Margaret River is on the south-western tip of the Australian continent. Bordered on three sides by the Indian and Southern oceans, its maritime climate and avoids both summer and winter temperature extremes.

The Lenton Brae vineyard is in the Wilyabrup sub-region. Wilyabrup was the site chosen for the first vine plantings in 1967 and is acknowledged as the epicenter for superior Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. The white varieties of Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon also perform well. The best soils in Wilyabrup (and Lenton Brae) are a gravelly loam of a depth 500 – 800mm over a clay base.

The gravelly loam facilitates water drainage whilst not supporting excessive vigour. The clay base retains moisture and encourages root penetration.The estate vineyard comprises some nine hectares. Approximately 60% of planting is to the white grapes Chardonnay (3 Ha), Semillon (1 Ha) and Sauvignon Blanc (1.7Ha) with Cabernet Sauvignon (3 Ha) and Merlot (0.3 Ha) making up the balance.

The vineyard was planted in 1982, although some sections have been replanted since to introduce new clones and healthier stock. Currently there are four different clones of Chardonnay in production and new clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are planned. It is envisaged new plantings will be on grafted rootstock to give greater uniformity and vine efficiency in its uptake of water and nutrients.

The long-term average annual rainfall is 1125 mm, though the average over the last 8 years has been closer to 960 mm. The rainfall is winter dominant, with approximately 80% falling between April and September. The prevailing dry conditions during the final fruit ripening in early autumn allow for low humidity and disease pressures.

All vines have access to drip irrigation.  Experience has demonstrated that irrigation improves vine health and that healthy vines produce the highest quality grapes. Water is collected in two dams during winter and is judiciously applied from January until harvest in March and April. Soil moisture levels are regularly measured thought the season, with the scheduling of the irrigation adjusted accordingly.