The Willespie vineyard was established in 1976 when Kevin and Marian Squance purchased the 40-hectare property on Harman’s Mill Road in the Willyabrup sub region of Margaret River. It was immediately planted with 1 hectare of verdelho, 0.4 hectare of semillon and 1.5 hectares of riesling. One hectare of cabernet sauvignon was planted in 1977 from nursery cuttings. Cattle were also bred on the property for a period. At the time, both were schoolteachers and Kevin continued as principal of Margaret River Primary School until 1987 with Marian continuing teaching until 1990 before leaving to focus on the business also.

Today the Willyabrup estate plantings have risen to 6 hectares of verdelho, 2.9 hectares of semillon, 1.5 hectares of riesling, 4.2 hectares of sauvignon blanc, 2.7 hectares of cabernet sauvignon and 0.3 hectares of merlot. The total plantings at Willyabrup is 17.6 hectares and is unirrigated. The Dawson Gully vineyard at Jindong was purchased in 1997 was planted with 2.4 hectares of shiraz and 1.6 hectares of merlot. In 1998, 3 hectares of cabernet sauvignon were planted and 1.2 hectares of cabernet franc in 2000.

The first Willespie white wines were made in 1982 by contract at Cape Mentelle. Erl Happ made port from the cabernet sauvignon in 1982 and dry reds in 1983 & 1984. The estate winery was built in 1985 and Kevin made the first cabernet at Willespie while the whites continued to be made at Cape Mentelle. The winemaking facilities were completed in 1988 and two Roseworthy graduate winemakers, Jan MacIntosh and Mike Davies joined Willespie under a share agreement with two other local producers. Since then all the wine making has been carried out at Willespie. John Smith made the wines from 1990-1991, Mike Lemmes from 1992 until 1999 and Mike Weik in 2000. Kevin Squance again made the wines in 2001, 2002 and 2003. A majority of marketing is now carried out by daughter Trish Durham.

Depending on the season, the winery crushes between 100 and 200 tonnes producing 6,500 to 13,000 cases, each vintage. All of the fruit used is estate grown.