Porongurup
The Porongurup Range is located east of Mt Barker and the tourist-friendly National Park is the heart of the region. The range is only 12 kilometres long and 670 metres high, but features a luxuriant forest of giant karri trees and an understorey that puts on a brilliant display of wildflowers during spring and early summer. There are fantastic views of the Stirling Range from many points in the Porongurup.
For more tourism information see the Porongurup website
Porongurup wine
A special feature of the climate in the Porongurup is a night-time thermal zone. This is created by a layer of warm air rising above the denser cold air sliding down the hillsides of the range and settling on the valley floor. This ‘air drainage’ reduces the risk of frosts and the unique microclimate, with many cool-cloud covered summer days, produces ideal conditions for ripening and a well-balanced acid to sugar ratio.
The geomorphic granite range creates a range of soil types with the karri loams being the most productive for wine production.
Riesling and Pinot Noir thrive in these conditions. Other successful varieties include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
