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Western Australia · Sub-regions
Great Southern
Western Australia's coolest and most diverse region: Great Southern spans five sub-zones including Mount Barker (world-class Riesling) and Frankland River (Shiraz). Cool nights deliver extraordinary freshness.
Grape Varieties
Riesling, Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay
Most Famous Site
Mount Barker
Vineyard Area
2.200 ha
Harvest
March – April
TERROIR PROFILE · Western Australia
Great Southern Australia's largest GI · cool mountain climate
Great Southern — Australia's Riesling stronghold. Howard Park, Frankland Estate, Plantagenet.
SOILS
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.
Gravel / Sandlight, approachable
Gravel and sand drain heavily — vines struggle for water, wines turn fine, light and elegant.
CLIMATE · Cool continental
Maritime-influenced Mediterranean climate with cool conditions, shaped by the Southern Ocean on the coast and more continental inland. Ripening is slow and acidity is retained; Mount Barker is regarded as the cooler and most important subregion.
TOPOGRAPHY · mixed
Spanning about 200 kilometres from west to east, this is Australia's largest geographical-indication wine area: hilly country from the coast at Albany and Denmark to the granite ranges of the Porongurup and the hinterland around Mount Barker and Frankland River. Five subregions: Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Typical Flavours of the Region
Riesling
WhiteSyrah
RedCabernet Sauvignon
RedChardonnay
WhiteRegion aroma cloud
Western Australia overview
This sub-region is part of Western Australia. The map shows all 9 sub-regions — Great Southern is highlighted.
Overview
Typical Varieties
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
Great Southern is Western Australia's largest and most diverse wine region – five times the size of Margaret River. Its five sub-zones of Mount Barker, Frankland River, Porongurup, Denmark and Albany offer highly varied terroirs. Mount Barker produces Rieslings of international calibre with characteristic lime minerality. Frankland River delivers peppery, spicy Shiraz of great depth. The region's cool nights provide unique freshness and acid structure. Producers such as Plantagenet, Forest Hill and Frankland Estate have brought the region to international attention. Great Southern is an insider's tip for wine travellers seeking quality without the bustle of the more tourist-heavy Margaret River.
Soil Type
Granite (Mount Barker), ancient alluvial soils (Frankland River), sandstone and clay
Climate
WA's coolest continental climate; cold nights for freshness and acidity; higher rainfall
Top profiles
1 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list belowAll Wineries
6 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
Which estates are known in Great Southern?
Producers such as Plantagenet, Forest Hill and Frankland Estate have made the region known internationally. Great Southern is Western Australia's largest wine region, five times the size of Margaret River.
What are the sub-zones of Great Southern?
Great Southern is divided into five sub-zones: Mount Barker, Frankland River, Porongurup, Denmark and Albany. They offer different terroirs.
What is the climate in Great Southern and when is the harvest?
Great Southern has the coolest continental climate in Western Australia, with cold nights and higher rainfall. This gives freshness and acidity structure. Harvest takes place in March and April.
Which grape varieties define Great Southern?
The key grape varieties in Great Southern are Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The best-known vineyard is Mount Barker.
How many wineries are there in Great Southern?
Cellarmap lists 6 wineries in Great Southern across roughly 2,200 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 Great Southern?
Mount Barker is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Great Southern. The vineyard overview on this page shows which estates farm it.
All wineries in Great Southern, A to Z
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.