Discover the wines of the Southern Forests wine region
ABOUT SOUTHERN FORESTS WINE REGIONS,
MANJIMUP & PEMBERTON
We're a small but mighty boutique wine region in the South West (three hours south of Perth, right next door to Margaret River). We proudly produce some of the best Western Australian wines on the market. In fact, our two wine regions, Pemberton and Manjimup, turn out some of the finest cool-climate wines you'll find. Our Pinot Noir and sparkling wines have been garnering a big reputation – and a fair few gold medals have been pinned to our Verdelhos, Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, Shiraz and Merlots, too.
The majority of our wine producers in Pemberton and Manjimup support their businesses by selling their small-batch, artisanal wines directly to consumers or through local distribution networks. We're excited to be welcoming people to experience one of the most diverse food and wine regions in Western Australia. For those that can't be here in person, please visit our members' websites where you can buy WA wines online.
OUR REGION
Southern Forests is an area encompassing two of Western Australia’s official wine regions; Pemberton and Manjimup. The area starts inland around 290 kilometres (180 miles) south of Perth in Manjimup region and continues south through the Pemberton region to the Southern Ocean coast. The Warren River (and Valley) runs through the centre of both regions. The whole area is characterised by its ancient, towering karri forests, rolling farmland, misty valleys, verdant national parks, cool climate vineyards and a collection of diverse and exciting gourmet food producers.
Pemberton Terroir
Pemberton is known for its towering karri forests and abundant natural beauty. The region’s vineyards benefit from a cool, temperate climate with high annual rainfall, reducing the need for irrigation. The soils here include lateritic gravelly loams and the fertile red karri loam, promoting vigorous vine growth. Pemberton’s cooler conditions and fertile soils create wines with concentrated flavours and complex profiles, making it a rising star for cool-climate varieties.
Manjimup Terroir
Manjimup, with a climate similar to Bordeaux, is renowned for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. Its higher altitude provides a more continental climate, with cold winters ensuring vine dormancy and dry, stress-free summers allowing for ideal ripening. The region’s best vineyards are planted in red, gravelly loams formed over millions of years by the Warren River’s erosion, offering excellent drainage and intense fruit development.
Both regions benefit from their natural beauty, distinct climates, and fertile soils, resulting in wines that reflect the unique character of the Southern Forests.
OUR ASSOCIATION –
WINE INDUSTRY SOUTHERN FORESTS
Wine Industry Southern Forests was established to promote and support the wine producers of Pemberton and Manjimup. While these two geographical indication (GI) regions are distinct and have their own rich winemaking heritages, they also enjoy many commonalities. These include terroirs perfect for making high-quality, cool-climate wines, natural beauty marked by sky-scraping Karri-tree forest, and close proximity to some of the country's most diverse and exciting gourmet food producers.
It's the association's goal to raise awareness about some of the best WA wines being produced in the Southern Forests region and increase both business opportunities for our members and visitors. We do this through collaboration with industry stakeholders such as government bodies, tourism associations and local operators – including our good friends at the Southern Forest Food Council, who represent agricultural producers in the region working under the Genuinely Southern Forests brand.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
