Long Lunches, Towering Trees and New-Wave Wines: What to Expect at Pair’d 2025

“Margaret River is undeniably one of the world's most physically blessed wine regions,” says wine writer and Pair’d festival wine curator Nick Ryan. “There’s an awesome natural beauty to the place, even if it didn’t have a single vineyard, but what it can do viticulturally is pretty unique.”

The region affectionately referred to as “Margs” proudly shows off both traditional, world-beating wines (particularly, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay) and inventive new-wave styles – all of which will be on show at this year’s Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Returning to the Margaret River Region from November 20 to 23, the festival celebrates Western Australia’s iconic winemaking region with four days of wine tastings, long-table lunches, Q&As, music and more. The full program delivers an eclectic line-up of events, with last year’s headliners making a comeback.

Top of the list is the The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines: a celebration of the region’s food and a deep dive into its iconic winemakers, set on the sweeping grounds of Howard Park Wines. Tickets are sold out, but you can join the waitlist in case spots open up. “Chefs are going their hardest, all those wine producers are arrayed out across these beautiful rolling lawns at Howard Park Wines under big, mature trees – it’s a really beautiful spot,” Ryan says. “You can do a self-guided thing through all of those producers and it’s all the winemakers there pouring the wines.”

The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines also goes deeper into the Margaret River Region’s old, rare and unique drops, with masterclasses run by Ryan and fellow wine writer and educator Erin Larkin. “Last year we were sitting down with Vanya Cullen [of Cullen Wines], with Vanya and I looking at a bunch of old vintages of Cullen Diana Madeline,” says Ryan. “They’re just amazing, fully mature and evolved wines.”

The other “pillar of Pair’d”, as Ryan calls it, is the New Wave Gathering at Skigh Wine, which shows off the region’s more contemporary and creative side. Like the wines, the event is fun, irreverent and not so concerned with tradition or expectations, featuring DJs and new emerging winemakers. “It’s exciting that Margaret River doesn’t just rest on its laurels,” Ryan says. “It doesn’t just go, ‘Well, we make some of the most classic and beautiful cabernet and chardonnay in the world’ – there’s still the energy of exploration.”

You’ll find producers like Wines of Merritt, Amato Vino, Dormilona, Goon Tycoons, and Dream Bird Wines as well as food trucks, vinyl records and plenty of surprises. “Last year, we were running around looking at skin contact wines made from alternative varieties in the Margaret River Region while Ben Shewry was DJing,” Ryan says. Other producers this year include Jingalup Wines, Skigh Wine, Si Vintners, Luda Mala, Windance Estate, Walsh & Sons.

Another highlight of Pair’d this year is the exclusive Cape Mentelle Cabernet Tasting: an elaborate blind tasting showcasing 20 exquisite wines – including some of the greatest cabernet labels from around the world. There’s also Nature’s Table, a long lunch of native and foraged ingredients, matched with local wines and set among the trees at Tanah Marah.

Ryan says Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover is well worth your time, whether you’re a regular or a complete newbie. “If you’ve never been to Margaret River, there’s no better time than while this fest is on to discover what is one of the most special places on the planet.”

View the program and get your tickets at pairdmargaretriver.com. Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover is on from 20 - 23 November, 2025.

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.