Frankland River, Western Australia

Frankland River wine is one of Western Australia’s best-kept secrets in the Great Southern region, but its award-winning wine styles are bringing the area into the spotlight. 

The flourishment of bushland, wildflowers and rich farmlands here, in addition to neat vineyard tracts, beguiles visitors with its natural beauty. The cool-climate wine region grows a diverse range of grapes, with standout varieties including cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, and well-suited whites, including riesling and sauvignon blanc, are fast finding favour. 

Between cellar door visits, don’t miss the chance to relax by the Frankland River with a picnic. In the warmer months, factor in time for top local swimming spots, and watersport activities at Lake Poorrarecup and Lake Nunijup. Visitors making the drive from Perth can expect to arrive within four hours, with inland stops along the way. 

James Halliday on Frankland River

The first vineyard in the Frankland River region was planted in 1968 on a property owned by the Roche family of Perth. Originally called Westfield, it is now owned by Houghton and known as Netley Brook Vineyard (a locality name). It is a major and important vineyard, giving Houghton some ultra-premium grapes. Then, in 1971, Merv and Judy Lange began the development of the now highly rated and substantial Alkoomi Vineyard and Winery.

This is open, and at times sparse, country, without the forests, which populate the south, although the controversial Tasmanian blue gum plantings are to be found here as elsewhere (headed to wood pulp, but with no one certain about the recovery or future use of the land).