Wayfinder, located in Margaret River, has created a new state-of-the-art winery, restaurant and cellar door in Cowaramup that will open this August. Known for its single-vineyard wines, the label’s latest venture promises an unparalleled experience, with WA talent Brendan Pratt stepping in as the Executive Chef. Maintaining the regenerative farming ethos, the new location promises a garden-centric menu with complementing in-house wines that enhance the experience.
New Wayfinder restaurant to open in Cowaramup, here’s what you need to know
Kerry Hill Architects, Fremantle, put together the design for this new development. The winery was completed in January this year, built into the ground. The entire complex will be powered by extensive solar panelling; it will be entirely self-sufficient.
Taking special care to ensure energy efficiency in design, Wayfinder’s farm-to-table philosophy is championed. In fact, the market garden, which currently supplies Wayfinder Wine Bar & Restaurant in Dunsborough, is undergoing expansion. It will grow to a full acre, and a specialised garden team has planned for a variety of flora, including heirloom veggies, edible flowers, and even orchard fruit. To enrich soil quality, crop rotation, no-dig beds and cover crops will be centred.
The winery is Wayfinder’s latest measure for low-intervention winemaking and regenerative farming. Built underground into a turkey-nest dam wall, the landscape’s natural temperature control benefits the space. The multilevel allows grapes to be juiced and led from ground level into 12 concrete tanks (six each of 4,500 and 5,700 litres) below via gravity, conserving energy and preserving integrity.
More about the new space
Merging the landscape into the building is a conscious choice by Kerry Hill Architects alongside landscape artists Aspect Studios and Lifestyle Gardens. An earth wall at the entrance anchors the structure naturally, with the roof hosting endemic flora. Carrying on the theme, handcrafted solid timber and Australian marble form the main materials. Additionally, the decor shines in this colour scheme, with brass and skylights adding classy accents to the furnishing.
That’s not all. The artwork and installations throughout the Wayfinder Cellar Door are intentional, too. Find pieces by WA-based Lajos Vargas dotted around the space. Moreover, Australian artists, including Lindy Lee, Tjawina Porter, Abie Kemarre Loy, and Melissa Kngwarreye Long, will also be featured.
Then, of course, the most important thing is the food. Executive Chef Brendan Pratt (formerly of Vasse Felix and Culinary Director of WA’s Parker Group) promises a seasonal approach to the on-site restaurant.
Similar to Wayfinder’s acclaimed Dunsborough venue concept, the new menu will be garden-led. With local WA farmers and producers providing the various meats, they supplement the vegetables, fruits, and other goodies grown in the estate. Obviously, the Wayfinder wines will be available by the glass or in curated tasting flights alongside the food.
August 2026 is set as the soft launch for the cellar door and restaurant. We can’t wait for this exciting new space by Wayfinder, one of three uniquely sustainable and terroir-driven wine labels under Overstory.
To know more about Wayfinder Wines, visit their website.
