Great Southern (wine region)

35°S 117°E / 35°S 117°E / -35; 117

Great Southern
Wine region
The largest GI wine region of Australia
CountryAustralia
Sub-regionsPorongurups, Mount Barker, Albany, Denmark and Frankland River
Soil conditionsThe main soils are similar to that of the Margaret River (wine region); lateritic gravelly sandy loams (marri country) or sandy loams from granite and gneissic bedrocks. Typically brown to grey-brown in color, with the percentage of clay varying from one location to another.[1]
Size of planted vineyards5,775 acres (23 km2)
Varietals producedRiesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, pinot noir, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Verdelho.
No. of wineries48

The Great Southern wine region is in Western Australia's Great Southern region. It comprises an area 200 kilometres (120 mi) from east to west and over 100 kilometres (62 mi) from north to south, and is Australia's largest wine region.

It has five nominated subregions for wine, the Porongurups, Mount Barker, Albany, Denmark and Frankland River under the geographical indications legislation as determined by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. The vineyards spread throughout the area known for production of high quality vines have significant variations of terroir and climate dictated in part by the distance however the region is the coolest of Western Australia's viticultural areas, with a similar maritime influenced Mediterranean climate to Margaret River although with slightly less rainfall. This diverse region is known for Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, pinot noir, Shiraz, and Malbec.[2][3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ Gladstones, John (2016) Viticulture and Environment, Revised Edition, Tanunda, South Australia: Trivinum Press. ISBN 978 0 9945016 1 5
  2. ^ Ed, McCarthy; Mary Ewing-Mulligan (2006). Wine For Dummies. For Dummies. ISBN 0-470-04579-5.
  3. ^ T. Stevenson "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia" pg 589 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  4. ^ James Halliday (2009). The Australian Wine Encyclopedia. Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-774-6.
  5. ^ Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson (2007). The World Atlas of Wine; 6th Revised edition. Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1-84533-414-7.
  6. ^ J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 326 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0-19-860990-6