Peel

The Peel wine region includes the towns of Mandurah, Waroona, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Mundijong and Dwellingup. Mandurah is the main centre and is about 75 km, or a quick 40 minutes drive, south of Perth.

Before European settlement, the Peel region was inhabited by people of the Pindjarup (or Bibbulmun), one of the many sub-groups of the Noongar. Settlement of the region originated with the Peel Settlement Scheme. This was a private effort in colonial settlement, agreed to by a government unwilling to bear the costs of setting up yet another colony. Thomas Peel was the only member of the original syndicate left after the government refused to agree to their exorbitant demands for crown land. Peel was able to continue by being secretly backed by a Solomon Levey who, being both Jewish and an ex-convict who made his fortune in NSW, felt it best to remain in the background.

Thomas Peel himself came out with the collected migrants in 1829 but the plan was plagued with bad luck, beginning when the ships arrive later than the contracted date and the original land grant that had been set aside expired. Peel and his group then settled first at Woodman Point within the Swan River area before shifting again to what is now called Mandurah in the Peel region. Mandurah is thought to be a corruption of Mandjar - 'meeting place' – in the local dialect. At one point Peel was injured in a duel and at another Levey died. Most of his settlers drifted away, but despite this, Peel himself was granted the 250,000 acres he had been promised as his share.

Several years after the Peel scheme, the area became the site of the first major mining operation in West Australia, for lead, silver and zinc, in 1846. The mine was at Yarrabah, which is close to the modern town of Mundijong. Mining did not last long, and as in many of the West Australian regions, timber proved more long-lasting at a source of income, with the Jarrahdale timber mill, established in 1872, becoming the state's largest. From this industry, such towns as Mundijong, Waroona and Dwellingup developed along the Perth–Picton railway that was established to help get the timber out.

One of these towns, Dwellingup, was the location of perhaps the worst bushfire’s in the history of Western Australia. Many small communities in the district were destroyed including well over 100 in Dwellingup in 1961. Severe bushfires hit again in 2007, when 14 houses were destroyed.

Unlike many wine regions in West Australia, vines were reportedly planted in the Peel region in the 19^th century. However, nothing much came of this early effort and it wasn’t until the 1970s that widespread planting occurred. This began with the appropriately named Peel Estate in 1974, when Will Nairn established a vineyard with Shiraz

The coastal region of the Peel region has cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, though sea-breezes moderated this. Further inland rainfall is lower, as are temperatures where the elevation is higher. Mandurah also has the reputation for being prone to tornadoes.

Shiraz from the Peel region reportedly has a chalkiness that is attributed to the limestone soils of the region. Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are also highly thought of products from the Peel region that age well.

The only certified organic vineyard in the Peel Wine Region is Woody Pear Wines, owned and operated by Steve and Anne Cuddihy. This means the vines are grown without chemicals or artificial fertilizers. Woody Pear is planted with four hectares of vines including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Verdelho.

Another vineyard to look out for is Amarillo Vines of Colin and Chris Ashby who have turned their hobby into a serious business. Under a permanent canopy are grown Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Verdelho, Chardonnay and Grenache. The grapes of Amarillo are all handpicked, sent to the nearby Tuart Ridge winery and then returned for your selection at their cellar door.

With its proximity to Perth, the Peel region is popular with day trippers and apart from wines, the region has many water related activities. From the centre of Mandurah itself it is possible to enjoy some of the region’s wildlife, such as dolphins, pelicans, and in particular the blue manna crab.

Dwellingup is one of the many towns of the Peel region that has a lot to offer. This includes the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway, which has picnic trains about between May and October each year. The route has spectacular views of the Darling Ranges and its jarrah forest. Even when not running, the magnificent engines can be seen in the depot at Dwellingup. Also, while in Dwellingup the Etmilyn Forest Heritage Trail, Marrinup Forest Tour and the Lane Poole Reserve, all offer great ways to enjoy the district’s great natural attractions. And finally, in the town of Dwellingup itself is a fascinating Pharmacy Museum, which has displays of old pharmaceutical and chemist equipment.

Chardonnay is common throughout the Peel region and maintains a consistently rich, elegant flavour. The Cabernet Sauvignon of the area produces a medium-bodied wine, while the Cabernet is firmer when grown at the higher elevations the Peel region offers. But Shiraz stands out as the Peel regions finest, medium-bodied and sweet.