Vasse Felix was established by Margaret River pioneer Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967 and is the region’s founding wine estate.
Dr Cullity’s original aim for Vasse Felix was simple – to make the best possible wine, and prove the untapped potential of a place that was hypothesised to be superb for fine wine growing. Through ingenuity and tenacity, he made Margaret River’s first serious wines in 1972; a Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec and a Riesling, marking a milestone in Australian wine history.
Since 1987, the Holmes à Court Family have guided Vasse Felix with a steadfast vision: for it, and the Margaret River wine region, to be thriving and world-regarded, 100 years into the future, and beyond.
An exacting focus on quality and excellence for Margaret River’s pre-eminent wine styles, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay sits at the heart of this.
A Timeless
Pursuit
“The motive for the first planting near Margaret River was not commercial. It was a doubtful proposition without back-up. The only aim was to make the best possible wine. There seemed no reason why this should not be done and it was hard to understand why nobody had done this and why nobody showed any sign of doing it... it seemed obvious that Western Australia should do better.”
Vasse Felix Founder, Dr Tom Cullity
Margaret River's
Founding Wine Estate
Dedication to the craft
The Estate encompasses three specialty vineyards, located on exceptional sites within the region, including Margaret River’s oldest – Tom’s Plots in our Home Vineyard in the Wilyabrup area. These vines remain productive, growing the revered grapes for the TOM CULLITY.
Subsequent generations of plantings have been carefully matched by grape variety and clone, and are farmed with a holistic view to nourish soil health, vine longevity and natural biodiversity.
The characterful wines are reputed for their small batch, quality-led, minimal intervention winemaking, resulting in a collection of celebrated Margaret River icons, through to contemporary house styles; all of which are distributed internationally. The Vasse Felix Winery and Vineyards are certified members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
Subsequent generations of plantings have been carefully matched by grape variety and clone, and are farmed with a holistic view to nourish soil health, vine longevity and natural biodiversity.
The characterful wines are reputed for their small batch, quality-led, minimal intervention winemaking, resulting in a collection of celebrated Margaret River icons, through to contemporary house styles; all of which are distributed internationally. The Vasse Felix Winery and Vineyards are certified members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
Chief Winemaker Virginia Willcock
One of Australia's most awarded winemakers, Virginia has led the wine program at Vasse Felix since October 2006. Virginia has an insatiable curiosity for the role microbiology plays in grapes and vineyards in making more environmentally expressive wines.
As a teenager, Virginia saw the happiness and joy wine brought to her parents and their friends after a hard day’s work in their small vineyard. It was here she decided winemaking was going to be her career. “I loved the idea of growing fruit, and then turning it into something that could be more beautiful and would make people happy.”
‘Winemaker of the Year’ Halliday Wine Companion 2026
‘Winemaker of the Year’ ASVO (Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology) Award for Excellence, 2024
‘Winemaker of the Year’ Australian Women in Wine Awards, 2017
‘Winemaker of the Year Nominee’ Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards, 2014
'Winemaker of the Year’ The West Australian Good Wine Guide, 2013
'Australian Winemaker of the Year’ Gourmet Traveller WINE, 2012
As a teenager, Virginia saw the happiness and joy wine brought to her parents and their friends after a hard day’s work in their small vineyard. It was here she decided winemaking was going to be her career. “I loved the idea of growing fruit, and then turning it into something that could be more beautiful and would make people happy.”
‘Winemaker of the Year’ Halliday Wine Companion 2026
‘Winemaker of the Year’ ASVO (Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology) Award for Excellence, 2024
‘Winemaker of the Year’ Australian Women in Wine Awards, 2017
‘Winemaker of the Year Nominee’ Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards, 2014
'Winemaker of the Year’ The West Australian Good Wine Guide, 2013
'Australian Winemaker of the Year’ Gourmet Traveller WINE, 2012
Chief Viticulturist Bart Molony
Bart Molony joined Vasse Felix in 2004, making 2024 his 20th vintage. He has a passion for sustainable viticulture, where every practice is guided by a strong focus on vineyard biodiversity and responsible, natural farming practices. He promotes a constant focus on soil biology across all vineyards. This is enhanced by Margaret River’s natural
suitability to sustainable viticulture, due to its climatic and environmental attributes.
“Margaret River is the perfect environment in which to grow grapes. The region’s excellent soils and climate contribute to the production of consistent yields of high quality fruit, without which, the creation of great wines would be impossible.”
‘Viticulturist of the Year’ Halliday Wine Companion, 2025
‘Viti Excellence Award' Margaret River Wine Association, 2011
suitability to sustainable viticulture, due to its climatic and environmental attributes.
“Margaret River is the perfect environment in which to grow grapes. The region’s excellent soils and climate contribute to the production of consistent yields of high quality fruit, without which, the creation of great wines would be impossible.”
‘Viticulturist of the Year’ Halliday Wine Companion, 2025
‘Viti Excellence Award' Margaret River Wine Association, 2011
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