What to Know About Australia’s Great Southern?

In recent years, cool-climate wine styles have surged in global popularity. Elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling continue to win over enthusiasts, proving that finesse-driven wines are no longer the privilege of only a few regions.

Likewise, warm climates and fruit-driven “blockbuster” styles are far from Australia’s only identity. In this vast winemaking nation, cool-climate expressions have quietly risen to exceptional standards—so much so that they are now drawing increased attention on the world stage.

In the far south of Western Australia, the Great Southern region has emerged as one of the country’s essential cool-climate strongholds. The area excels not only in refined Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but also produces some of the most distinguished Rieslings globally. Even its Shiraz tends toward elegance and aromatic depth, offering a layered complexity.

Yet Great Southern’s charm goes beyond being Western Australia’s coolest wine region. Its dramatic landscapes—rugged coastlines, towering forests, undulating hills and historic townships—span an expanse that gives rise to an extraordinary diversity of styles, earning it the reputation of a true “hidden treasure.”

Covering roughly 100 km north–south and 150 km east–west, the region includes five subregions shaped by the Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean winds or inland continental influences. Maritime, coastal and inland climates converge here, creating a rich tapestry of distinct terroirs.

Wine critic James Halliday summarises the region’s five subregions succinctly: Frankland River is known for rich reds, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon; Mount Barker is cool and complex, for structured examples of Riesling and Shiraz; Albany is an all-rounder, for Chardonnay, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc; Denmark is refined, for premium sparkling wines; Porongurup, pristine and pure, is known for Riesling.

Together, these subregions form a dynamic, multifaceted winemaking landscape.

Today, Great Southern is home to more than 70 wineries and accounts for around a quarter of Western Australia’s total wine production, with a strong focus on premium bottlings. For wine lovers, the region is a sprawling treasure map filled with unexpected discoveries. And as Australian wines regain momentum in China, many Great Southern producers are renewing their efforts to engage this vital market.

Vino Joy News spotlights three such producers—each actively seeking Chinese import partners—to offer a deeper look at the region’s compelling appeal.

Plantagenet Wines: A Pioneer of Great Southern

Founded in 1968, Plantagenet Wines is one of the earliest established wineries in Great Southern. Fifty-seven years ago, founder Tony Smith planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in the area, releasing the estate’s first vintage in 1974. Its Cabernet and Shiraz went on to claim gold medals in 1976 and 1977, cementing its reputation early on.

Plantagenet has long embodied Great Southern’s philosophy of “diversity and quality.” Its flagship wines frequently score between 94 and 96 points in the Halliday Wine Companion, and the winery holds a prestigious Red Five-Star rating.

Its offerings span multiple price tiers, each aligned with production scale and quality. The ultra-premium Wyjup Collection is produced in extremely small quantities, while the estate also maintains capacity for commercial-level blends at accessible price points—allowing it to serve both luxury and everyday markets.

Plantagenet already works with a Chinese importer, meaning several of its wines are available locally. Managing Director Tom Wisdom notes that the estate is now seeking more regional distributors to broaden market reach, while also exploring rapidly growing e-commerce channels.

Thanks to the finesse afforded by the region’s cool climate, Great Southern’s white wines are increasingly favoured by Chinese consumers. Plantagenet has benefited as well: over the past year, white wines accounted for 34.8% of its exports to China.

Vinaceous Wines: A Modern Voice for Cross-Regional Blends

The history of Great Southern is a story of frontier spirit—of people pushing into remote terrain, transforming rugged land into something remarkable, and ultimately putting the region on the global wine map.

Innovation has been central to that journey. Vinaceous Wines, sourcing fruit from both Great Southern and Margaret River, embodies that spirit. One of its flagship wines, Red Right Hand, blends grapes from Frankland River and Margaret River, combining Tempranillo, Shiraz and Grenache—a combination seldom found in Australia.

The result is a wine that captures the warmth and generosity of Margaret River alongside the cool-night complexity of Frankland River, yielding a layered and expressive style.

Despite its adventurous blends, Managing Partner John Waldron believes the winery’s role is less “creator” and more “curator.” “Our winemaking philosophy is simple and relatively non–intrusive – to produce fine and distinctive wines, that reflect the individual characteristics of the vineyard and variety,” he says.

“Margaret River is strongly influenced by the warm Indian Ocean – having warm days and warm nights – producing wines with richer and fuller flavours. More fruit driven. A perfect region for us to source Chardonnay and Cabernet,” he adds. “The Great Southern is strongly influenced by the cool Southern Ocean – warm days and cool nights – resulting in lower ripening temperatures, lower crop levels, great palate texture. Ideal for producing outstanding Cool Climate Frankland River Shiraz, Malbec, Tempranillo, Grenache and Mount Barker Pinot Grigio.”

Founded in 2007, Vinaceous has earned regular 90+ scores from critics and was praised in the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion as offering “wines of seriously good quality and equally good value.”

The winery is now looking to expand its footprint in China, with Waldron emphasising a flexible approach guided by the insights of local partners.

Frankland Estate: A Commitment to Greatness

A winery that shares its name with its region signals both pioneering spirit and confidence in its quality. Frankland Estate is exactly that. Established in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam in the remote Frankland River area, the estate was built on a bold long-term vision: to create a truly great winery. After 37 years, the second generation has taken the helm, continuing the family’s pursuit of excellence.

Frankland Estate holds a coveted Red Five-Star rating from James Halliday, while James Suckling ranked its Isolation Ridge Riesling the No. 3 Best Value Wine in the World for 2024.

At its core is a single vineyard—the Isolation Ridge—a site that forms the soul of Frankland Estate. It yields outstanding Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Mourvèdre. All wines bearing the Frankland Estate name come exclusively from this organically farmed vineyard, where each step—from the vine to the finished bottle—is handled with precision and care.

This commitment has resulted in consistently high acclaim, with many wines regularly scoring above 90, and often above 95, points.