Porongurup is a very small Australian wine district at the eastern edge of the Great Southern region, in Western Australia. It is based around, and named after, the small town of Porongurup – itself named after the Porongurups, a group of domed granite peaks whose formation dates back many millions of years to the Precambrian Eon. Although only 7 miles (11km) from end to end, the peaks reach a height of 2200ft (670m) at the Devil's Slide and are clearly visible from any vineyard in the region. There are a number of small, family-owned wineries in Porongurup, all within a few miles of these ancient hills. They also have some vestige of the gneiss and granite which make this area distinct from its neighbors, Albany and Mount Barker.
Porongurup has only a tiny output of wine each vintage, but is known for the high quality of its Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Riesling is the white wine specialty here and across Great Southern, with its crisp, citrusy style matched in few Australian regions outside Eden and Clare. An annual wine festival is held in Porongurup, with different wineries taking turns to play host.
Most Porongurup wine is quite restrained in style, particularly relative to that from the hotter areas to the north, such as Peel. This is partly due to its Mediterranean climate, moderated by the mass of the Southern Ocean, just 25 miles (40km) away. It is also attributable to the increased elevation here which rises to more than 1000ft (305m) around the Porongurup hills. The regular sea breeze which blows inland on hot summer afternoons is a significant boon to Porongurup's vineyards, and has certainly contributed to the style and quality of locally grown wines. Further down the coast in Albany this wind is known as the 'Albany Doctor', after the more famous 'Fremantle Doctor' which cools the baked vineyards of the Swan Valley to the north.
