In 1998, Nigel Gallop bought a block of land in the heart of Wilyabrup. More than twenty-five years on, the same vision guides every vine we tend and every wine we make.
Fraser Gallop Estate sits on Metricup Road, at the heart of the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River. Fifty acres of vines grow here in a maritime climate, cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean just six kilometres west.
We are family-owned and deliberately small. The fruit is ours, the winery is ours, and every decision is made with the same aim: to let this one place speak clearly in the glass.
“We do things the correct way, without compromise – never the easy way.”
Nigel Gallop buys the land on Metricup Road, Wilyabrup.
The first vines go in, planted without irrigation.
Our first vintage.
Our own winery is completed on the estate.
The 2007 Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon wins the Decanter trophy for the world’s best Bordeaux blend.
The 2018 Parterre Chardonnay is named Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Twenty-five years of vines. Ellin Tritt becomes head winemaker.
Named one of the IWSC’s Top 50 Producers.
The vineyard at Fraser Gallop Estate features undulating topography and gravelly laterite loams over clay subsoil, providing ideal conditions for growing Bordeaux and Burgundy grape varieties. The unique location, geography, and climate combine to create the colour, flavours, and aromas found only in our wines.
Established without irrigation, our vines have been challenged to find their water deep in the subsoil layers of moist clay (about one and a half metres down). As a result, it took seven years before we yielded our first commercial crop. This challenge has created vines that produce smaller berries with heightened flavour intensity and a ‘slate-like’ mineral feel.
The Estate’s north-facing slopes are planted with Bordeaux red varieties, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, including the renowned Houghton selection, alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The gentle south-facing slopes are home to Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, including the celebrated Gingin heritage selection, which has played a defining role in Margaret River’s reputation for exceptional Chardonnay.
Our vines are closely spaced on a vertical trellis, with shoots positioned for the required exposure, and are cane-pruned. We encourage maximum fruit quality and flavour by dry-farming, nurturing the soil with compost, and naturally controlling weeds and pests.
Meticulously maintained by the same team of professionals since inception, the vineyard has become one of the most recognised and awarded in the region.
Our winery, designed by our winemaker and purpose-built in 2008, has a 300-tonne capacity. It is specifically designed in layout and size for the fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends.
Through minimal intervention, naturally occurring environmental yeasts, and a combination of traditional techniques and modern winemaking skills, we strive to create wines that show balance and finesse on release but have the structure and pedigree to thrive with careful cellaring.
Our wines develop their flavour, texture and complexity in the finest quality French oak barrels from renowned Bordelais coopers for the cabernet sauvignon and semillon sauvignon blanc blends; and Burgundian coopers for the chardonnay.
Before wine, Nigel built a career in technology, from IBM and the TAB to co-founding a software company in 1977 whose successor went on to list on Nasdaq. He bought the land in 1998 and remains hands-on at the estate today.
Ellin holds a double degree in winemaking, viticulture and agribusiness, and worked vintages in Canada, Provence, Alsace and Napa Valley. She joined us in 2017 and made wine alongside Clive Otto for seven years before becoming head winemaker in 2024.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mike brings more than two decades in the vineyard, from Bordeaux and Geisenheim to Houghton. He moved to Western Australia in 2000, spent a decade at Amadeus Estate and The Scholar Vineyard, and has tended our vines since 2016.
“Worth comparing to a Burgundy Grand Cru.”
“Among the great wines of the world.”
“Totally delicious and stylish.”
Our cellar door is open daily from 11am to 4pm. Stay for a tasting, or take the buggy out through the vines on a Wines & Vines tour.