Redgate Wines is located less than an 8 minute drive from Margaret River town centre and close to the picturesque coastline where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Although we are surrounded by references to Redgate, (Redgate Beach and a Redgate Road), there seems to be little in the way of official history in regards to where the Redgate name actually came from.
Bill Ullinger, the founder and proprietor of Redgate Wines, has passed on his version of how he came to use the name Redgate. It would seem that not long after the turn of the last century there was a farmer whose farm was located just inland from what is now Redgate Beach and Redgate Road.
In those days Margaret River was an extremely long way from any major towns (Perth would have been nearly a two day trip by carriage) and there tended to be a shortage of places where one could obtain an alcoholic beverage. The Redgate Beach locals also found getting to the local watering hole a little difficult so they decided they needed an alternative. And so the story goes that our friendly farmer, who happened to have a prominent Red Gate at the front of his property, decided that he would start a (slightly illegal) spirit still.
Due to the secretive nature of this operation those in the know would come to the farm and ask if there was any Red Gate available. Bill, in his wisdom, has deemed it not necessary to tell us the final outcome of this illicit operation, but if the local constabulary were anything like the rest of their Australian colleagues of the day, I’m sure they were always on top of quality control at Redgate.
Moving ahead to 1981 and the Ullinger’s first vintage, Bill felt that this story accorded well with what he was trying to establish. That this would be a great place for anyone to visit and enjoy a drop of their favourite beverage in a warm and friendly environment.
Redgate is still owned & run by the same family. Bill’s passion has been passed down to his son in law, Ray who continues to run the winery.
