The Big Picture

The prominent Frankland River and Mount Barker subregions are located 360 kilometres south of Perth, a relaxed drive of less than four hours. Frankland River, the largest wine-producing subregion of the Great Southern with 1,600 hectares of vines, is renowned for its Riesling, Cabernet and stunning Shiraz. The versatile Mount Barker subregion is particularly significant as it was here in the mid 1960s that the modern West Australian wine industry had its beginnings. The area produces excellent Riesling, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The attractive coastal city of Albany, set on the magnificent Princess Royal Harbour, is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia, and the subregion of the same name is renowned for producing high-quality Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The moderate summer temperatures and higher winter rainfall allow the Denmark subregion to also produce premium Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Immense granite outcrops, the Porongurups, are visible for many kilometres and are a physical landmark of both size and beauty. The Porongurup subregion's cooler climate ensures that Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have an excellent reputation.

Great Southern Wine Region

Climate

As one moves north and inland from the strongly maritime-influenced climate of Denmark, the Continental influence and hence temperature variability increase significantly, although there is a lesser increase in total heat summation. Elevation, aspect and sites vary widely, but in general terms the climate of these northern areas tends to be slightly warmer on the higher sites.

Though rainfall is greater and relative humidity increases in the south around Denmark, heat summation and sunshine hours do not change greatly, so careful site selection allows the production of virtually every wine style, from Riesling to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon. The country here is dominated by the magnificent stands of the veteran hardwoods of the region – karri, marri, jarrah and other eucalypts of the family Myrtaceae.

Soil

The predominant soils are similar to those of the Margaret River region; either lateritic gravelly sandy loams (marri country) or sandy loams deriving directly from granite and gneissic bedrocks. They are typically brown to grey-brown in colour, with the percentage of clay varying from one location to another. Fertility is moderate, as are typical yields.

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