Great Southern
The Great Southern Region
DRAMATIC contrasts. A vast and rich cultural history. Rugged coastline and striking tall timber forests. Sophistication and rusticity. The Great Southern wine region of Western Australia is, at its core, a place of natural distinctions and divergencies, danger and beauty, diversity and uniqueness.
Among rolling landscapes, wild oceanfront and picturesque headlands, pristine national parks, secluded bays, old-school country towns and villages, swathes of agricultural land, sites of important Indigenous significance, dramatic peaks and imposing mountain ranges, has emerged a wine region of international significance and reputation.
Isolation and a cool climate elicited a tradition in the Great Southern region both time-honoured and innovative, leading the way in the development of contemporary Australian winemaking. Featuring climatic conditions ranging from Mediterranean to maritime and continental, the wine region, situated within the ancient, rugged and pristine environment bordering the south coast of Western Australia, is the coolest in Western Australia. Soils are mostly lateritic gravelly and sandy loams, or sandy loams derived from granite bedrock. Amid a wild diversity of flora, fauna, culture and human habitation, stand remarkable vineyards and cellar doors crafting exceptional wine.
Stretching north, east and west from Western Australia’s south coast, the largest wine-growing region in mainland Australia takes in five nominated sub-regions; Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup, all producing distinctive fine wines that benefit from cool climate viticulture in a clean, green environment.
Coastal, maritime, inland and continental, it is a region of distinctions and disparities, home to over 70 producers crafting 25 per cent of Western Australia’s wine. It’s a recipe for greatness — a vast panorama of rugged beauty that’s all yours for the taking, right now.
The Beginnings of Greatness
The vast Great Southern wine region — 100 kilometres north to south and 150 kilometres east to west, including five subregions — was instrumental in the establishment of modern winemaking in Western Australia in the 1960s.
It’s said that the first vines were planted in the region in 1859, however, in 1965, trial vineyards were planted at Forest Hill near Mount Barker, and a Riesling and a Cabernet Sauvignon were made in 1972. Recognition quickly followed. A 1975 Riesling was a multiple trophy winner in wine shows around Australia. The Australian Geographical Indication, Great Southern, was subsequently registered in 1996.
Today, Great Southern winemaking is in the hands of talented, award-winning winemakers operating world-class wineries across the region, providing region-wide quality assurance and continuous improvement across classic varietals, while also providing room for innovation, contemporary exploration and production. Now, Riesling and Shiraz predominate in Great Southern winemaking alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
According to wine critic, James Halliday, each of the wine region’s subregions produce distinctive wine styles and subregional flavours:
- Frankland River: for rich reds, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mount Barker: cool and complex, for structured examples of Riesling and Shiraz
- Albany: an all-rounder, for Chardonnay, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc
- Denmark: refined, for premium sparkling wines
- Porongurup: pristine and pure, for Riesling
The Great Southern wine region is made up of five sub-regions: Albany; Porongurup; Mt Barker, Denmark and Frankland River, characterised by distinctive geomorphic and climatic conditions.
ALBANY
The city of Albany is the oldest European settlement in Western Australia and is the major centre of the Great Southern. Albany and its surrounding area is renowned for stunning scenery and excellent agricultural produce.
Vines were established in the Albany sub-region in the late 1970s, with the plantings at a Redmond vineyard. The establishment of Wignalls Wines, just north of Albany in 1982, followed.
Today, the majority of vineyards in the subregion are family-operated businesses with a total area of vines of approximately 70 hectares.
DENMARK
Denmark is where towering tall trees meet the ocean. It has a relaxed village atmosphere, romantic timber milling history and incredible coastal scenery. Just 45 minutes drive west of Albany, Denmark stands on spectacular Wilson Inlet and boasts glorious swimming, surfing and fishing beaches.
The first grapevine plantings in the Denmark subregion occurred along Mt Shadforth Road in 1974. These were followed by further early plantings of Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon at Tinglewood in 1976.
Viticultural interest in the subregion then remained dormant until a resurgence of activity resulted in a number of plantings, mainly along the Scotsdale Valley, in the mid to late 1980s.
FRANKLAND RIVER
The open, rolling country of Frankland River is the catchment for the Frankland, Gordon, Kent, and Tone Rivers.
The first contemporary vineyard was planted in 1967 and by the 1980s a number of vineyards had been established, including Alkoomi which first planted in 1971, Frankland Estate and Old Kent River.
Today, the subregion has 1,600 hectares under vines that supply many wineries in Western Australia and produce grapes for some of Australia’s iconic wines.
MOUNT BARKER
Mount Barker is an attractive, old-style town situated on three important tourist routes – Albany Highway from Perth to Albany, Muirs Highway linking the South West to the Great Southern and the Mount Barker-Porongurup Road.
The spectacular spring wildflower season attracts large numbers of tourists, while good road systems provide access to the south coast with the spectacular coastline near Denmark and Albany a comfortable half-hour drive.
The first experimental grapevine plantings in the Great Southern were at Tony and Betty Pearse’s Forest Hill property west of Mount Barker in 1965. These plantings provided the impetus for Tony Smith and Ernie Mead to plant vines on their properties at Denbarker in 1968 with other pioneers following soon afterwards.
PORONGURUP
The Porongurup Range is located east of Mount Barker with a National Park at the heart of the subregion. The range is only 12 kilometres long and 670 metres high, but features a luxuriant forest of giant karri trees and an understorey that puts on a brilliant display of wildflowers during spring and early summer. The range offers fantastic views of the Stirling Range to the north.
The spectacular spring wildflower season attracts large numbers of tourists, while good road systems provide access to the south coast with the spectacular coastline near Denmark and Albany a comfortable half-hour drive.
Now around 10 vineyards bask on the sunny northern slopes of the range in a climate well suited to cool climate viticulture.