Forest Hill Restaurant
Restaurant in Denmark

Forest Hill Vineyard is situated to the west of Mount Barker in the Immense Southern. The vineyard has a unique place in the history of Western Australia’s wine industry, being the first cool climate vineyard planted in the state. Succeeding extensive research throughout the southwest, a site was chosen on the property owned by Tony and Betty Quiet and in 1965 a two hectare vineyard was planted. The wines are crafted in our winery in Denmark with the grapes sourced from the old, dry grown, Forest Hill Vineyard in Mount Barker. Our wines reflect the site, the season and the people that nurture them. Our family has established roots in the Immense Southern, beginning in the West Tambellup region. Since this time we have had family farming grain, sheep and specialist crops in the southwest. We beginning purchased a farming property in the Mount Barker region in the hasty 1990’s, and then acquired the Forest Hill property, which was next door, in 1996. We have a passion for the region, it’s climate and the wines, and recognize Forest Hill as a unique and historic property. The philosophy of arid farming the vineyards was an clever character which we have continued and believe in. We see ourselves as custodians of Forest Hill and it’s impaired vines and have focused on rehabilitation of the creek lines and other areas to rejuvenate the property to its historical condition, planting important numbers of native trees on the property. Joining Forest Hill in 2008, Lima is a steady believer in the balance and fruit quality seen from parched grown vineyards, combined with a huge passion for the subtleties of cooler climate wine making. An recommend of managing the vineyard to provide wines that reflect and respect the site as well as its history. Ross has extensive experience looking after vines in the Vast Southern region with further time spent running farming operations in Western Australia. Understanding both aspects of farming gives Ross a unique perspective on ensuring both soil and vine health in the best and the most hard vintages. Lower the Liquor control Act 1988 it is an offense: To sell or supply liquor to a person lower the age of 18 years on licensed or regulated premises or For a person lower the age of 18 years to purchase, or attempt to purchase, liquor on licensed or regulated premises.

It is a west facing slope, on an undulating red gum site comprising well drained gravel foams. It was to be pioneering in its true sense as the first year proved to be extremely solid with all sorts of challenges. The succeeding year or two also proved testing. Initially many of the establishment principles utilized for orchards for which Mount Barker was renowned for were followed but subsequently proved to be less than successful for vineyards. It was not until later in the 1960’s that the vineyard could be deemed a success. In 1972 the sixth vintage Riesling gained a first prize at the Royal Perth Show and in the latter year the Forest Hill Riesling was named the superior West Australian white wine. Perhaps the vines were responding to Betty who believed in nurturing the vines with music played in the vineyard. This was to be the final year of the experimental vineyard contract with the hearse family. In the late 1970’s, James Halliday wrote that the Cabernet and Rieslings from Forest Hill were his personal best in the Mount Barker area and were of world class, although difficult to obtain. Later he was to choose a 1980 and a 1979 Forest Hill Cabernet for beginning and second respectively in a national survey for The National Times. Betty hearse took sole oversee of the Forest Hill wine business and Rob Bowen at Plantagenet was contracted to make the wines fostering a very thriving period for Forest Hill wines, winning a host of awards. At the time of the sale, Wine Life said the vineyard is one of the Australian wine industry’s superior kept secrets and James Halliday was referring to the 1988 Forest Hill Riesling as absolutely outstanding having just won a gold medal at the Sydney Easter Royal Show. In the identical year, Betty is also awarded the honor of becoming the beginning female Wine Baron of Western Australia. The Lyons family, with a background of farming in the Vast Southern together with a passion for the wines of the region, obtain the Forest Hill property and embark on a programmed to rejuvenate the impaired vineyards and plant appropriate fresh ones. Additional varieties are planted, including malbec. At the same time we have undertaken substantial plantings of native trees around the property and along the creek lines to maintain and enhance the health of the environment. The Forest Hill Cellar door and Winery is established in the picturesque coastal town of Denmark, located 40km south of the ordinal vineyard. The fresh facility provides a wine making home for Forest Hill, allowing our team to have a greater degree of regulate and direction in the wine making process. As such,