Great Southern

Great Southern's potential was identified before its first vineyard was planted. Decanter reports that in 1955 the Californian viticulturist Harold Olmo concluded that the cooler climate of the Mount Barker-Frankland area was well suited to viticulture and to wines in a lighter, finer style, a full decade before Dr John Gladstones' report did the same for Margaret River. Ten years later the Western Australian Department of Agriculture planted an experimental vineyard at Forest Hill in Mount Barker, Decanter says. The Great Southern Wine Producers Association dates those first experimental plantings, at Tony and Betty Pearse's Forest Hill property west of Mount Barker, to 1965, and says a Riesling and a Cabernet Sauvignon were made in 1972. According to the Association, the Forest Hill plantings gave Tony Smith and Ernie Mead the impetus to plant vines on their properties at Denbarker in 1968; Plantagenet records that Tony Smith planted trial vineyards of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon on his Bouverie property in Denbarker that year and produced its first vintage in 1974. In Frankland River the first contemporary vineyard was planted in 1967, and Alkoomi first planted in 1971. Denmark's first plantings were along Mt Shadforth Road in 1974, followed by Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon at Tinglewood in 1976. Albany's vines were established in the late 1970s at a Redmond vineyard, with Wignalls Wines established just north of Albany in 1982, and Porongurup's wine grape production began with Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978 (all per the Association). The Association itself began as the Mount Barker-Frankland River Wine Producers Association in 1973. The Great Southern GI was entered in the Register of Protected Names on 30 October 1996.

• 1955: Harold Olmo judges the Mount Barker-Frankland area well suited to viticulture (Decanter); 1965: first experimental plantings at Tony and Betty Pearse's Forest Hill property west of Mount Barker (Great Southern Wine Producers Association)
• 1968: Tony Smith plants trial vineyards of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon on his Bouverie property in Denbarker; Plantagenet's first vintage follows in 1974 (Plantagenet)
• 1971 to 1982: Alkoomi's first plantings in Frankland River (1971), Denmark's first plantings on Mt Shadforth Road (1974), Porongurup's first Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon (1978) and Wignalls Wines near Albany (1982), per the Association
• 1996 onward: Great Southern entered in the Register of Protected Names on 30 October 1996; its sub-regions entered between 15 August 1997 (Mount Barker) and 6 January 2003 (Denmark)

The Great Southern Wine Producers Association describes the region as 100 kilometres north to south and 150 kilometres east to west, and Wine Australia gives the GI as 17,131 km2. The register boundary starts at the low water mark on the south coast at Long Point, runs north to Terrace Road, then due east to where the Albany to Lake Grace Road, sometimes shown as Chester Pass Road, crosses the Pallinup River, then south-east to where the Pallinup River meets the Southern Ocean, and returns along the coast. Wine Australia's Region Snapshot 2025-26 gives an elevation range of 0-1083 m and, for 2006-2025, a mean January temperature of 20.3 C, 647 mm of annual rainfall, 244 mm of growing season rainfall and 1,735 growing degree days. Wine Australia says that moving north and inland from the strongly maritime-influenced climate of Denmark, the continental influence and temperature variability increase significantly, and that although rainfall and relative humidity are greater in the south around Denmark, heat summation and sunshine hours do not change greatly. It describes the predominant soils as similar to those of Margaret River: lateritic gravelly sandy loams (marri country) or sandy loams deriving directly from granite and gneissic bedrocks, typically brown to grey-brown, with moderate fertility. By sub-region, the Association says Mount Barker experiences high daily temperature fluctuations and strong continental aspects, with average annual rainfall of 600-700 mm and marri soils with lateritic gravelly and sandy loams derived from granite rock protrusions. Frankland River is inland and northerly, the catchment for the Frankland, Gordon, Kent and Tone Rivers, with ironstone-based gravels and duplex sandy loams over clay sub-soils derived from granitic outcrops. Albany has a broadly Mediterranean climate with a sea breeze off the ocean and a minimal daily temperature range, while Denmark has well-drained karri and marri loams and steep hills and valleys that create many unique microclimates. The Porongurup Range is 12 kilometres long and 670 metres high; the Association says around 10 vineyards sit on its sunny northern slopes, where a nocturnal thermal zone reduces the risk of frost.

• Size: 17,131 km2 (Wine Australia); 100 km north to south and 150 km east to west (Great Southern Wine Producers Association)
• Climate, 2006-2025 averages (Wine Australia Region Snapshot 2025-26): mean January temperature 20.3 C, annual rainfall 647 mm, growing season rainfall 244 mm, 1,735 growing degree days
• Soils (Wine Australia): lateritic gravelly sandy loams (marri country) or sandy loams from granite and gneissic bedrocks, brown to grey-brown, with moderate fertility
• Porongurup (Association): a range 12 km long and 670 m high, around 10 vineyards on its northern slopes, and a nocturnal thermal zone that reduces the risk of frost

Wine Australia names Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay as the main varieties grown, and its Region Snapshot 2025-26 lists the top five varieties of the 2026 crush as Shiraz (27%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), Chardonnay (14%), Riesling (9%) and Semillon (7%), with red varieties at 59% of plantings. Wine Australia says Riesling vies with Cabernet Sauvignon as the most important wine from the region, and describes the Rieslings as crisp and lean in youth, with intense flavour typically in the citrus spectrum and an underlay of herbs. In Wine Australia's description, Cabernet Sauvignon produces long-lived wines of deep colour, intense flavour and powerful structure, and Great Southern Shiraz exhibits liquorice, spice, pepper, black cherry and plum. It describes the Chardonnay as elegant, tightly structured and grapefruit-accented, finer and softer in the south and slightly more powerful in the north, and says Pinot Noir was until recently regarded as the preserve of the southern area around Denmark and Albany, with wines now also appearing from Mount Barker in slightly cooler years. The Association's sub-regional notes: Frankland River is recognised for premium Shiraz and Riesling; Mount Barker has a reputation for Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir; Porongurup for Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Albany's established varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz; and Denmark's principal varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, with a developing interest in sparkling wine. Decanter (2024) lists alternative varieties in the region including Grenache, Mourvèdre, Malbec, Mencía, Tempranillo, Grüner Veltliner and Gewürztraminer.

• Top five varieties of the 2026 crush (Wine Australia Region Snapshot 2025-26): Shiraz 27%, Cabernet Sauvignon 24%, Chardonnay 14%, Riesling 9%, Semillon 7%
• Riesling: Wine Australia says it vies with Cabernet Sauvignon as the region's most important wine, crisp and lean in youth with citrus flavour and an underlay of herbs
• Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon: Wine Australia describes Shiraz with liquorice, spice, pepper, black cherry and plum, and Cabernet Sauvignon with deep colour, intense flavour and powerful structure
• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir: elegant, grapefruit-accented Chardonnay; Pinot Noir long regarded as the preserve of Denmark and Albany, now also appearing from Mount Barker in slightly cooler years (Wine Australia)

Forest Hill says it was established in 1965 by Betty and Tony Pearse along with the WA Department of Agriculture and was the first commercial vineyard planted in the Great Southern; its current owners acquired the vineyard in 1996, and it lies at 220m to 240m altitude, approximately 40km from the coast. Plantagenet, which describes itself as the first commercial winery in the Great Southern, was established in 1968 by Tony Smith; Lionel Samson & Son bought a one-third share in 1992 and the whole business in 2000, and Tom and Jo Wisdom became the owners in 2021, when Mike Garland became Plantagenet's ninth winemaker. Alkoomi's first plantings, made in 1971 by Merv and Judy Lange, were one hectare each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling with a little Shiraz and Malbec, and 1976 was its first vintage. Frankland Estate was co-founded in 1988 by Judi Cullam and the late Barrie Smith, and its flagship vineyard is Isolation Ridge; it is run by siblings Hunter and Elizabeth Smith, with Elizabeth's husband Brian Kent guiding winemaking since 2010. Howard Park's first two wines, a Riesling and a Cabernet Sauvignon, were produced by founder John Wade; Jeff and Amy Burch became partners in 1993, opened a winery and cellar door in Denmark in 1997 and took sole control in 1998. Its Great Southern vineyards are Mount Barrow in the Mount Barker sub-region, purchased in 2004 and planted a year later, and Abercrombie, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon in 1975 and purchased in 2014. In Porongurup, Angelo and Wendy Diletti selected Castle Rock Estate's 55 hectare property towards the end of 1981 and first planted Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon there in 1983, and their son Rob Diletti is the winemaker; Duke's Vineyard, founded by Duke and Hilde Ranson, was purchased by Ben Cane and Sarah Date in 2022. West Cape Howe was founded in 1997, is owned by four Western Australian families, and has its winery at the Langton vineyard in the Mt Barker wine district.

• Forest Hill (1965, Mount Barker): established by Betty and Tony Pearse along with the WA Department of Agriculture; acquired by its current owners in 1996
• Plantagenet (1968, Mount Barker): established by Tony Smith; owned by Tom and Jo Wisdom since 2021
• Frankland River: Alkoomi (first planted 1971, first vintage 1976) and Frankland Estate (co-founded in 1988 by Judi Cullam and Barrie Smith)
• Howard Park (Mount Barrow and Abercrombie vineyards), Castle Rock Estate and Duke's Vineyard (Porongurup), and West Cape Howe (founded 1997, winery in Mount Barker)

Great Southern was entered in the Register of Protected Names on 30 October 1996, and the register places it within the South West Australia GI, which was entered on 1 May 1996. Its five sub-regions were entered as follows: Mount Barker on 15 August 1997, Albany and Porongurup on 28 July 1999, Frankland River on 24 August 2000 and Denmark on 6 January 2003. Decanter (2024) notes that Mount Barker was Western Australia's first official sub-region. Australia's blending rules, outlined in sections 25, 26 and 27 of the Wine Australia Regulations 2018, prescribe the minimum requirements for vintage, variety and GI claims; Wine Australia's guide gives the example 'So, if your wine is made from 85% Barossa Valley fruit, then you can claim ‘Barossa Valley’.' The single-GI minimum is therefore 85%, and compliance is monitored through the Label Integrity Program. For visitors, Decanter (2024) puts Great Southern a 420km drive from Perth and notes that cellar doors are few and far between, with more in Denmark. The Association describes Albany as the oldest European settlement in Western Australia and the major centre of the Great Southern, places Denmark 45 minutes' drive west of Albany on Wilson Inlet, and notes a National Park at the heart of the Porongurup sub-region with views of the Stirling Range to the north. The Great Southern Wine Producers Association promotes the region and has operated under a board of management structure since 2005.

• Great Southern entered in the Register of Protected Names on 30 October 1996, within the South West Australia GI (entered 1 May 1996)
• Sub-regions entered: Mount Barker 15 August 1997; Albany and Porongurup 28 July 1999; Frankland River 24 August 2000; Denmark 6 January 2003
• Blending rules: a single-GI claim needs at least 85% of the fruit from that GI; compliance is monitored through the Label Integrity Program (Wine Australia)
• Visiting: a 420km drive from Perth, with more cellar doors in Denmark (Decanter, 2024); Albany is the major centre of the Great Southern (Great Southern Wine Producers Association)

Primary sources (Wine Australia and its Register of Protected GIs, the Great Southern Wine Producers Association, and producers' own sites for their own history and wines): https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-great-southern, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-albany, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-denmark, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-frankland-river, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-mount-barker, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-porongurup, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/geographical-indicators/labelling-gi-south-west-australia, https://www.wineaustralia.com/market-insights/regions-and-varieties/western-australia-wines/great-southern, https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/be548db2-114b-44eb-8bd5-1747ffca84cf/MI_Great-Southern-Region-Snapshot-2025-26.pdf, https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/the-blending-rules, https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/fb571392-5d0c-4f9e-95fd-b7501076280a/REG_BlendingRules_v2.pdf, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/about-region/, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/albany/, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/denmark/, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/frankland-river/, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/mount-barker/, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/porongurup/, https://greatsouthernwine.org.au/about-us/, https://www.foresthillwines.com.au/our-story, https://www.foresthillwines.com.au/vineyard, https://www.foresthillwines.com.au/store/2024-block-5-cabernet-sauvignon, https://plantagenetwines.com/pages/our-story, https://plantagenetwines.com/products/2025-plantagenet-angevin-riesling, https://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/pages/our-story, https://franklandestate.com.au/pages/about-us, https://franklandestate.com.au/products/isolation-ridge-vineyard-syrah-2024, https://howardparkwines.com.au/heritage/, https://howardparkwines.com.au/provenance/estate-vineyards/, https://castlerockestate.com.au/about-us/, https://castlerockestate.com.au/vineyards/, https://dukesvineyard.com/pages/story, https://www.westcapehowewines.com.au/about/. Secondary: https://www.decanter.com/premium/great-southern-wines-australias-biggest-secret-525474/, https://www.decanter.com/features/regional-profile-great-southern-245575/, https://www.decanter.com/features/great-southern-in-focus-247495/. Last verified 2026-09-28