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The Margaret River Region has a varied landscape, from small creeks
and sweeping valleys to thick native bush, rolling pastures, rugged coastlines
and marri and karri forests. As the region is bound on three sides by
the Indian Ocean, which moderates extremes of temperature, it is characterised
by a maritime climate providing for wet and stormy winters, with an annual
rainfall of 1150mm, usually between April and October, and long, dry,
mild summers.
Being just 4 kms from the ocean, Arlewood Estate benefits from the
best of the region's landscape and climate as well as from other factors
that render this area one of the best for wine growing. The soil at Arlewood
Estate is rich, gravelly topsoil to a depth of 300-500mm over loamy clay,
with excellent drainage. Water supply is generally run-off into catchment
areas defined by the valleys and creeklines on the property, with water
quality classified as fresh and most suitable for vineyard irrigation.
The Arlewood property, itself, is gently undulating to a rise and
fall of 20 metres, with a ridgeline, valley and creekline system. The
land is partially cleared pasture, now planted, with substantial bushland
on the ridgeline and creeklines. This, along with well established planted
treelines, protects the vines from prevailing southwest winds, and allows
the fruit at Arlewood to ripen slowly and gently to give maximum intensity
of flavour.
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