The Frankland River Region

Western Australia’s Frankland River Region is a Rising Wine Industry Star.

Located in Western Australia’s Great Southern( map.pdf )approximately 360 kilometres south-east of Perth, Frankland River is one of Australia’s fastest growing wine regions. Although viticulture began in the Frankland River region in 1969, it has only more recently become known as a significant producer of premium quality Western Australian wines.

Ideal Conditions

Frankland River is one of the coolest wine producing regions in Western Australia.  As such, vintage takes place later than in other West Australian regions, with grapes harvested from late February through to early May.

The overall cool climate (with an average January temperature of 19.8°C) and long warm growing season ensure the grapes develop a delicate intensity and complexity on the vine.

While the area has a relatively low average rainfall of 650 millimetres per annum, vineyards overcome this through the construction of catchment areas, drains and earthen dams.

Ferngrove has 54 hectares of catchment and a vast network of drains, allowing water to be harvested from more than a kilometre away.

The wine region also has a low incidence of pest and disease. Phylloxera has never been detected in the area, largely due to a ban on the importation of vine material into Western Australia.

These factors combined with deep well-drained soils of consistent quality and a pristine environment provide winemakers with ideal conditions to produce world-class wines.

Quality

Frankland River has been touted as capable of matching and even surpassing the famous Rhone region of France for the production of ultra premium quality Shiraz. In fact, all the traditional European classic varieties perform well in Frankland’s conditions including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Wines produced from Frankland River fruit are usually of very high quality, have a lower alcohol content and are delicate, with intense varietal characters. The region is renown for the consistency of wine quality with 8 out of 10 vintages considered at the upper end of the scale.

Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet are varieties of particular note. Rieslings and Chardonnays display delicacy of flavour, finesse and balance.

The reds are medium bodied, brilliantly coloured with tremendous structure and benefit from oak maturation and cellaring