Frankland Estate

In 1988, when most Australian winemakers were focused on warm-climate regions, Judi Cullam and Barrie Smith took an unexpected leap. They purchased a plot of land on Isolation Ridge in Western Australia’s Frankland River—one of the coolest and most isolated corners of the country.Here, the soils are ancient—granitic and iron-rich—while the climate recalls Alsace or the Mosel: long, cool summers with dramatic diurnal shifts. Perfect conditions for Riesling and Chardonnay, though few at the time believed in the region’s potential.From the outset, Judi and Barrie embraced a simple truth: wine is made in the vineyard. They rejected chemicals, committing to biodynamics and organic practices long before they became trends.In 1992, the first wines under the Frankland Estate label emerged, with critics immediately praising their "old-world" purity and complexity—rare qualities in Australian wine at the time.Today, the estate is run by the founders' children, Hunter Smith and Elizabeth Smith, who uphold their parents' principles while adding modern precision.