DISCOVER MOSS WOOD
Moss Wood is a family owned wine company
& a pioneer of the Margaret River region.
OUR STORY
Planted in 1969 Moss Wood is an important, founding estate of the Margaret River wine region, located in the northern sub–region of Wilyabrup, Western Australia.
Clare & Keith Mugford, as viticulturalists, winemakers & proprietors, have been making wine & tending the vineyard at Moss Wood since 1984 & 1979, respectively.
Their exacting viticulture ensures the production of grapes of excellent quality & they have created a stable of fine wines distinguished by their consistency over each vintage & their ability to age superbly.
The Moss Wood & Mugford names are synonymous with uncompromising quality.
Tristan Mugford has worked at Moss Wood since 2008. At the beginning of 2012 he moved to Adelaide to study a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at The University of Adelaide and graduated at the end of 2016. In 2017 he spent a year working on the Mornington Peninsula at a winery called Taturry. He then returned to Moss Wood at the end of 2017.
Alex Coultas has worked at Moss Wood since 2006 during his Wine & Viticultural Degree studies at Curtin University and after, fitting in between Vintage work at Chateau Lagrange, Ata Rangi, Domaine Drouhin & Millbrook. Each time returning to Moss Wood & on a permanent basis since 2012.
Hugh Mugford started at Moss Wood in 2010 after completing his high school studies. In 2012 he commenced a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at The University of Adelaide. Upon completing his studies in 2016, Hugh accepted a position in agricultural and viticultural research in South Australia with AgXtra. Hugh returned to Moss Wood on a permanent basis at the start of 2019.
"2016 Moss Wood Cabernet is a honed, delicious, succulent wine and with a sensual texture and serious length … Margaux-like."
Matthew Jukes, Top 100 Australian Wine
“This exquisite wine from Margaret River is as close to perfect as any Margaret River has produced - and it gets my highest-ever score …. 99/100.”
Ray Jordan, The Weekend West Australian
The Wines
At Moss Wood we believe wine quality is determined in the vineyard and viticultural techniques are constantly reassessed and informed by current research, both of others and our own. This has seen trials and improvements in trellising systems, soil conservation practices and pruning practices
Wines made from the
MOSS WOOD VINEYARD:
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Chardonnay
Moss Wood Pinot Noir
Moss Wood Semillon
Wines made from the
RIBBON VALE VINEYARD:
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Wines made from the
GLENMORE VINEYARD:
Moss Wood Amy’s
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Petit Verdot,
Malbec and Merlot
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon
- First vines planted 1969
- 92% Cabernet Sauvignon combined with up to 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyards
- Fermented in open fermenters, hand plunged 3 times per day
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- Average 28 months ageing in 228 litre, French oak barrels, 15% new
- Rewards cellaring up to 40 + years
- ’Exceptional’ ranking in Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine - one of only 22 Australian producers
Moss Wood Chardonnay
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyards
- Mendosa and Dijon clones
- Whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression ofvarietal characteristics
- 18 months aging in 225 litre French oak barrels, 50% new
- Full malolactic fermentation, combines great fruit depth with complexity
- Rewards cellaring for at least 15 years
Moss Wood Pinot Noir
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyards
- Oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in Margaret River
- Cold soaked on skins prior to fermentation, maximising extraction of colour and flavour
- Fermented in open fermenters, hand plunged 3 times per day
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- 20 months aging in 228 litre French oak barrels, 20% new
- Rewards long term cellaring, for at least 20 years
Moss Wood Semillon
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyards
- Fermented in stainless steel tanks
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- Emphasis is on maximising primary fruit aromas
- Rewards long term cellaring, for at least 20 years
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon
- The premier wine from the Ribbon Vale property
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyard
- Includes 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Merlot
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- Fermented in open fermenters, hand plunged 3 times per day
- 28 months ageing in 228 litre French oak barrels, 10% new
- Rewards long term cellaring, for at least 20 years
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Merlot
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyards
- Can include up to 5% Cabernet Franc
- Cold soaked and fermented in closed tanks pumped over 3 times per day
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- 24 months 28 months aging in 228 litre French oak barrels, 10% new
- Rewards long term cellaring, for at least 20 years
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa
- First vintage 2019.
- Complex Sauvignon Blanc in a Sancerre style.
- 10 months in 228 litre French oak barrels, 10% new.
- Elsa comes from Elsa Montgomery, Clare Mugford's mother, who was possibly Moss Wood’s most ardent fan. 2019 would have been her 100th birthday.
- Enjoyable now but can be cellared for up to 10 years.
- Read more about Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Elsa
Moss Wood Amy’s
- Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot
- Each variety picked and fermented separately
- Extraction of colour and flavour by pump over, 3 times per day
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- Aging for 12 months in 228 litre old French oak barrels
- Production and aging techniques designed specifically for early drinking
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
- Old vines, dry-grown, low yielding vineyard
- Each variety picked and fermented separately then blended after fermentation
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- Sauvignon Blanc harvested early to maximise gooseberry, lifted fruit notes
- Semillon is harvested late to maximise palate weight and complexity
- Fermentation of both varieties in old, 228 litre French oak barrels
- Aging for 6 months in old 228 litre French oak barrels prior to bottling
- Recommended for early drinking but can benefit from short term cellaring
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Botrytis Non-Vintage Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
- Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from the Ribbon Vale vineyard
- Made only when the grapes are naturally infected with Botrytis cinerea
- Careful selection of yeasts allowing full expression of varietal characteristics
- Aged for 2 years in 228 litre old French oak barrels
- Enjoyable now but can be cellared 5 to 7 years
The Vineyards
MOSS WOOD
VINEYARD
First planted in 1969
14.8 hectares
- Gentle north and east facing slopes
- Unirrigated
- Scott Henry, Te Kauwhata and simple vertical shoot positioning trellising to reduce the density of the foliage and expose the grapes to more sunlight
- Soils ranging from sandy loam to a gravelly, red-brown loam, over clay subsoil
- Planting densities from 1500 to 2000 vines per hectare
Grape varieties grown at the Moss Wood vineyard are:
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay, Semillon,
Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot and
Cabernet Franc.
RIBBON VALE
VINEYARD
First planted in 1977
8.2 hectares
- 8.2 hectares planted on south and west facing slopes
- Unirrigated
- Scott Henry trellising system
- Soils are classic gravelly loams over clay sub-soils
- Planting densities from 1500 to 2000 vines per hectare
Grape varieties grown at the
Ribbon Vale vineyard are:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon
Blanc and Semillon.
GLENMORE
VINEYARD
First planted in 1990
- Sourced from Glenmore Farm, Yallingup.
- Located 10kms north of Moss Wood
- Owned by Ian Bell who, worked at Moss Wood for 20 years
- North-facing vineyard, with gravelly, red-brown loam soil, over clay subsoil
- Named after Ian’s grandmother, Amy Beers, a dear friend of the Mugfords and a lifelong beef farmer, who was proud to see her grandson diversify the family property into viticulture
- where the grapes for Amy’s
have been sourced since 1997.
Grape varieties grown at Glenmore vineyard are:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit
Verdot, Malbec, Merlot.
Sustainability
Our commitment to farm sustainably means we don’t use tillage, ensuring soil health is not compromised and that we retain our abundance of earth worms.
Instead, mulching techniques are used to preserve and maintain soil structure, micro flora and fauna
The Margaret River Wine Region
“It only takes a millisecond to know you are in the presence of vinous royalty.”
James Halliday, The Wine Companion
The Moss Wood and Ribbon Vale Vineyards are located in the Wilyabrup sub-region, the heart of the Margaret River wine region.
At 33° 78’ south latitude, 115° 18’ east longitude and approximately three hours drive south of Perth, Western Australia’s capital city, Margaret River is recognised as one of the world’s great wine producing regions.
Margaret River
- Inspired by the scientific work of Dr John Gladstones who identified the value of the maritime climate for the production of high quality wine
- One of the most isolated and pure grape growing regions in the world, sitting immediately besides the pristine Indian Ocean
- The region is 120 kilometres north to south and 27 kilometres west to east
- Internationally recognised for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
- Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blends also highly regarded
Wilyabrup
- The pioneering sub-region of Margaret River
- Situated at the Northern end of the Margaret River region
- Distinct Wilyabrup soils of gravelly loam over clay
- Varying topography provides unique and distinct vineyard sites
- Reliable rainfall
- Has proven to be outstanding for many varieties and especially Cabernet Sauvignon
Key Messages
Moss Wood is family owned and one of the most important producers within the Margaret River region.
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Well-known as one of Australia’s finest wine producing regions
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Pre-eminent Australian cabernet region
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Maritime climate perfect for viticulture and provides consistency of vintage quality
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Most remote wine region in the world – pristine environment of the area adding considerable cachet
Moss Wood is a pioneer producer of Margaret River.
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Second commercial vineyard in the region
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2019 celebrates 50 years since the planting of the first vines
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Maintains a strong leadership position within the region
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Put Margaret River on the map for its Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood is dedicated to the making of distinguished wines of great character and longevity.
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Each wine has a unique and consistent estate character – providing reliability for consumers
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Moss Wood’s quality portfolio includes wines at different price points, giving consumers a broad range of choice
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & MARKETING MATERIAL
CLARE MUGFORD
Viticulturist, Winemaker &
Proprietor
clare@mosswood.com.au
Mobile: +61 427 170 729
KEITH MUGFORD
Viticulturist, Winemaker &
Proprietor
keith@mosswood.com.au
Mobile: +61 427 556 266
Postal address:
PO Box 225, Cowaramup,
Western Australia 6284
AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 8 9755 6266
mosswood@mosswood.com.au