FLOWSTONE WINES
Twenty-five years ago, Stuart Pym and Janice McDonald built two of Margaret River's most-loved labels together. Then their paths split - Janice to a decade at the helm of a major house, and a 2018 Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year title along the way.
Now they're back at the same bench. At the mighty Flowstone - 2.25 hectares, no cellar door, small batches made entirely by hand - the partnership that shaped a region is together again.
Saturday, August 8th
Hosted by Stuart Pym | Winemaker
Lunch: 12–2.30pm, 13 wines and 4 courses, $145
Masterclass: 3–5pm, 13 wines & canapes, $65
About Flowstone Wines
Flowstone Wines is the creation of winemakers Stuart Pym and Janice McDonald, who craft small batches that reflect the spirit of Margaret River. Their wines are shaped by the land; its soils, seasons, and the ancient limestone cave systems that run beneath it. The Flowstone, Moonmilk, and Queen of the Earth ranges take their names and inspiration from these formations, reminding us of the patience and beauty found in nature’s slow work over time.
At Flowstone, there’s no rush and no shortcuts – just care, curiosity, and a deep respect for the craft. Each wine is made on the small estate and released only when it’s ready, capturing the individuality of the region and their own unique take on it as winemakers. Whether you’re opening a bottle at home or visiting the winery for a tasting, you’ll find wines that are genuine, expressive, and made to be shared.
Stuart Pym | Winemaker
Flowstone is a partnership between long-time Margaret River winemakers Stuart Pym and Janice McDonald. This project is driven by their passion, dedication, and commitment to forging their path in wine. They bring decades of combined experience and knowledge as grape growers, winemakers, and small business owners.
“Veteran Margaret River winemaker Stuart Pym’s career constituted long-term successive roles: beginning with Voyager Estate in ‘91, thereafter with Devil’s Lair, and finishing with Stella Bella in ’13, the year he and Perth-based wine tragic Phil Giglia established Flowstone Wines. In ’03, Stuart purchased a small property on the edge of the Margaret River Plateau in the beautiful Forest Grove area, progressively planting chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, gewürztraminer and touriga. From ’17, Flowstone leased a vineyard at Karridale, planted to long-established sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.”
-JAMES HALLIDAY
The Wine List and Menu (TBC)
First Bracket
2025 Flowstone Moonmilk Pinot Gris/Viognier/Gewurztraminer/Sauvignon Blanc
Reminiscent of the apricot bars in my school lunchbox, but make it sophisticated. Sweet yellow peach, pear and compressed green melon. In the mouth, the interplay of phenolics and acid creates texture, weight and drive. The fruit is pithier than expected, with apricot kernel, lime pith and almond skin all making an appearance. Everything fits. For one of the more finicky varieties, this is a very smart wine. And even smarter winemaking. Stuart Pym is a wizard with whites, methinks.
93 Points - Cyndal Petty, Wine Pilot
This white blend from Margaret River is made with (48%) Pinot Gris, (25%) Viognier, (21%) Gewurztraminer and (6%) Sauvignon Blanc. Deliciousness lives here. If you don’t like this then you don’t like white wine. Juicy pears, red apples, lychee, sweet spice and assorted floral notes combine to seriously enjoyable effect here. There’s a subtle-but-effective chalkiness to the texture as well. Can you hear the enthusiasm in my voice? This wine is a delight to drink.
93 points - Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
2026 Flowstone Pinot Gris [New Release]
2026 Flowstone Gewürztraminer [New Release]
Second Bracket
2025 Flowstone Sauvignon Blanc [New Release]
Snapped pea aromatics, hits of lemongrass, a keen push of apple and tropical fruit flavour and a smoky/gravelly note besides. This is textural. well flavoured, perfumed and beautifully presented. This is a wine to buy; it’s excellent.
94 points - Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
2025 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc
The aromas are bell clear, so too the flavours, so too the quality of this wine. This is the kind of glistening, gleaming wine that makes you smile and makes you nod. It tastes of tropical fruit, lemongrass, woodsmoke and cedar, though it’s the fruit that breasts the tape and wins the day. The palate here almost feels cuddly, such is its volume and softness, but as a whole, this wine has a tension and a charge.
It’s excellent.
95 points - Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
Third Bracket
2024 Flowstone Chardonnay [New Release]
There’s a fresh attack of flavour and a run through the finish which, combined, makes for highly enjoyable drinking. This is an example of Margaret River
chardonnay in a very good place. It tastes of stonefruit, aromatic herbs, the merest whisper of flint and a combination of toasted cedarwood and nougat.
It drinks like a charm.
93 points - Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
2024 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Chardonnay [New Release]
The Flowstone wines are firing on all cylinders. This chardonnay is full-bodied, well balanced, complex and well sustained, and has more than a little X-factor too. Yellow peach, pine, cedar and cream characters flow into tonic water, flint, sweet spice and meal. There’s texture, there’s impact, there’s flavour and there’s length. This wine is (very) good now but it will be better again in another couple of years.
94 points - Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
2020 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Chardonnay [Museum]
It’s a little bit flinty and a little bit funky thanks to moreish sulphides, and it’s more than a little bit delicious. Fragrant with florals, grapefruit and lemon, there’s a dusting of ginger powder and some sweet-ish woodsy flavours via oak and layers of creamy lees. It’s a satisfying drink, too, and feels light to finish thanks to its refreshing acidity.
95 Points - Jane Faulkner, Wine Companion
Fourth Bracket
2023 Flowstone Touriga
One of only 16 wines in Halliday’s Top Reds under $40 2026
Now, the first thing to do before enjoying this is to pop it into a decanter for an hour or so, as it needs to open. What comes out is all manner of aromas and flavours, a little exotic, too, with sumac, kirsch and cherries, licorice root and dark-choc-mint biscuits. Pops of sweet fruit fill the fuller-bodied palate, with savoury nuances in the mix, really sandy, lovely tannins and a freshness throughout.
95 Points - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
2022 Flowstone Cabernet Sauvignon [New Release]
2021 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Cabernet Sauvignon [Pre-Release]
Showing some development and the cool season with distinct aromas and flavours of raspberry leaf, cranberries and wintergreen, yet plenty of pleasing varietal inputs, too. Cassis, mulberries infused with gum leaves, mint, some dark chocolate and spicy, cedary oak. Elegant in its medium-bodied frame, with lithe tannins and fine acidity. A lovely drink and ready now.
93 Points - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
2016 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Cabernet Sauvignon
The first Queen of the Earth Cabernet Sauvignon from the Home Block in Forest Grove. Open-fermented, 2.5 weeks on skins post-fermentation pressed to thin-staved French barriques for 3 years, gravity-bottled, 15 months in bottle before release, 110 dozen made. A great Margaret River vintage, and (as always) a great wine; flows along and across the mouth without a ripple.
97 Points - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
To finish...
2020 Flowstone Touriga Vintage Fortified
Appearance: deep red, with purple hues
Aroma: blueberry, plum, blackberry, bittersweet cocoa and a subtle stimulating hint of mint and violet Hints of toffee, and marmalade
Palate: beautifully smooth and supple, with a purity of fruit, and concealed power. Powerful, yet velvety , tannins, and a slate like nuance on the finish. This wine is still very youthful, and you can see that it will age for a very long time.
Food ideas: Cheese platters, dark chocolate, foie gras, dried figs, walnuts
Winemaker Tasting Notes