from genesis to horizon
Born from a vineyard established in 1978, Voyager Estate was conceived by a maverick outsider, whose restless exploration shaped distinctive wines—a vision to imbue the craft with an entirely new spirit. Rooted in a special, single site in Stevens Valley, southern Margaret River, Voyager Estate is a realm of profound contrasts, where wines are grown and made with great intention—each vine cared for with precision, each bottle shaped by nature, time and care.
OUR LAND IS A CABINET OF WONDERS, GENTLY GUIDED INTO DISTINCTIVE WINES OF CHARACTER
Every wine’s story begins with an indelible sense of provenance. Nestled in the southwest corner of Australia, in one of the most remote and rugged fine wine regions in the world, our special site in Margaret River is a place where land and legacy converge. Where ancient soils, dry summer heat and cooling sea breezes, combine with meticulous site selection, undulating slopes and the cooler frame of Stevens Valley to craft wines that deeply express this place – distinctive, characterful and unmistakably Voyager.
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon sit at the very heart of our craft. Every patch of land has a signature, and every season presents a code that we try to unlock, year on year. It’s 1,000 tiny decisions, some made with the head, some with the heart, and some with the gut. We work in harmony with the land – patiently nurturing it, never fully taming it, always reaching for something greater. It’s the intangible nature of Chardonnay and Cabernet that drives us—they make the blood race—they instil in us a sense of wonder, and an attempt to grasp the profound.
OUR HISTORY
With an outsider spirit free from convention, our Founder, Michael Wright, was never one to conform to mainstream thinking. A farmer at heart, when he looked down at the ancient gravel surrounding his boot-clad feet in 1991, he saw extraordinary promise in Stevens Valley – a world of opportunity waiting to be explored.
With an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Michael traced every corner of the land, fastidiously gathering data and taking a myriad of notes and observations, sampling soil density at five times greater than the norm. At land’s edge, in this rugged corner of Margaret River, everything had to be created, nothing could be assumed.
What followed was a voyage to express place in a glass, making great wine, and sharing it unapologetically, and joyfully, with the world. A keen traveller, Michael was inspired by the cellar doors of the South African Cape, and in 1998 the Voyager Estate cellar door opened with its meticulously crafted, white-washed edifices and axial design. Although the building was completed two years prior, the doors remained closed, until the roses came fully into bloom. That is just the way Michael thought.
Much has changed since those boots hit the ground all those years ago. Seasons have come and gone, our vines have matured, and every hand that has tirelessly tended our Estate has deepened our wisdom of this place. What has remained is an audacious curiosity, and the courage to march boldly into the unknown – the same belief that inspired our beginnings.
Under the stewardship of the second generation of the Wright family, through his daughter, Alexandra Burt, Michael's pioneering spirit takes root in the pursuit of new frontiers – caring for our land, even when it asks more of us, crafting wines and experiences that open up new realms of discovery, and always taking the long view, so that future generations might uncover natural wonders of their own.
Our People
The influence of our people, their ideas, passions and interpretations over the generations is what makes Voyager Estate what it is today.
Alexandra Burt
ProprietorAlexandra Burt represents the second generation of the Wright family who have owned and operated Voyager Estate since 1991.
Alex took over the management of the Estate in 2005 and became the sole proprietor of Voyager in 2018. Her vision is to guide the wine growing and making process in a sustainable way from start to finish with minimal intervention, to craft wines that are the purest expression of our place.
Alex is Co-Founder and Proprietor of The Landsmith Collection including storied NT cattle station Bullo River Station, and other projects in development. All are guided by Alex’s philosophy of finding places she loves, then sustaining and nurturing them for generations to come.
Tim Shand
Chief WinemakerJoining the Voyager family in 2022, Tim believes winemaking is closer to a craft than an art. Respect for the raw materials is everything, finding the beauty and deliciousness in the fruit that is grown and expressing them to drinkers with the lightest possible touch.
Mike Saunders
Head of ViticultureMike's passion for viticulture began at an early age, driving a tractor with his grandad on the family farm. Joining Voyager Estate as our Head of Viticulture in 2024, Mike champions sustainability, seeing wine as the culmination of a year's work and dedication—a story of the season captured in a bottle.
Michelle McManus
Head of SustainabilityAn integral part of the team since 2019, Michelle is responsible for steering Voyager Estate’s mandate to create a sustainable legacy for future generations. With a rich career consulting many industries and projects, Michelle is a dedicated and experienced practitioner, working with our team, suppliers, and the wider community.
Claire Tonon
SommelierNamed after Clare Valley, Claire's future in wine was pre-destined. Now, with a wine career that covers cellar door management, events, wine education, marketing and export logistics in Italy and Australia, Claire was a natural fit for Voyager Estate.