The Wilyabrup Valley is a series of gentle slopes found alongside tributaries to the Wilyabrup Brook. Vines prosper on the Wilyabrup soils. The gravel subsoil ensures good drainage, while the high clay content enables good water retention throughout summer.
The weather in the Wilyabrup Valley is characterised by high winter rainfall and long dry summers. The Indian Ocean surrounds the region to the north and west, prodviding a moderating effect on the temperature.
Woodlands has two vineyards, located within 2km of each other in the Wilyabrup Valley. At both vineyards each variety is planted in its particular location due to the soil composition and plot aspect. All vines are dry grown and farmed using traditional and organic methods. Both vineyards are maintained by hand and attention includes undervine cultivating, hand weeding, cane pruning, bunch and crop thinning, leaf removal and hand picking.
Woodlands Vineyard
Our Original Vineyard – Established in 1973
In 1973 cuttings were taken from a nearby vineyard, and an initial planting of eight acres was made in rows heading east-west along the contour of the property – 3 meters between rows and 1.75 meters between vines. The initial planting comprised 3 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. A further 5 acres was planted between 1974 and 1976, comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. The old block was completed in 1985, with 4 acres of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon planted. Subsequent plantings now sees Woodlands with a total of twenty six acres (ten hectares) of vines.
Woodlands Brook Vineyard
Our Second Vineyard – Established in 2001
The vineyard faces north west on free-draining Wilyabrup soils. The rows are a mere 2 metres from each other, providing a vine density roughly double that of the Woodlands vineyard. The soils are Wilyabrup Class 1 – with a clay loam top soil, a bed of gravel and then a bed of white clay. The existing vineyard is on a very gentle west facing slope, surrounded by south facing pastoral land.