A Long History and an Exciting Future

A Heritage Handed On

 

Willespie has always been a place of passion, perseverance, and connection to the land. Founded in 1976, this family-owned vineyard helped shape the story of Margaret River wine, with decades of hard work poured into every bottle.

 

In early 2025, a new chapter began. Willespie was proudly purchased by a Western Australian family who share the same deep respect for the region’s remarkable terroir.

 

From the vines to the cellar door, there’s a renewed sense of excitement at Willespie. Whether you’ve been visiting us for years or are discovering us for the first time, we invite you to be part of this next era; one that celebrates the best of the past and looks boldly to the future.

 

Please read through our historical milestones below and sign up to our newsletter to stay informed on the exciting plans ahead for Willespie wines...

 

 

  • 1972January 1st
    House Building Willespie House Building Willespie

    Purchase of the Property

    The then school teachers purchased the 100 acre Wilyabrup property on Harmans Mill Road in 1972, realising the exceptional suitability of the terroir and location for viticulture. They built the 2-storey building that remains home to the cellar door to this day.

    This beautiful & prestigious part of the Margaret River wine region in the south-west of Western Australia is characterised by a Mediterranean climate with maritime influences.

    Margaret River is world renowned for consistently producing premium wines with alluring aromatics, intense flavours and elegant structure.

  • 1972January 1st
    The Family Willespie The Family Willespie

    The Willespie Name

    The name Willespie is a combination of the nameWilyabrupand the French word,espérer, to hope.

    The years of hard work and dedication taken to build the Willespie ‘Wilyabrup hope’, is a true credit to the founders, Kevin and Marian Squance.

  • 1976January 1st
    Early Vineyard Willespie Early Vineyard Willespie

    Wilyabrup Vineyard

    The Wilyabrup estate was established in 1976 with the purchase of 40 hectares on Harman’s Mill Road, and subsequently planted with vines. Today, the Wilyabrup estate has 18 hectares under vine consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Verdelho.

    All the vines on the estate are non-irrigated, relying on the typical two metres of annual rainfall to irrigate over the dry summers. The 40-year old dry grown vines are known to produce Willespie’s complex wines with qualities to allow aging.  

  • 1997January 1st
    Early Vineyard Willespie Early Vineyard Willespie

    Kaloorup Vineyard

    The Dawson Gully estate at Kaloorup, approximately10km from Wilyabrup, was purchased in 1997 and subsequently planted with Shiraz and Merlot.

  • 1998January 1st
    Early Vineyard Willespie Early Vineyard Willespie

    In 1998, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were planted with a total of seven hectares are under vine. All the vines on this estate are non-irrigated, relying on the annual rainfall to irrigate over the dry summers.

  • 2014January 1st

    Passing of the baton

    The next generation of Squance family children took on the commitment to keep the dream alive and ensure Willespie continued to maintain its reputation as one of Wilyabrup’s premium boutique wine producers.

  • 2025April 11th

    A Heritage Handed On

    In 2025, the Squance family chose to hand over the reins to a new Western Australian family. The new owners are committed to building on Willespie's strong foundations while bringing fresh energy and vision to the next chapter. Their passion for wine and genuine connection to the Margaret River region are driving thoughtful plans to enhance the brand — from revitalising the cellar door experience to expanding on ways to share Willespie with lovers of Margaret River wine.

Liquor Licence Number: 6 180025858

ABN: 96 684 018 979