Grace Farm's new cellar door opened on December 27, 2020. The intimate space allows us to continue to offer a personalised wine tasting experience. The prefabricated building was constructed in Perth and travelled down to the farm on the back of a low loader. From the outset, a pre-fab structure was in keeping with Grace Farm's desire to tread gently on the land. We were able to keep site works and building waste to a minimum. Finishing touches to the tasting room involved timber milled at Grace Farm from declining or fallen mature trees, in particular the lovely seasoned marri lining boards behind the bar and the bar itself, created by well-known local cabinet maker Jake Jakovich. Another local builder Mick Short worked with our timber to build the deck and pergola. Marc, from Magic Electrical Services in Bunbury, has helped realise our dream of connecting via an off-grid system, in keeping with our goal of sustainability in the vineyard.
The cellar door introduces visitors to Grace Farm's incredible variety of forest vegetation: karri, marri, jarrah and yarri (blackbutt), all of which can be viewed from the tasting room. Intersected by the Cowaramup Brook and other small streams from the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park means the land can support healthy stands of these keystone species and their natural forest companions, as well as peppermint, melaleuca and banksia woodlands and a variety of acacia species. The opening of the cellar door has fortuitously coincided with the flowering of the vibrant yellowy-orange native Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda.
Organic fruit, vegetables and olives are also grown at Grace Farm, where three generations of the family help with weeding, pruning, thinning and picking. From time to time, seasonal produce will be available at the cellar door, including stone fruit, apples, citrus, garlic, potatoes and beans.
Julie Hartley is the Cellar Door Manager and will show visitors through the range of wines. Members of the Friends of Grace Farm mailing list can receive 10% off any wine purchases and our Excelsa Wine Club members can also receive their usual 20% off at the Cellar Door too.
The Cellar Door is open on Wednesdays through Sundays from 11am to 5pm. We hope to see you there soon!
