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You may recognise her as the smiling face that greets you when you visit Xanadu, but did you know that last week our brilliant Cellar Door Manager Sam Bradley was awarded the Cellar Door Excellence Award at the Margaret River Wine Show 2024?!

Beyond this accolade, Sam has been selected to participate in Wine Australia’s 2024 Next Crop program, hosted in Margaret River. This program provides a regionally targeted platform to introduce leadership, business and management skills for individuals to build capacity within the community, also acting as a stepping stone to Wine Australia’s Future Leaders, Sam is devoted to her trade, and a passionate wine industry pioneer.

Read on to find out more about Sam, her background, her passion for the wine industry (especially Xanadu), and the excellent work she does at Cellar Door.

Q&A with Sam Bradley

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your background 

A: Born in the UK, I am a dedicated and driven professional with a strong commitment to excellence. I thrive on challenges and approach each task with enthusiasm and determination. My passion for my work is matched by my ability to deliver results efficiently and effectively. I take pride in providing first-class customer service, ensuring that every interaction is positive and impactful. With a proactive mindset and a focus on quality, I am eager to contribute my skills and passion to a dynamic team.

 

Q: What drew you to make the move from England to Australia, and specifically to Margaret River?

A: 20 years ago this month we had an opportunity to come to Perth for my husband Rick’s 2 year engineering contract and never looked back.

Both working hard on major engineering projects for 16 years we felt a little burnt out, so decided to take a year off and travel, sadly we picked the wrong year because the COVID-19 pandemic hit and we couldn’t go anywhere, fortunately for us we were lucky and managed to get refunds for all our travel bookings, when we were allowed to travel to the South, we came and spent some quality time in Margaret river our favourite place in the world and we had been visiting approx 6 times a year for many years. We decided to have a sea change, a decision which we feel is the best we have ever made.

 

Q: Were you always interested in wine? Where did your passion for wine begin? 

A: My Father was a wine merchant with his father back in the UK, so I grew up around wine, but only truly found my passion for wine since moving to Australia and visiting a vineyard in Swan Valley. Tasting wine in such a romantic setting highlighted to me how location can transform a simple tasting into a memorable experience, whether it’s the charm of the vineyards or the stories behind each bottle.

 

Q: What drew you to Xanadu?

A: I first visited Xanadu many years ago.

“The driveway through the picturesque setting is magnificent.”

I had always enjoyed Xanadu wines, but I remember on a subsequent visit to the cellar door I tried Graciano for the first time which I loved and everytime we visited the region we would return to purchase more, invariably staying for a leisurely lunch, Xanadu became top of our list to visit.

 

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Xanadu and about your role as Cellar Door Manager?

A: As a Cellar Door Manager, I play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between wine production and the consumer experience.

“My position not only involves the direct presentation of wines but also encompasses team leadership and cross-departmental collaboration.”

Fostering a positive work environment and mentoring my team, to help them develop their skills and knowledge, ensuring they provide exceptional service to guests.

 

Congratulations on being selected for the Next Crop program

Q: Can you tell us about what the program entails?

A: Thank you, I was honoured to be selected. This professional and personal development program, brought to the region by the Margaret River Wine Association and funded by Wine Australia, is delivering a series of regionally tailored sessions for 15 selected emerging leaders who want to understand their leadership capacity and gain exposure to concepts of leadership. The clear objective is to build confidence and provide a development opportunity that will keep the future generation engaged and committed to the region and their career in the grape and wine sector. Our goal is to future proof Margaret River for the next 50 years +.

 

Q: How do you hope to use the skills you gain in the program to further develop your role at Xanadu and within the wine industry?

A: By participating in this program, I will not only refine my existing skills but also learn new methods to engage, lead, and contribute effectively. This aligns with my personal goal of supporting the Xanadu team in futureproofing our region. Engaging with the broader wine community through programs such as this can help build a resilient network of leaders dedicated to the industry’s success

 

Congratulations on winning the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association (MRBTA) Wine Tourism Excellence Award

Q: Tell us what this means to you

A: I was humbled to have been nominated and awarded the Cellar Door Excellence award sponsored by Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association. It means so much to me, that my hard work and passion for what I do has been seen and recognised. Although this is a personal award, I couldn’t do what i do without the whole Xanadu Team.

As part of winning I also receive a travel bursary, which I am planning to use to visit Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland wine region.

Q: What’s your favourite Margaret River wine?

A: Very hard to choose, but I would have to say Stevens Road Chardonnay. Modern and refined with a unique personality all of its own!

 

Q: Outside of wine, what are some hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about?

A: I am a self-confessed foodie and love to dine out in our region, sampling the best of what the region has to offer. Since moving to the country and much to the surprise of my city friends I have made my own vegetable patch and have chickens.

 

Q: Finally, any advice for people considering a career in the wine industry or for those dreaming of making a big life change?

A: Yes, I would say have a leap of faith and just do it. Find your passion, embrace flexibility and seek fulfillment over financial gain, it is not easy, but very rewarding and I truly believe it is the best decision we ever made.

 

Be sure to pop into Cellar Door, congratulate Sam, have a chat about our wines, and everything that our beloved Margaret River region has to offer.

Discover our 2025 Halliday Wine Companion results, as reviewed by Jane Faulkner

We are thrilled to present you with our 2025 Halliday Wine Companion results, which were announced last night. We are honoured to be awarded another Top 5-Red Star winery rating, alongside a collection of exceptional scores on our wines, across all of our ranges. Read on to discover our ratings, as reviewed by Jane Faulkner from the Halliday Wine Companion team.

Our Flagship Collection

2022 Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay

“The reserve shines this vintage, coming across all superfine and linear, yet layers upon layers of flavour. Ginger florals, lemon balm and all manner of citrus charm. Ultra-refreshing with a live wire of acidity gathering all the elements and taking them on a joy ride. There’s a millefeuille effect of lees, fruit, oak and spice so this turns out moreish, savoury and complex. But above all, just a great drink.”

2022 Stevens Road Chardonnay

“It has all the hallmarks of the site – Block 2, off Stevens Road, obviously, all Gingin clone, whole-bunch pressed to French oak, wild fermentation. And while there’s lees stirring throughout its nine months in barrel, there’s no mlf. It’s still a little frisky from youth as the acidity holds sway, yet in-between pink grapefruit and lime juice, zest and pith, too. There’s some depth and texture via lees input and the oak, yet all well placed and adding extra dimensions to this enjoyable wine.”

2021 Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon

“Xanadu’s top wines are always polished and poised, and this cabernet is no different. It’s almost pared back, yet beautiful. A neat combo of mulberries and boysenberries, nori and tapenade, bay leaves and fennel – there’s lots of savouriness throughout. As usual, this is medium bodied caressed by superfine tannins, with cleansing acidity ensuring this lingers long.”

Shop our Flagship collection

The Xanadu Range 

2021 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon

“Year in year out this cabernet delivers… It reveals an exuberant fruit profile… offset by complex savoury notes… a flutter of spice, too… I kept coming back to this wine – it unfurled in the glass but also, a few days later, still impressive.”

2023 Xanadu Chardonnay

“It pulses, with vibrant acidity taking the lead over everything, although there’s still lemon and grapefruit flavours, spicy oak and superfine gossamer-like nutty lees.”

Shop the Xanadu label

Highlights from across the collection

We’re incredibly proud that half of the wines we submitted scored 95 points or more, reinforcing the quality of our current releases. These scores are a reflection of the expertise and passion of our winemaking and viticulture teams, led by Glenn Goodall.

Shop our lauded range

Ranked in the Top 100

We are pleased to announce that we have once again been recognised in the Top 100 of The Real Review’s Top Wineries Australia, 2024.

The Real Review Top Wineries Certificate is awarded to a select group of wineries that consistently produce excellent wine. The Top Wineries list is a national benchmark that shows where your favourite winery is placed amongst its peers.

Credit to the team that made it all happen, we’re looking forward to comtinuing the legacy for years to come.

Discover our Top Scorers

 

Shop The Range

We are proud to announce that our Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has maintained LANGTONS Classification in their recently published, 8th Edition.

The LANGTONS Classification is the pinnacle of recognition for fine and luxury Australian wineries and producers, it is the go-to guide to Australia’s most highly sought-after wines, reflecting consumer demand, collectability, and prices fetched at auction. To make it into the LANGTONS Classification, each wine must have been released for at least ten vintages and have a strong track record in the secondary market. Our Reserve Cabernet is one of the 100 wines that has been recognised in the 8th edition.

“Being recognised on the LANGTONS Classification is about more than just making great wine. It ensures that those included are considered by critics, collectors and fine wine aficionados alike as at the very top of their game. The Classification is data-led and based on consistency, quality, clearance and tradability in the market. Internationally the Classification offers winemakers and winemaking regions the opportunity to benchmark themselves against the greatest and most traded wines in Australia. A stylistic form guide for what styles and techniques are hot and what names to keep an eye out for.” – Michael Anderson, Head of Auctions and Secondary Market.

Our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was one of 100 wines recognised in the new classification, with trends said to be moving towards elegance and distinction, features our wines provide generously.

The LANGTONS Classification 8th Edition Magazine is filled with stories of the people and the places that make these benchmark Australian wines. LANGTONS spoke highly of our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, describing the winemaking process and tasting notes, as below.

The multi-vineyard Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of Houghton Clone sourced from vineyards in the coastal region of Wilyabrup, northern Margaret River and the sub-region of Wallcliffe. Small-batch fermentation and 12 to 14 months maturation in new (40-55%) and seasoned French oak barriques results in a wine with intense blackcurrant and herb garden aromas, superb richness and concentration, and vigorous, fine, chalky tannins. Roughly 5% malbec and 5% petit verdot.

Read More

We are honoured to be named as the 44th best winery in the Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries of 2023!

The Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries is a celebration of the best Australian producers right now.

“…this is a list of producers who know, in both their heart and in their head, that consumers don’t owe them a living. This is a list of producers who are prepared to stake their reputation on every single wine they release.” – Campbell Mattinson

Wineries have been carefully selected by chief editor, Campbell Mattinson with a strict selection criterion:

• Wineries had to have submitted to the Companion in recent years
• Quality, across the current range, had to be as close to guaranteed as possible
• High scoring wines in a producer’s current range are of absolute relevance, but so is consistency across the entire range.

 

Campbell Mattinson describes Xanadu as a ‘no-brainer’ in Top 100 terms, providing the following commentary… “We’re at the ‘needs no introduction’ stage now. Xanadu has long been the producer of interesting wines but what winemaker Glenn Goodall has done here since taking the reins in 2005 is staggering to say the least. In short, he’s taken this winery from very good to excellent to outstanding, and he’s done it by improving the wines across the board, for starters, but also upping the value on offer, and also by championing specific sites.”

Living La Dolce Vita

On October 27^th, Xanadu are hosting a dreamy Italian feast as part of the Fine Vines Festival.

Live La Dolce Vita with Xanadu as Head Chef Andrea Gasparini sinks into his Italian heritage over five indulgent courses. Paired with Xanadu’s award-winning wines, you’ll be able to taste Andrea’s passion for traditional Italian food with a menu reminiscent of his childhood spent at Italian markets, learning how to transform simple, fresh ingredients into an indulgent meal made to be shared with friends and family. Experience the joy of true Italian cuisine and culture inside the rustic rammed-earth walls of Xanadu’s restaurant.

What’s Included

Connect with like-minded wine enthusiasts, discover new favourites, or deepen your appreciation for the world of wine.

‘Food and Wine’ ticket includes canapés with an Aperol Spritz followed by a five-course dinner paired with five of Xanadu’s award-winning wines. The ‘Food Only’ ticket includes canapés and a five-course dinner.

And you’re invited!

Date & Time

October 27, 2023 | 6:00 – 10:00pm

Location

Xanadu Wines 316 Boodjidup Rd, Margaret River WA 6284

Purchase your tickets here:

Book Now

Last night, HWC hosted the annual Halliday Wine Companion Awards. We are delighted to present our 2024 Halliday Wine Companion results.

Most honourable mentions are owed to our 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 Reserve Chardonnay and 2021 Stevens Road Chardonnay which were all awarded an exceptional 97 points.

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

“What’s the point of writing anything about this wine? Really. But you’ve come this far so I’ll add the reason: It’s complete, exceptional and beguiling. The best Margaret River cabernet exemplifies those alluring characters. OK, you want to know more. It’s heady with mulberries, cassis and damson plum, wakame and squid ink. Medium bodied, plush and velvety across the palate thanks to sublime tannins with an outrageously long finish. This is irresistible.” Jane Faulkner | Halliday Wine Companion 2024

Reserve Chardonnay 2021

“It can happen. One taste and, while thinking about some meaningful words to describe this exceptional wine, I’m already transported to my happy place. Forgive me. It took time to come back to earth. By then, I had drained the glass. I hope this is your experience, too. The power and beauty of Margaret River fruit are on full display with all the refinement and detail that comes with it. The palate pulses with energy, there’s texture via lees, and judicious handling of oak and fruit, of course. The tensile yet fine acidity weaves everything together towards a super-long finish.” Jane Faulkner | Halliday Wine Companion 2024

Stevens Road Chardonnay 2021

“This reminds me of a David Bowie concert, circa, well … doesn’t matter, I was in the presence of greatness. Stevens Road doesn’t play second fiddle to the reserve chardonnay. It’s tighter, the acidity is distinctive and it feels perhaps finer but equally good. Flavours ebb and flow, one minute lemon and grapefruit the next spice and cream, oak spices, too. It is moreish, savoury and complex. Xanadu chardonnay, ahh, we can be heroes, just for one day.” Jane Faulkner | Halliday Wine Companion 2024

Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

“Not just vineyard specific, this is site-specific as the fruit comes off block 3 (a 0.6ha parcel), this vintage with 14% malbec. They are handsome companions, a bit like winemakers Glenn Goodall and Brendan Carr. Though the latter has moved on after 11 years at Xanadu, he did help make this wine. The  inkiness of malbec and its dark cherry accents such a lovely foil to cabernet’s distinct flavour. This is enticing, partly because of its heady aromatics and varietal flavours à la Margaret River, but especially the tannins. They are fine, shapely and defined. The finish is long and the wine has a bright, long future.” Jane Faulkner | Halliday Wine Companion 2024

But wait, there’s more …

Xanadu was awarded yet another Top 5-Red Star winery rating. This means that Xanadu has been recognised as an outstanding winery, regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity, with at least two wines rated at 95 points or above, and holding a 5-star rating for the previous three years (i.e. 4 years in total at 5 stars).  We have also been recognised as having a long track record of excellence, maintaining a 5-star rating continuously for 10 years – “truly the best of the best.”

These accolades are an absolute testament to the unerring passion and efforts of our dedicated winemaking and viticulture teams, led by Glenn Goodall and Robert Underdown.

Xanadu Reigns as Australia’s Best Cabernet at the National Wine Show of Australia.

Our renowned family-run winery, proudly announces its remarkable achievement of securing the Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy at the National Wine Show of Australia for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year. The trophy was awarded to the 2019 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon, reinforcing Xanadu’s dominance in producing Australia’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon.

This brings Xanadu’s trophy number to 136, of that, Xanadu’s Cabernet Sauvignon wines have won a staggering 68 trophies and 168 gold medals in wine shows since 2007.

The recognition received at the National Press Club in Canberra serves as a testament to the commitment to quality embedded in every bottle of Xanadu wine. Glenn Goodall, Chief Winemaker, and his dedicated team have once again demonstrated their expertise, showcasing the exceptional pedigree of wines that emanate from the beautiful Margaret River region.

‘We are all thrilled, and to be honest quite humbled, to have won the Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy again. To have received this award for the ninth year in a row, with nine different wines, is quite incredible! The achievement highlights the strength of Margaret River Cabernet and the ongoing effort and commitment from the entire team at Xanadu, as well as acknowledging the excellence of our dedicated growers,’ said Glenn Goodall, Chief Winemaker at Xanadu.

The accolade further solidifies Xanadu’s standing as one of Australia’s premier producers of Cabernet Sauvignon, reaffirming the winery’s commitment to crafting wines of unparalleled distinction.

‘We believe in the potential of Margaret River as one of Australia’s greatest wine regions, driven by our passion for Cabernet Sauvignon,’ stated Darren Rathbone, CEO of Rathbone Wine Group, owners of Xanadu.

‘The acquisition of Xanadu in 2005 allowed us to unlock the full potential of this extraordinary vineyard and showcase the true essence of Margaret River in every bottle.’

Guided by Glenn Goodall’s deep respect for the vineyards and their unique qualities, Xanadu continues to be a family-owned and operated winery that embodies the true spirit of the Margaret River region. Their philosophy of allowing the wines to express their individuality, rather than forcing them into a preconceived mould, has resulted in wines of exceptional character and distinction.

Xanadu’s unmatched reign as Australia’s leading producer of Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to the passion, focus and dedication of the winemaking team and the diverse beauty of the Margaret River region.

 

Shop the Xanadu Range

On June 1st we released our much anticipated Flagship range, encompassing the 2020 Xanadu Reserve and Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignons and 2021 Xanadu Reserve and Stevens Road Chardonnays, all of which entered the market with critical acclaim. The release of these wines is something we look forward to every year.

2020 Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

“There have been some wonderful 2020 cabernets from Margaret River but none better than this. What a glorious statement of the region and a great vintage.” | 99 Points |  Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot

The Chardonnays are from the 2021 vintage, notable for unusually humid conditions for Margaret River. The extra work required in the vineyard has ultimately paid dividends, resulting in some wonderfully bright, elegant wines being produced.

The Cabernets are from one of the earliest vintages seen in the region, the outstanding 2020 vintage. While it was near perfect throughout the entire harvest it did have its challenges – namely due to the global pandemic unfolding during vintage. But, according to Ray Jordan at Wine Pilot, “it’s as if nothing missed a beat”.

2020 Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon

“… a triumph for vineyard and region. Black fruit on the nose with a subtle confectionery compote character … an outstanding wine. I love this vineyard and what it produces.” | 98 Points | Ray Jordan

This release of our Stevens Road wines celebrates our 13th Chardonnay and 12th Cabernet Sauvignon under this single vineyard label. Production is still very limited (only 250 doz. Chardonnay and 140 doz. Cabernet), however it demonstrates our focus on selecting only the very best rows, from the very best blocks on the property. It is these blocks that we consider as our own ‘Grand Cru’ vineyards, along with our Lagan Estate Chardonnay of course. The Stevens Road vineyard has consistently produced some of Xanadu’s best Chardonnay and Cabernet every vintage and offers a unique expression of what this special little vineyard in the heart of Boodjidup is able to produce.

2021 Xanadu Stevens Road Chardonnay

“This reminds me of a David Bowie concert, circa, well …doesn’t matter, I was in the presence of greatness. Stevens Road doesn’t play second fiddle to the reserve chardonnay… Xanadu chardonnay, ahh, we can be heroes, just for one day.” | Jane Faulkner, 2024 Halliday Wine Companion, 2023

The Reserve range continues to be the best of what we can produce in a given vintage and is only made when we feel it is worthy (single vineyard or otherwise) of wearing the ‘Reserve’ label. This year we are happy to be releasing both a Chardonnay and Cabernet which reflect this philosophy. The lineage of our 2021 Reserve Chardonnay continues thanks to the pedigree of our Lagan Estate vineyard, and marks 14 consecutive releases of this wine since our inaugural Reserve Chardonnay. While we haven’t produced a Reserve Cabernet every year, the 2020 was more than worthy, a statement widely supported within the industry. The 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 5 trophies at the 2022 Royal Perth Wine Show, Platinum at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards, and Gold at the 2023 Royal QLD Wine Show and the 2022 Halliday Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenge.

2021 Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay

“The palate is super intense and linear with a bright chalky acidity pushing it through to a very long finish.” | 98 Points | Ray Jordan

We believe these wines express the diversity, and personality that all these vineyards have to offer, and represent the best wines that we have been able to produce in the given vintages.

A Great Year for Chardonnay Lovers

We’re thrilled to share that our 2023 vintage has wrapped up, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. The summer was dry and mild, which provided perfect ripening conditions for our grapes. We began the harvest in mid-February, and even though there was a minor rain event in the second week of April during the red harvest, the fruit was able to achieve lovely flavour and tannin ripeness due to the beautiful autumn weather.

“While Mother Nature certainly provided her challenges (cool, wet conditions for budburst through to flowering, Weevils and lots of birds!) we really did have some ideal conditions through the season. The vintage crew were a highlight, seeing the team come together and understand the challenges.”

ROBERT UNDERDOWN | VITICULTURALIST

Despite processing 1,300 tons this year, the vintage was trouble-free, with the amazing vintage crew also being a highlight for Senior Winemaker Glenn Goodall, and further sharing that “having an awesome group of people with great camaraderie is always a highlight of any vintage.”

When asked about their pick from this vintage, Glenn Goodall and Robert Underdown both sharing their excitement for the Chardonnays. “I feel as though our Lagan and Stevens Road Chardonnays never seem to skip a beat with 2023 offering our consistent house style, bright tangy fruits with a lovely natural acid backbone giving the wines focus.”

GLENN GOODALL | CHIEF WINEMAKER

And for some fun, the team celebrated end of vintage with a fancy dress jungle theme with many loincloths featuring on the day. Overall, the Xanadu 2023 vintage offers a great year, with the Chardonnays being the standout wine of the season. Grab a bottle and experience the consistent house style that we are proud to offer at Xanadu.