This impeccably run estate crafts a set of wines that ooze style and class. Even better, the quality just keeps getting better and better, reflecting the continual evolution in the vineyard and winery. It was Michael Wright who immaculately built this property into the beacon of quality it has become today. While Voyager’s founder and visionary sadly passed away in 2012, he left a powerful legacy of absolute commitment to quality that today pervades every corner of Voyager. The Estate remains family-owned, with Michael’s daughter, Alex Burt (nee Wright), matching her father’s fanatical attention to detail with an environmental conscience that has opened another important chapter in the history of this Estate.

All of Voyager’s wines are estate grown and are made to reflect the unique climate and qualities of Steven’s Valley in Margaret River where they are based. They are in good company in the location regard, Leeuwin Estate and Xanadu complete the triumvirate of quality in this small but highly prestigious Valley. It is this location that is paramount to understanding the Voyager wines’ style and quality. Long regarded as a key sub-region for the finest Margaret River Chardonnay, it is also capable of producing much finer and fresher Cabernet than the sub-regions further north. The geology here is amongst the oldest in Australia and the gravel soils (free draining with a high mineral content), aspect and consistent maritime influence form the foundations of Voyager's perfumed, elegantly proportioned wines.

Voyager Estate, now in its fourth decade, is showing no sign of slowing down. Under the custodianship of Michael Wright’s daughter Alex, the estate has, in recent years, succeeded in transferring vineyard and winery operations to organics and, by 2023, expects to be fully certified.

The Voyager Estate team is in it for the long haul—between winery manager Travis Lemm, Vineyard manager Glen Ryan and assistant winemaker James Penton there is 45 years’ experience at Voyager Estate alone. The brain’s trust consequently has an intimate knowledge of the sites, clones, region and style—and together with Chief Winemaker Tim Shand, they translate this intellect seamlessly into the glass. Viticultural integrity plays a huge role at Voyager Estate. Over the last 25 years, they have put the health of their soils, vines and land first and foremost. In conjunction with organic practices in all vineyards and in the winery; there are specific clones matched to appropriate soil types; each plot of soil is micro-managed with specific viticulture and harvest dates; grape marc and kitchen scraps are used for compost; a telemetry-controlled irrigation system is used to conserve precious water resources; and each parcel of fruit is hand harvested and fermented separately. Time and resources are deployed where they matter—the vineyard.

The two marquee wines, the Chardonnay and the Cabernet/Merlot are both rightly critically fêted as amongst the region’s benchmarks. The Chardonnay has all the presence, elegance and purity of fruit that has made Margaret River Chardonnay renowned worldwide. Since the watershed 2001 release, Voyager Cabernet/Merlot continues to go from strength to strength. It’s based on fruit from the 35-year-old Estate block with the addition of some fruit from other Estate Blocks. —this is distinguished Margaret River at its finest.