SANDALFORD

Following its recent reboot, this historic WA winery restaurant is ready to wine and dine a new generation of guests, writes MAX VEENHUYZEN.

-  MAX VEENHUYZEN.

A question, esteemed GT reader: how long does a venue need to be active before we start discussing icon status? A decade? Two decades? Whatever your position, I think we can all agree that at 184 not out, Sandalford is an integral part of the Swan Valley wine region. It was one of the state's first vineyards, occupies a plum Swan River position and the estate absolutely pumps during wedding season.

Not that Sandalford woke up looking like this. The groundwork for its current cellar door was laid in the late '90s after hospitality heavyweights the Prendiville Group bought the property. Covid saw the restaurant undergo a major makeover that more than doubled its capacity to 225. Make no mistake, Sandalford is high-volume but big doesn't have to equal drab.