REVIEW · AUSTRALIA
Brookland Valley: Premium Chardonnay & Cheese Tasting for 2
Four Chardonnays, paired with Margaret River cheeses, make this a focused tasting rather than a broad winery sampler. You’ll try wines from Brookland Valley’s Discovery, Estate, and Reserve ranges, along with Houghton Premium wines, while olives, crackers, baguette, olive oil, chilli crunch, or dukkah keep the food side lively.
I like the clear theme and the chance to compare wines from different ranges side by side. I also like the strong regional link, with Margaret River Dairy Company cheeses and Olio Bello olives on the plate. The main consideration is that this is a Chardonnay-only experience, so it will not suit you if you want reds or a wider tour of Western Australian wine.
Key points
- Four premium Chardonnays: Taste wines from Brookland Valley and Houghton, including Discovery, Premium, Estate, and Reserve ranges.
- Cheese matched to the wine: Try both hard and soft Margaret River Dairy Company cheeses rather than a single cheese style.
- Regional accompaniments: Olio Bello olives, baguette, crackers, local olive oil, and either locally made chilli crunch or dukkah add texture and variety.
- A focused tasting: The experience keeps attention on Chardonnay instead of covering many grape varieties.
- $20 per person: For two people, the listed cost is $40, with wine and food pairings included.
- Flexible booking terms: You can reserve now and pay later, with a full refund available when cancelling at least 24 hours ahead.
Four Chardonnays, One Clear Theme

This tasting is built for people who want to understand Chardonnay through comparison. Instead of moving across several grape varieties, you’ll stay with one style and taste four wines connected to Brookland Valley and Houghton.
That focus matters. Chardonnay can taste quite different from bottle to bottle, and a side-by-side tasting helps you pay attention to the details. You can compare the Discovery and Premium wines with Brookland Valley’s Estate and Reserve offerings, looking for changes in style, weight, oak, freshness, and finish.
The exact tasting order is not specified, so you should not arrive expecting a particular sequence. The important point is the range: the selection includes newer Brookland Valley Discovery and Houghton Premium wines alongside the more prestigious Brookland Valley Estate and Reserve wines.
I like this setup because it gives you a simple question to consider with each pour: what changes as the wine moves from a more accessible range toward an Estate or Reserve label? You do not need specialist wine knowledge to enjoy that comparison. A tasting like this works best when you slow down, take a sip, and notice what you like rather than trying to find the one correct answer.
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What the Brookland Valley Wine Selection Offers

The four wines are drawn from several named ranges, giving the tasting some structure even though it remains centered on one grape.
The Brookland Valley Discovery range and Houghton Premium range bring newer or more approachable labels into the lineup. These wines give you a useful starting point before you consider the Estate and Reserve bottles.
The Brookland Valley Estate and Reserve wines add a higher-end comparison. Their inclusion is one of the strongest reasons to choose this experience over a basic tasting. You are not simply sampling four similar house pours. You are being shown different points within the producers’ range.
Still, keep your expectations sensible. The experience gives you a tasting of four wines, not a full winery tour, winemaking lesson, or cellar visit. There is no stated vineyard walk, production demonstration, meal, or transport. If you want a full day around Margaret River wine country, this is better treated as one compact stop rather than the whole outing.
Cheese From Margaret River Dairy Company

The food pairing is more thoughtful than a few packets of generic crackers. You’ll receive both hard and soft cheeses from Margaret River Dairy Company, giving you two useful textures to compare with the Chardonnay.
Soft cheese can make a wine feel rounder and creamier on the palate. Hard cheese brings a firmer bite and a different balance of salt and texture. I like having both because Chardonnay can work with a range of cheese styles, and the contrast keeps four pours from feeling repetitive.
The cheese also gives the tasting a strong local identity. Rather than treating food as decoration, the experience uses a regional producer as part of the pairing. You can try a small piece on its own, then taste it with the wine. That simple habit often shows how much a cheese can change the way a wine feels.
You should not expect a full lunch. The information describes cheese, olives, crackers, baguette, and accompaniments, but it does not promise a substantial meal. For most people, this is a generous tasting plate rather than something to replace breakfast or dinner.
Olives, Baguette, and Local Extras

The supporting foods give you more ways to reset your palate between wines. Olio Bello Margaret River olives bring a salty, savoury note, while baguette and crackers provide a plain base for the cheese.
Regional olive oil adds another local touch. You may use it with the bread, cheese, or other items on the plate, depending on how the tasting is served. Locally made chilli crunch or dukkah brings a choice between heat and spice or a nutty, textured seasoning.
These details matter because a wine and cheese tasting can become monotonous when every bite has the same soft, salty profile. The olives, bread, oil, chilli crunch, and dukkah add different textures and flavours. They also give you room to experiment.
Try the wine before the food, then taste it again with cheese or an accompaniment. You might find that a wine seems sharper alone but softer with cheese, or that chilli crunch overwhelms a delicate pour. There is no need to force a pairing that does not work for you. The pleasure is in finding the combinations you prefer.
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Why the Chardonnay-Only Format Works
Many winery tastings cover several grape varieties in quick succession. That can be fun, but it can also leave you with a blur of names and flavours. This experience takes the opposite approach.
A Chardonnay-only tasting lets you pay attention to the grape itself and the way the producer presents it. You can ask yourself:
- Which wine feels freshest?
- Which has the most body?
- Which works best with the soft cheese?
- Does the Reserve wine taste noticeably different from the Discovery wine?
- Which bottle would you choose for a meal?
You are not required to know technical wine terms. Focus on simple observations. Is the wine crisp or creamy? Light or full? Fruit-forward or more savoury? Does the finish disappear quickly or stay with you?
That makes this a good option for a couple with different levels of wine experience. One person can enjoy the tasting as a relaxed food pairing, while the other can pay closer attention to the differences between ranges.
The limitation is just as clear. If your ideal winery visit includes Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, sparkling wine, or dessert wine, you may find the narrow selection restrictive. The theme is the appeal, but it also sets the boundaries.
The Value of $20 Per Person

At $20 per person, the tasting costs $40 for two people. The price includes four premium Chardonnay pours and the complete food pairing, including cheese, olives, crackers, baguette, regional olive oil, and a locally made chilli crunch or dukkah.
That gives you a straightforward way to judge the value. You are paying for a guided or hosted tasting format, four wines, and enough food to make the experience feel more substantial than a series of small sips. The price is especially easy to justify if you already plan to visit Brookland Valley.
I would view it as a modest add-on to a Margaret River wine day, not as a stand-alone special occasion meal. The experience is likely to suit you if you want something polished but short and focused. It is less suitable if you are seeking a long winery program with extensive food courses or a full explanation of production.
The higher-end Estate and Reserve wines help the price feel more worthwhile. You are getting a chance to compare those bottles with Discovery and Premium ranges rather than paying only to sample one standard Chardonnay.
Who Will Enjoy This Tasting Most

This experience fits several kinds of visitors:
- Chardonnay fans who want four expressions of the same grape.
- Couples looking for a simple shared tasting, with the listed experience designed for two.
- Wine beginners who prefer a clear theme over a confusing list of varieties.
- Food-focused visitors who care about cheese, olives, bread, and regional accompaniments.
- Margaret River visitors who want a compact stop tied to local producers.
- Budget-conscious tasters who want premium wine and food without booking a full meal.
I would be more cautious if you dislike Chardonnay or prefer a broad tasting menu. I would also look elsewhere if you need an activity with a detailed vineyard tour, transport, or a fixed duration, since those details are not provided here.
The experience is in English. That is useful to know if you need another language, since no alternative language is listed.
Booking Flexibility and Practical Planning
You can reserve your place and pay later, which helps if your Margaret River plans are still changing. The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
There is no stated duration, group size, transport arrangement, or exact tasting schedule. Keep those gaps in mind when planning the rest of your day. You should confirm the practical details at booking if timing matters, especially if you are arranging several winery stops.
The experience provider is Accolade Wines, and the tasting brings together Brookland Valley and Houghton wines. That makes it a brand-focused tasting rather than an independent survey of many local producers.
Since the food is included, you do not need to plan around an empty stomach in the same way you would for a wine-only stop. Still, the supplied information describes a tasting plate, not a full lunch. I would schedule it as a snack or light food stop unless you receive different details when booking.
What the Experience Is Really About

At its best, this is a lesson in comparison, served with enough food to keep it relaxed. You get four Chardonnay pours, several wine ranges, and regional products that help you notice how food affects the wine.
The experience also gives you a practical way to decide what you like. You may prefer the fresher Discovery style, the Houghton Premium pour, or one of the Estate and Reserve wines. You may also find that the cheese matters as much as the label.
One available rating gives the experience five stars, and the direct comment describes it as matching its description and being very enjoyable. That is a modest but useful sign: the format appears to deliver what it promises, without pretending to be something larger.
Should You Book Brookland Valley Chardonnay and Cheese Tasting?
Book it if you want a focused, affordable Chardonnay tasting with genuine regional food pairings. The four-wine format, Estate and Reserve inclusions, Margaret River cheeses, olives, and local accompaniments give the $20 price a solid basis.
Skip it if you want red wine, a full meal, a winery tour, or a broad introduction to many grape varieties. For everyone else, especially a couple already visiting Brookland Valley, this is an easygoing way to spend time with one of Western Australia’s best-known white-wine styles.
FAQ
Where does the Chardonnay and cheese tasting take place?
The experience takes place at Brookland Valley in Western Australia, Australia.
How much does the tasting cost?
The listed price is $20 per person, or $40 for two people.
How many wines are included?
The tasting includes four premium Chardonnay wines.
Which wine ranges are featured?
The selection includes Brookland Valley Discovery, Houghton Premium, Brookland Valley Estate, and Brookland Valley Reserve wines.
What food is served with the wine?
The pairing includes hard and soft Margaret River Dairy Company cheeses, Olio Bello Margaret River olives, crackers, baguette, regional olive oil, and locally made chilli crunch or dukkah.
What language is the experience offered in?
The experience is offered in English.
Can I cancel and receive a refund?
Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve your place and pay later.
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