The Great Southern Terroir
The Great Southern Region is notably the coolest vine growing region in Western Australia, its development as a wine growing region hindered by its remoteness until the 1960’s when Professor Harold Olmo acknowledged its potential.
Howard Park began its existence in the Great Southern in the pursuit of crafting exceptional Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon from this vast isolated region. In 1986 the first Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon vintages of Howard Park were released and achieved benchmark status across Australia reinforcing our belief of this expansive wine region. Howard Park now sources a number of varieties from this region including Shiraz from the Frankland River region for the renowned Scotsdale Shiraz.
THE REGION
The Great Southern is large even by West Australian standards. It stretches approximately 100 kilometers from north to south and 150 kilometers from east to west and encompasses five distinctively different sub-regions:
- Denmark
- Albany
- Mount Barker
- Frankland River
- Porongurups
Each of these sub-regions has distinctive climatic, topographic and soil differences suited to a range of varietiess. From the lush, forested coastal regions of Albany and Denmark to the largely untouched, undulating hills of the inland regions of Mount Barker, Porongurups and Frankland River, the region is a new frontier for the intrepid traveler and a distinctive and exciting region for the wine industry.
CLIMATE
The climate is maritime at the coast around Denmark and Albany with cool summer temperatures and high rainfall ideally suited to the earlier ripening varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot. As we move inland to Mt Barker and Frankland the climate takes on a pronounced continental character with warmer days and cooler nights. There is higher risk of frost but with greater sunshine hours these sub-regions suit Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and shiraz varieties.
SOIL
The soil types tend to be leaner than at the coast with gravelly well-drained loams of moderate fertility and subsequent lower fruit yields.
The Porongurup ranges, a large ancient rocky outcrop jutting up from the surrounding farmlands, gives its name to a small sub-region of cool climate elevated vineyards that grow particularly fine Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winters here are bitterly cold and the soils mean, ideal for the production of Howard Park fruit.
THE SUB-REGIONS
DENMARK
This sub-region is bordered by untamed Southern Ocean offering pristine wide beaches strung between eroded rocky outcrops. Steep hills rise quickly from the oceans waters, and are crested by majestic stands of towering karri and marri forests.
Denmark is one of the few parts of Western Australia that is capable of producing true cool climate wines. The coastal region has higher rainfall and relative humidity than the other Great Southern sub regions and lower sunshine hours in the growing season. The region experiences greater rainfall during the winter months however the risk of rainfall during March and April is similar to the other Great Southern locations.
The soils are predominantly deep karri loam gravels formed directly from gneiss rock and are well drained and relatively fertile. Our Howard Park Chardonnay is made almost exclusively from grapes produced in the Denmark region. The cool growing conditions produce highly flavoured and tightly structured Chardonnay grapes suited to the elegant, lean, mineral, citric style desired.
ALBANY
Although coastal, this region receives sunshine hours equal to its inland sub-regions. The regions climate closely matches that of the Medoc region in France. Varieties that thrive in this area include delicate Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
MOUNT BARKER
The Mount Barker sub-region began its existence in the mid 1960’s. It is home to a large number of privately owned small vineyards that have been supplying grapes to Howard Park for many years. These vineyards are set amongst the rolling hills of farming properties that range from grazing to agro-forestry. The Mount Barker region produces an array of varieties, for example the Howard Park Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from vines planted in 1975 in Mount Barker, one of the oldest vineyards in the state. Much of the Howard Park Riesling comes from both old and young vineyards in this region.
FRANKLAND RIVER
A continental climate combined with the gravelly well drained loams of moderate fertility of the Frankland River sub-region combine to create an idyllic vinous environment. The river valley strongly influences the region pulling cold air through the valley over night to the Southern Ocean. This movement of air between land and sea minimises the risk of frosts and in summer the valley lowers the cools the air by pulling cool and humid air north from the ocean. This mimimises the summer heat and helps create a long slow ripening season. The Frankland River has a great affinity for Shiraz grapes. Shiraz produced in the here has a prodigious depth of colour, dark black cherry aromas and a distinctive black pepper spicy character that has become the regions trademark characters. The Howard Park Scotsdale Shiraz is grown on a carefully selected site in the Frankland River sub-region.
PORONGURUP
The Porongurup ranges, a large ancient rocky outcrop jutting up from the surrounding farmlands, gives its name to a small sub-region of cool climate elevated vineyards that grow particularly fine Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winters here are bitterly cold and the soils mean, producing low yielding vines, ideal for the production of Howard Park fruit. In 2004 Howard Park purchased a property, now the Howard Park Scotsdale Vineyard at the foothills of the Porongurup ranges to produce Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir.