Producer of the year

Cherubino Wines – 20 Years of Precision, Place and Purpose

Perhaps it was serendipitous. But Larry Cherubino being named Wine Producer of the Year in the WA Wine Review 2026, feels less like a surprise and more like an inevitability. Two decades after releasing his first wines under the Cherubino label in 2005, the recognition is a further tribute to a producer who continues to release an extraordinary range of wines across regions, varieties, styles, and price points.

In fact, it is breathtaking; it is staggering. 

Cherubino’s approach has always started in the vineyard. He and his wife Edwina manage more than 120 hectares of vines spread across Frankland River, Pemberton, Porongurup and Margaret River, with each region contributing to the broader portfolio. Frankland River, where much of the red program is anchored, is inland and continental, with sunny days and cool nights, plus a distinctive combination of soils of ironstone and gravel, which yield shiraz and cabernets in particular of structure, depth and great poise. The Riversdale and Justin Vineyards in Frankland produce some of the finest fruit in the State, and in addition to Cherubino’s own wines, it finds its way into other exceptional wines from different producers.

In Pemberton, the purchase of the Channybearup vineyard has provided many new opportunities for the portfolio. With pinot noir and chardonnay in particular, outstanding. Further south and east in Porongurup, elevation and oceanic influence lend an almost European precision to riesling and lighter-bodied wines, while in Margaret River, Cherubino draws on Wilyabrup fruit for the classic cabernet and chardonnay styles that have defined the region’s reputation.

Keeping up with the portfolio is challenging. Almost everyone asks: how does he do it?

Cherubino has structured his range to provide different pricing entry points. At the more accessible end, the Ad Hoc and Pedestal labels, for instance, show how much flavour and finesse can be achieved at modest price points. Move up the ladder and the focus sharpens. The Yard series draws fruit from individual vineyards such as Riversdale and Channybearup, and at the top sits the Cherubino range itself, a collection of single-vineyard and limited-release wines that capture the nuances of clone, soil, and aspect.