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Great Southern is a large Australian wine region running along the south coast of Western Australia. It stretches from the eastern edge of Manjimup (marked by Lake Muir) to the Pallanup river in the east, where the more cereal-focused expanses of 'Central Western Australia' begin. Rather neatly, the region's northern and southern edges lie almost perfectly on those of the 34th parallel, taking its vineyards closer to the equator than most in Australia and any in Europe.

Great Southern has more sub-regions than any other Australian wine region – a reflection of Western Australia's keen focus on provenance and terroir. They number five to date, from Frankland River in the north-west to Albany in the south-east. Soils vary accordingly, as might be expected in a region which spans 125 miles (200km) from west to east and only slightly less from north to south. In general, Great Southern's soils are similar to those of the Margaret River, being laterite and gravels or sandy loams over gneiss and granite. The most visible expression of the region's geological makeup is in the north-eastern sub-region of Porongurup, which is named after the ancient (Precambrian) granite domes at its centre.

Rivers play an important role in viticulture here, not only in demarcating the regions but also in facilitating much-needed irrigation in the drier areas. The Frankland river, after which the eponymous sub-region is named, is the largest here and bisects the western third of the Great Southern region. It rises at Trollup Hill and flows southwards to the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean coast, 60 miles (100km) away. Closer to the centre is the Denmark river, which rises near Mount Barker and meanders gently southwards through many miles of bushland and marri forest. It flows into the Wilson Inlet just outside Denmark town – named after the river – which is the center of the Denmark wine sub-region. Further east again, the Kalgan river flows through the granite hills of Porongurup before reaching Albany.

Riesling is Great Southern's white wine specialty, with its crisp, citrusy style matched in few Australian regions outside Eden and Clare. Frankland River Riesling is particularly prized in Western Australia, with the slightly increased altitude and cooler climate making this style possible even at such a low latitude (34 degrees south). In a similar vein, Pinot Noir has proved successful in the cooler, coastal areas of Great Southern – and now even on more elevated sites further inland, notably around Mount Barker.

Despite this slightly alternative focus on cool climate styles of Riesling and Pinot Noir, the standard Australian favorites Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay are also alive and well in Great Southern. Shiraz wines here often have a distinctly earthy, peppery, spiced-cherry element, reminiscent of the northern Rhone. In general, Great Southern winemakers tend to use less vanillin-imparting American oak than their counterparts in the east of Australia, which permits this style to shine through.