Cape Mentelle Vineyards
A pioneering Margaret River winery known particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon and its role in establishing Western Australia as a significant fine-wine region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Cape Mentelle Vineyards is a wine estate in the Margaret River region of Western Australia, approximately 274 kilometres southwest of Perth. Established in 1970 by brothers David, Mark and Giles Hohnen, it is regarded as one of the founding five wineries of Margaret River. The estate takes its name from nearby Cape Mentelle on the coast and is associated with the early development of the region’s reputation for structured, age-worthy wines. The Hohnen brothers planted the estate’s first 16 hectares of vines at what is now known as the Wallcliffe Vineyard. David Hohnen had studied winemaking and viticulture in California during the 1960s, and the brothers spent their first years experimenting in a rammed-earth shed before producing their first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1976. Their work was supported by collaboration with Tom Cullity, founder of Vasse Felix, the first Margaret River winery. This early network of growers and winemakers helped shape the technical and commercial foundations of the emerging region. Cape Mentelle gained national recognition when its Cabernet Sauvignon won the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in both 1983 and 1984. The award is presented for an outstanding young dry red wine and helped establish the winery as one of Margaret River’s leading producers. Cabernet Sauvignon remains the estate’s signature variety, while Chardonnay is also associated with the brand’s portfolio. More broadly, Cape Mentelle’s identity is built around premium regional wine, estate history and the maritime environment of Margaret River. Ownership changed over time. Veuve Clicquot acquired a 50 percent interest in 1990 and moved to full ownership in 2000. When LVMH acquired Veuve Clicquot in 2002, Cape Mentelle became part of the wider LVMH group. In January 2023, Endeavour Group announced an agreement to acquire the winery. Cape Mentelle is now identified with Endeavour Group. The winery has also addressed production and environmental issues during its history. In 1997 it destroyed its Cabernet Sauvignon because of contamination associated with the yeast Brettanomyces; the problem was reported as resolved by 2004. In 2010, Cape Mentelle became the first Margaret River winery to receive Entwine accreditation, a sustainability standard requiring annual reporting and continuing efforts to reduce environmental impact. The estate marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. As part of the commemoration, ocean photographer Eugene Tan of Aquabumps photographed the cape and vineyard, linking the winery’s history with the fiftieth anniversary of Margaret River as a wine region. Cape Mentelle continues to operate as an active Australian wine brand with a strong regional identity and international reach.
History
Cape Mentelle’s history is closely tied to the emergence of Margaret River as a recognised Australian wine region. The estate was founded in 1970 by brothers David, Mark and Giles Hohnen. David Hohnen, a third-generation farmer, had studied winemaking and viticulture in California in the 1960s. The brothers selected land near the coastal feature of Cape Mentelle and planted 16 hectares of vines, creating the vineyard now known as Wallcliffe Vineyard. The early years were experimental. The brothers worked in a rammed-earth shed for approximately six years before producing their first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1976. Cape Mentelle developed alongside Vasse Felix and other early Margaret River producers, and David, Mark and Giles worked with Tom Cullity, the founder of Vasse Felix, on the production of the Cabernet wines that later brought the estate national attention. The decisive breakthrough came in 1983 and 1984, when Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon won the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in consecutive years. The trophy recognises an outstanding one-year-old dry red wine, and the consecutive awards helped demonstrate the quality potential of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. Cape Mentelle consequently became one of the region’s best-known early wineries and one of the “founding five” estates associated with Margaret River’s wine industry. The estate experienced a significant production issue in 1997, when its Cabernet Sauvignon was destroyed because of contamination problems involving Brettanomyces yeast. The issue was subsequently reported as resolved by 2004. The incident forms part of the winery’s production history and illustrates the quality-control risks associated with wine microbiology. Cape Mentelle’s ownership also evolved substantially. Veuve Clicquot acquired half of the vineyard in 1990 and obtained full ownership in 2000. In 2002, LVMH purchased Veuve Clicquot, bringing Cape Mentelle into the LVMH corporate group. In January 2023, Endeavour Group announced an agreement to acquire the winery, marking another change in its ownership history. Environmental stewardship became a more visible part of the estate’s operations in the twenty-first century. In 2010, Cape Mentelle became the first Margaret River winery to achieve Entwine accreditation, a Total Winegrowing Australia sustainability standard. The accreditation requires annual reporting and ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts. For its fiftieth anniversary in 2020, Cape Mentelle commissioned ocean photographer Eugene Tan, known through Aquabumps, to photograph the cape and vineyard. The project connected the estate’s anniversary with the fiftieth year of Margaret River’s development as a wine region. Cape Mentelle remains an active Margaret River winery, recognised for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, regional heritage and its place in the history of Western Australian wine.
- 2023
Endeavour Group acquisition agreement
[1]Endeavour Group announces an agreement to acquire Cape Mentelle.
- 2020
Fiftieth anniversary commemoration
[1]The winery celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with a photography project documenting Cape Mentelle and the vineyard.
- 2010
Entwine sustainability accreditation
[1]Cape Mentelle becomes the first Margaret River winery to attain Entwine accreditation.
- 2002
Cape Mentelle enters the LVMH group
[1]LVMH acquires Veuve Clicquot and, with it, Cape Mentelle Vineyards.
- 2000
Veuve Clicquot takes full ownership
[1]Veuve Clicquot increases its holding to 100 percent of Cape Mentelle Vineyards.
- 1997
Contaminated Cabernet Sauvignon is destroyed
[1]The winery destroys its Cabernet Sauvignon following contamination issues associated with Brettanomyces yeast.
- 1990
Veuve Clicquot acquires a minority stake
[1]Veuve Clicquot acquires 50 percent of Cape Mentelle Vineyards.
- 1984
Second consecutive Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy
[1]The winery wins the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy again for its Cabernet Sauvignon.
- 1983
First Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy
[1]Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon wins the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for best one-year-old dry red wine.
- 1976
First Cabernet Sauvignon is produced
[1]After several years of experimentation, the Hohnen brothers produce Cape Mentelle’s first Cabernet Sauvignon.
Products and positioning
Premium regional winery rooted in Margaret River’s founding wine culture, with a particular emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon, estate heritage and sustainable winegrowing.
Red wine
Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon
The winery’s defining wine style and its most historically important offering. Cape Mentelle’s Cabernet Sauvignon brought the estate national attention through consecutive Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy wins in 1983 and 1984. The variety is central to the brand’s association with Margaret River’s early premium-wine identity.
White wine
Cape Mentelle Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the principal varieties associated with Cape Mentelle’s wine portfolio. It complements the estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon focus and reflects Margaret River’s established reputation for producing premium white wines as well as structured red wines.
Controversies
1997
Brettanomyces contamination affects Cabernet Sauvignon
Cape Mentelle destroyed its Cabernet Sauvignon after contamination issues involving Brettanomyces yeast. The problem was reported as resolved by 2004. The episode was a production and quality-control incident rather than a reported legal or regulatory scandal.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Cape Mentelle 50th Anniversary Photography Project
Australia
To mark its fiftieth anniversary, Cape Mentelle worked with ocean photographer Eugene Tan of Aquabumps to create images of the cape and vineyard. The project connected the winery’s heritage with the fiftieth anniversary of Margaret River as a wine region.
Outcome. The project served as a commemorative brand and regional storytelling initiative.
Brand decisions
2023
Agreement to sell Cape Mentelle to Endeavour GroupM&ABackground
Cape Mentelle had previously been owned by Veuve Clicquot and then held within LVMH following LVMH’s acquisition of Veuve Clicquot.
Action taken
Endeavour Group announced an agreement to acquire Cape Mentelle Vineyards.
Aftermath
Endeavour Group became the identified owner of the winery. The available source does not provide transaction value or detailed completion conditions.
2010
Adoption of Entwine sustainability accreditationStrategyBackground
The winery pursued formal recognition of its environmental and sustainable winegrowing practices.
Action taken
Cape Mentelle became the first Margaret River winery to attain Entwine accreditation, which requires annual reporting and continued efforts to minimise environmental impact.
Aftermath
The accreditation strengthened the estate’s documented sustainability positioning.
1997
Destruction of contaminated Cabernet SauvignonOtherBackground
Contamination issues associated with Brettanomyces yeast affected the winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon.
Action taken
Cape Mentelle destroyed the affected Cabernet Sauvignon. The issue was later reported as resolved by 2004.
Aftermath
The incident became part of the winery’s production history; no financial outcome is reported in the available source material.
Sources2 sources
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