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Western Australia · Sub-regions
Geographe
Geographe lies between Bunbury and the Darling Ranges, benefiting from Indian Ocean sea breezes. It produces elegantly fruity wines that are gaining increasing international recognition.
Grape Varieties
Chardonnay, Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Most Famous Site
Ferguson Valley
Vineyard Area
650 ha
Harvest
February – March
TERROIR PROFILE · Western Australia
Geographe Coastal cool climate · versatile
Geographe — smaller, often underrated region south of Perth. Capel Vale, Willow Bridge.
SOILS
Sandaromatic, approachable
Loose sand and wind-blown sand warm up quickly and hold little water — they give aromatic, early-drinking wines with soft tannins; phylloxera-resistant.
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Graniteelegant, lightly spicy
Weathered granite produces elegant, slender wines with fine, lightly spicy profile.
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
CLIMATE · Maritime
Mediterranean climate shaped by Geographe Bay and the Indian Ocean: heat is moderated by south-westerly sea breezes, summers are dry and winters are rainy. Without direct exposure to the cool Southern Ocean it is slightly warmer than Margaret River.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
Coastal plain on Geographe Bay with Bunbury and Busselton, extending inland to the Darling Range. The Ferguson Valley in the hinterland is hilly, while the coastal zones are flat. Four growing districts: Harvey, Ferguson Valley, Donnybrook and Capel.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Chardonnay
WhiteSyrah
RedCabernet Sauvignon
RedMerlot
RedRegion aroma cloud
Western Australia overview
This sub-region is part of Western Australia. The map shows all 9 sub-regions — Geographe is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
Geographe is an emerging wine region between Perth and Margaret River. The 650-hectare area benefits from cooling sea breezes from Geographe Bay and produces elegant, fruit-forward wines. Ferguson Valley is the heartland, surrounded by the dramatic hill country of the Darling Ranges. Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon here show an accessible, fresh style. The region is popular as a weekend getaway for Perth residents and has established itself in recent years as an independent wine region with its own character. Local producers like Capel Vale have gained international attention.
Soil Type
Granite and gneiss in the hills, deep sandy soils near the coast
Climate
Mediterranean with strong maritime influence; cooler than Margaret River; adequate rainfall
Top profiles
1 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below
All Wineries
5 resultsEvents in Western Australia
All events in Western Australia →19 Nov – Sun, 22 November 2026
Pair'd Margaret River Region
Wine festival · Margaret River
Sat, 6 March 2027
Pemberton Unearthed
Wine festival · Pemberton
19 Mar – Sun, 28 March 2027
Taste Great Southern
Wine festival · Albany / Mount Barker / Denmark
19 Nov – Sun, 21 November 2027
Margaret River Region Open Studios & Wine Trail – Cabernet Celebration
Tasting · Margaret River
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Geographe and how large is it?
Geographe lies between Perth and Margaret River and covers around 650 hectares. The Ferguson Valley is its centre, surrounded by the hill country of the Darling Ranges.
What is Geographe known for?
Geographe produces elegant, fruit-driven wines; Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon show an approachable, fresh style. Producers such as Capel Vale have attracted international attention, and the region is a popular weekend destination for Perth residents.
What is the climate in Geographe and when is the harvest?
Geographe has a Mediterranean climate with strong maritime influence and cooling breezes from Geographe Bay. It is cooler than Margaret River. Harvest takes place in February and March.
Which grape varieties define Geographe?
The key grape varieties in Geographe are Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The best-known vineyard is Ferguson Valley.
How many wineries are there in Geographe?
Cellarmap lists 5 wineries in Geographe across roughly 650 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
Which is the most famous vineyard in Geographe?
Ferguson Valley is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Geographe. The vineyard overview on this page shows which estates farm it.
All wineries in Geographe, A to Z
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.