The Great Southern Wine Region

The underbelly of southwest Western Australia, known as the Lower Great Southern, is Western Australia’s coolest wine-growing region. The Department of Agriculture planted the first experimental vineyard in the late 1960s at Forest Hill. Successful trials encouraged Tony Smith of Plantagenet Wines to plant the first commercial vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in 1968. In the south around Denmark, the climate is maritime influenced becoming more continental inland. The result is quite a variation of temperatures in the growing season particularly around Mount Barker and Frankland River. Inland vineyards are generally located on higher elevations above the salty water table. Rainfall becomes increasingly unreliable towards the northern edge and frost risk increases. The soil types are derived from granitic and gneissic rock, mostly laterite gravelly loams or sandy loams. The overall ripening season is similar to the Medoc. It is therefore no surprise that Cabernet Sauvignon, and even Merlot, do particularly well, especially around Mount Barker and Porongurup. Frankland River has a strong reputation for its Riesling, more on account of low vigour and moderate ripening conditions. Rainfall is significantly higher around Denmark, although southeast trade winds during the summer reduce susceptibility to fungal disease.