Great Southern is one of Australia's largest wine regions, stretching along the southern coast of Western Australia. It stretches for 150 km from the eastern boundary of Manjimup (in the west) to the Pallinup River in the east, where the more grain-filled expanses of Central Western Australia begin. The Northern boundary of the region Lies almost perfectly on the 34th parallel, while the coastline marks the southern boundary - a distance of about 100 km (62 miles), north to south.
The Great Southern comprises five sub-regions, reflecting Western Australia's emphasis on provenance and Terroir.
Frankland River borders Manjimup to the northwest, and Mount Barker to the east - the latter forming the central area of the region. Albany borders Mount Barker to the south, around the coastal town that gives it its name, while Porongurup lies to the east of Mount Barker. Denmark follows the coastline west of Albany, almost to the western border of the region.
Soils vary accordingly, as one would expect in such a large area.
Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties in Bordeaux. The Libourne region is its terroir where it develops best. The terroirs of Saint-Emilion and Fronsac allow it to mature and develop its best range of aromas. It is also the majority in many blends. The very famous Château Cheval Blanc, for example, uses 60% Cabernet Franc. The wines produced with Cabernet Franc are medium in colour with fine tannins and subtle aromas of small red fruits and spices. When blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it brings complexity and a bouquet of aromas to the wine. It produces fruity wines that can be drunk quite quickly, but whose great vintages can be kept for a long time. It is an earlier grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that it is planted as far north as the Loire Valley. In Anjou, it is also used to make sweet rosé wines. Cabernet Franc is now used in some twenty countries in Europe and throughout the world.
red wines from the region of Greater Perth go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of tanjia, lamb tagine with prunes and almonds or duck leg confit in white wine.
On the nose in the region of Greater Perth often reveals types of flavors of red fruit, earth or oak and sometimes also flavors of black fruit, non oak or spices. In the mouth in the region of Greater Perth is a powerful with a lot of tannins present in the mouth.
