Written by Cody Profaca for DrinksTrade.com.au on Feb 18 2026
Certified organic Margaret River wine producer Wayfinder has completed construction of a new gravity-fed, off-grid production facility in Wilyabrup in time to receive fruit for vintage 2026.
Positioned partially below ground level, the winery has been designed to allow gravity to guide fruit and wine movement through the facility, significantly reducing pumping and mechanical handling.
The entire site is powered by a large-scale solar and battery system that was commissioned in late 2025 following extensive modelling to ensure reliability during high demand periods, including harvest.
“This is the ideal scenario for us, with vineyard and winery on the same site, designed together from the outset,” says winemaker Andrew Trio, who worked closely with KHA Architects to design the site. “The layout supports precision and restraint in the winery while reducing energy use and unnecessary handling, giving us the best conditions to express the best of this site.”
Paul McArdle, CEO of Overstory, the parent company of Wayfinder, Swell Season and Tasmanian estate Small Wonder, also expressed his excitment:
“This facility gives the team complete control over the winemaking process while staying true to our environmental commitments,” he said.
Wayfinder's new production facility has launched with a capacity of approximately 350 tonnes and is equipped with insulated stainless-steel and concrete fermenters selected for their thermal stability, energy efficiency and ability to preserve fruit integrity during fermentation.
It has also already been certified through Australian Certified Organic, building on the estate’s organic credentials and long-term commitment to regenerative viticulture, with its 100 hectare vineyard attaining ACO certification in 2022.
The launch of the new site follows on from the opening of Wayfinder Restaurant and Wine Bar about thirty minutes north in the heart of Dunsborough in 2024.
In the same year, Overstory Tasmanian wine brand Small Wonder opened a new winery at its picturesque, certified organic vineyard in the Tamar Valley.
More than vineyards and labels, Overstory is a collective vision for how wine can be grown, made and shared with purpose.