For many wine drinkers, Margaret River is the best-known wine region in Western Australia, and its reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay is well earned. But it isn't the state's only major region, or even its largest. The Great Southern and Margaret River differ in size, climate and signature grape varieties. The Great Southern is Australia's largest wine region by area, with a varied climate ranging from cool and coastal to warmer and continental, producing Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon across its five sub-regions. Margaret River is smaller, more compact, and has a highly consistent maritime climate best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends. Rockcliffe Wines is located in Denmark, in the Great Southern.
Where are the Great Southern and Margaret River located?
Both regions are in the south-west corner of Western Australia. Margaret River sits on a narrow peninsula roughly 3 hours south of Perth, bordered by the Indian and Southern Oceans. The Great Southern is further south and east again, roughly 4-5 hours from Perth, running along the state's southern coastline near Albany and Denmark.
Which region is bigger, Great Southern or Margaret River?
The Great Southern is bigger. It is Australia's largest geographically defined wine region, covering an area roughly 200 km east to west and 100 km north to south. Margaret River is a much smaller, narrower strip of land, though it has a higher concentration of wineries within that smaller footprint.
How do the climates differ?
Margaret River has one of the most consistent maritime climates of any Australian wine region, since it is surrounded by ocean on three sides. This produces a narrow temperature range between day and night, and between seasons, allowing for slow, even ripening.
The Great Southern's climate varies significantly across its five sub-regions because of the region's size. Coastal sub-regions (Denmark and Albany) get strong ocean cooling similar to Margaret River. Inland sub-regions (Mount Barker, Porongurup, Frankland River) have a more continental climate, with warmer days and cooler nights. This gives the Great Southern a broader range of growing conditions within a single region.
What grapes is each region known for?
Margaret River: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends.
Great Southern: Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the specific strengths varying by sub-region (Riesling and Shiraz from the cooler inland areas, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from coastal Denmark).
Which region is older?
Both regions have deep winemaking roots. Mount Barker, a sub-region of the Great Southern, is one of the oldest wine-growing districts in Western Australia. Margaret River's modern wine industry developed from the 1960s onward and has since grown into one of Australia's most internationally recognised regions.
Which region should I visit, or buy wine from?
Margaret River offers a well-established wine tourism circuit with a high concentration of cellar doors, restaurants and accommodation. The Great Southern offers a quieter, more spread-out experience across a larger, more varied landscape, with fewer but often more personal cellar door visits. Because of its climate diversity, the Great Southern also tends to produce a broader style range from a single region, from crisp Riesling through to full-bodied Shiraz.
Where does Rockcliffe fit in?
Rockcliffe Wines is based in Denmark, in the Great Southern region, on a property bordered by granite cliffs and native karri forest. Being close to the Southern Ocean, Denmark benefits from the region's cool, maritime conditions, which shape Rockcliffe's Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in particular. Rockcliffe's broader range, extending to Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Grenache, reflects the wider climate diversity found across the Great Southern.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Great Southern or Margaret River bigger?
The Great Southern is bigger. It's Australia's largest wine region by area, though Margaret River has more wineries concentrated in a smaller space.
Is the Great Southern a cool climate wine region?
Parts of it are. Coastal sub-regions like Denmark and Albany have a cool, maritime climate. Inland sub-regions like Mount Barker and Porongurup are cooler still at night but warmer during the day, giving a more continental profile.
What is the Great Southern known for?
The Great Southern is known for its diversity of wine styles, spanning Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, thanks to the varied climate across its five sub-regions: Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup.
What is Margaret River known for?
Margaret River is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends, produced under one of the most consistent maritime climates in Australian winemaking.
Is Rockcliffe in Margaret River?
No. Rockcliffe Wines is located in Denmark, in the Great Southern wine region, not in Margaret River.
Which region produces better wine, Great Southern or Margaret River?
Neither region is objectively "better"; they produce different styles suited to their climates. Margaret River is prized for consistency in Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Great Southern's varied climate allows for a wider range of styles, from crisp cool-climate whites to full-bodied reds, often from the same region.
How far is the Great Southern from Perth?
The Great Southern is roughly a 4-5 hour drive south-east of Perth, or about an hour's flight to Albany. Margaret River is closer, at roughly 3 hours south of Perth.
