by ACO
As of January, the winery has achieved Australian Certified Organic (ACO) certification, extending the estate’s organic credentials beyond the vineyard and reinforcing a long-term commitment to regenerative viticulture and low-impact production.
The facility operates entirely off-grid, powered by a large-scale solar and battery system commissioned in late 2025. The system was extensively modelled to ensure reliability during periods of peak demand, including harvest.
Sustainability was embedded from the earliest design stages. The winery was designed by KHA Architects in close collaboration with Head Winemaker Andrew Trio. Set low in the landscape and framed by marri and jarrah forest, the building integrates rammed earth walls for thermal mass, native revegetation across the roofline, and sustainably sourced Australian timber throughout.
A Purpose-Built Margaret River Production Site
“This is the ideal scenario for us, with vineyard and winery on the same site, designed together from the outset,” says Trio. “The layout supports precision and restraint in the winery while reducing energy use and unnecessary handling, giving us the best conditions to express the site.”
The winery has a production capacity of approximately 350 tonnes and is equipped with twelve concrete fermenters, six 4,500L and six 5,700L, selected for their thermal stability, energy efficiency and ability to preserve fruit integrity during fermentation.
Regenerative Practices at Estate Scale
Wayfinder’s vineyard has been certified organic since 2022 and continues to expand regenerative farming practices across the property, including composting systems, revegetation corridors, rainwater capture and on-site food production. The winery has been designed to support these systems, with further sustainability initiatives planned as production scales.
For CEO Paul McArdle, the completion of the winery signals a shift from development to long-term production.
“This facility gives the team complete control over the winemaking process while staying true to our environmental commitments,” he says. “It’s a serious production site designed for longevity.”
Estate-Grown Margaret River Wines, Made On Site
Wayfinder produces a focused range of estate-grown Margaret River wines, with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc forming the core of the portfolio, alongside select small-batch releases.
With vineyard, winery and energy systems now fully aligned on site, vintage 2026 will be the first Wayfinder release made entirely on the estate, from vine to bottle.
