Founded in 1970 by David Hohnen, Cape Mentelle was one of the five founding vineyards of Margaret River winemaking region. The winery takes its name from the nearby Cape, named by the French ‘Baudin Expedition’ which charted the coast of Western Australia in 1801. They named the Cape after two notable French scientists, geographer Edmund and his cartographer brother Francois-Simon Mentelle, who lived in Paris in the early 1700s. The winery's first vintage was made by David Hohnen, in a small, experimental, rammed-earth shed. Hohnen's brother, Giles, and architect Tom Roberts wanted to prove that rammed earth was a viable material for the area. The vineyard's early years were characterised by experimentation to improve the quality of the vines and resulting wines. It is during this time that Cape Mentelle became known for producing their signature wine Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1983 Cape Mentelle won the coveted Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for the best one year old dry red wine, and cemented its position as a premium wine maker with another win in 1984. In 2010, Cape Mentelle was the first winery in Western Australia to obtain the Entwine accreditation. In 2020 Cape Mentelle celebrated its 50 Year Anniversary. To mark the occasion they invited Bondi based Ocean photographer Aquabumps to photograph the vineyard and Margaret River area and create an exhibition that documents the region's 50th year. This exhibition was displayed at the North BondiSurf Lifesaving Club.
Wines
Cape Mentelle is renowned for crafting fine wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, which contributed significantly to putting Margaret River on the global map and establishing the region's reputation in fine winemaking.
Cabernet Sauvignon : first varietal planted by the Hohnens in the 1970s and the Estate's first wine, which was commercially released in 1976. Since then, Cabernet Sauvignon has been at the heart of Cape Mentelle winemaking philosophy, from the 1982-83 vintages that won Jimmy Watson awards to the annual International Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting.
Movies At Cape Mentelle During summer, Cape Mentelle gardens turn into an outdoor cinema "Movies At Cape Mentelle" at the heart of the Estate vineyards. The attraction, acclaimed in the Margaret River region, features a programme which offers both new releases and old favourites. Local food and Wine are available on site. International Cabernet Tasting In 1982, Cape Mentelle hosted its first International Cabernet Tasting, which has since become an annual tradition at the Estate. This extended blind tasting showcasing outstanding Cabernet from around the world continues to attract some of the most influential people in the field, bringing together experts, journalists and wine aficionados. The guided tasting is followed by a catered pairing lunch with local ingredients from Margaret River.
