Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia is thrilled to announce Ampersand Estates in Western Australia as the newest member of its hand-selected collective, expanding its footprint to the picturesque Pemberton Wine Region south of Perth.
A three-hour drive from the state’s capital, the 56-hectare property is located 30 minutes north of Pemberton and 45 minutes east of the famed Margaret River Region.
The Busselton-Margaret River Airport is also 45 minutes away, connecting Australia’s eastern hubs of Sydney and Melbourne to the region with direct flights operating multiple times a week. Guests can also experience VIP helicopter transfers from Perth, landing on the helipad adjacent to the lakeside cellar door.
The Estate’s unrivalled setting places guests at the heart of the South West’s most iconic landscapes and experiences, from towering old-growth karri forests and ancient river systems to land-locked sand dunes, truffle country and dramatic coastlines.
The cellar door is nestled on the banks of the Donnelly River, where guests can enjoy guided tastings of premium Ampersand wines and gourmet picnics starring local produce, framed by breathtaking natural views.
An onsite distillery – Rainfall Distillery at Ampersand Estates – offers guests the opportunity to discover hand-crafted artisanal gin and vodka using estate-grown chardonnay as the base spirit, in addition to locally sourced seasonal ingredients and the purest rainwater, with guided spirit tastings available alongside the estate’s premium wines.
Opening next month, the Rainfall Distillery Gardens – an Australian first – comprise more than 2,100 plants across 36 fruit, herb and spice species, forming a unique single-estate, closed-loop spirits program where every ingredient originates onsite, supported by beehives, rainwater harvesting and on-estate farming.
Ampersand Estates can also host guests overnight in three luxury vineyard residences – the two-bedroom Settlers’ Cottage, the five-bedroom Vintner’s Residence, and the expansive five-bedroom Homestead.
Each residence boasts refined interiors, fully equipped kitchens, scenic outdoor spaces, locally sourced breakfast hampers, and access to estate experiences amid the Pemberton Wine Region’s natural beauty.
UWEA Executive Officer Sarah Myers said Ampersand Estates embodies everything the Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia Collective stands for: premium wine, immersive culinary and hospitality offerings, and inspirational experiences that take guests beyond the cellar door.
“Ampersand Estates has a deep and genuine connection to Western Australia’s Pemberton Wine Region and brings a distinctive and elevated voice to Australia’s premium wine tourism story.”
Ampersand Estates Co-Owner Corrie Scheepers acknowledges acceptance into the prestigious collection is a vehicle to achieving the goals he shares with business partner Melissa Bell.
“We are still young in our tourism journey and will introduce the Ultimate Winery Experiences of Ampersand Estates to key distribution partners through upcoming market visits across the United States, Europe, China and Singapore,” he said.
“The Ampersand Estates story is a marriage of luxury and nature, where everything in life is better with an ‘and’. Our experiences are curated on this philosophy that brings the tastes of the region together through a unique connection to place and our guests.”
