Howard Park Wines

Howard Park Wines is an Australian family-owned wine producer associated with the Margaret River and Great Southern wine regions of Western Australia. The winery is owned by the Burch family, whose wine interests also include the MadFish label and the Marchand & Burch joint venture. Its production model is defined by a regional approach: Margaret River supplies a maritime-influenced setting particularly suited to premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, while the cooler and geographically varied Great Southern region contributes fruit for Riesling, Pinot noir, Shiraz and other cool-climate styles. The Margaret River operation is located near Cowaramup, in the area that became the Margaret River wine region. The surrounding Leston Vineyard, named after Leston Burch, includes approximately 64 hectares of vines planted to varieties including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carnelian. The region is relatively small by Australian production standards but has a strong reputation in the premium-wine segment. Its maritime climate has often been compared with conditions favorable to Bordeaux-style varieties, helping establish Margaret River as one of Australia's most important fine-wine districts. Howard Park also has a long association with the Great Southern region. Its Great Southern winery was established in Denmark in 1986, and the business has used vineyards including Scotsdale Vineyard near the Porongurup Range. Scotsdale is a high-elevation site, with vineyard elevations reported between approximately 200 and 380 metres. Great Southern is Australia's largest wine region geographically and includes the Denmark, Albany, Porongurup, Mount Barker and Frankland River subregions. Its cooler maritime-Mediterranean conditions support varieties such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The Howard Park label is best known for premium and collectible wines, including Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon and Howard Park Riesling. Abercrombie received international competition recognition and was included in the fourth edition of Langton's Classification of Australian Wine at the Excellent level. Howard Park Riesling has also been identified in published collecting surveys as one of Australia's more collected Rieslings and was included in the reference book 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die. The business has extended beyond a single regional label. MadFish Wines was introduced in the early 1990s as a more contemporary, accessible range using cool-climate fruit. The brand name refers to Madfish Bay near Denmark, while its original label artwork was created by Noongar artist Maxine Fumagalli and depicts connections among land, sea, stars, animals and people. In 2007, Howard Park owner Jeff Burch formed Marchand & Burch with Burgundian winemaker Pascal Marchand. The venture produced wines in Western Australia and Burgundy, including Australian Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Shiraz alongside Burgundy wines from appellations such as Meursault, Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. Howard Park's Margaret River winery has also been recognized for its architecture. The building received the commercial category award from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 2000 and was later included in a selection of notable Australian buildings. Its design incorporated contemporary Australian architecture, traditional feng shui principles and detailed orientation work undertaken with Professor Cheng Jian Jun. In 2009, Howard Park joined Australia's First Families of Wine, an alliance of established family-owned Australian wine companies created to promote the quality and diversity of Australian wine. It was identified as the alliance's only Western Australian representative at the time.

Howard Park Wines developed as a family-owned Western Australian wine business with a production and vineyard presence in two distinct regions: Margaret River and Great Southern. The Great Southern operation was established in Denmark in 1986, while the Margaret River winery became associated with the Cowaramup area and the Leston Vineyard. This two-region structure gave the business access to contrasting maritime climates and helped it build a portfolio spanning structured Cabernet Sauvignon, aromatic Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and other cool-climate varieties. The regional strategy reflected the broader development of Western Australian wine. Great Southern had been identified as a promising area for European-style table wines after mid-twentieth-century viticultural research, while Margaret River later became known for premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Howard Park's vineyards include Leston Vineyard in Margaret River and Scotsdale Vineyard in the Great Southern, the latter situated near the Porongurup Range at relatively high elevation. These sites form the agricultural foundation for the company's emphasis on regional expression. The Howard Park label gained recognition through wines such as Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon and Howard Park Riesling. Abercrombie achieved awards at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2005 and was listed in the fourth edition of Langton's Classification of Australian Wine at the Excellent level. Historical auction references also recorded strong results for Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon and large-format bottles, although those results represent historical auction observations rather than current financial information. Howard Park Riesling was identified as a highly collected Australian Riesling in a Wine Ark survey and was included in the international reference work 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die. The business broadened its consumer offering with MadFish Wines. The first MadFish release was a premium white in 1992, followed by a premium red in 1993. The label takes its name from Madfish Bay near Denmark, where fish are said to leap as tides and feeding activity disturb the normally calm inlet. Its original artwork was created by Noongar artist Maxine Fumagalli and uses a design language connecting the natural and human worlds. MadFish subsequently became a recognizable contemporary Australian wine brand based on fruit from cool-climate regions. A further international dimension began in 2007 with the creation of Marchand & Burch, a joint venture between Jeff Burch and Burgundian winemaker Pascal Marchand. The first vintage included Australian Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Shiraz, as well as Burgundy wines from Meursault, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze and Mazis-Chambertin. The partnership was notable because the Burch family became the first Australians to own an interest in the production of a French Burgundian Grand Cru, according to the cited account. The wines received favorable Australian wine-press attention, and the venture was included among the top new wineries in the 2010 Australian Wine Companion. Howard Park's Margaret River winery also became part of the brand's identity. Its design combined contemporary Australian architecture with feng shui principles, including orientation work conducted under the supervision of Professor Cheng Jian Jun. The building won a Royal Australian Institute of Architects commercial award in 2000 and was later included in a selection of notable Australian buildings. In 2009, Howard Park joined Australia's First Families of Wine, a family-winery alliance intended to showcase Australian wine quality and diversity. Membership criteria included long family histories, landmark or iconic wines, substantial vineyard heritage, export capability, environmental commitment and cellar-door standards. Howard Park's participation positioned it as a representative of Western Australia's premium wine sector within a national group. The cited reference does not provide a verified founding year for the Howard Park brand, detailed current management beyond the Burch family ownership, or current production and financial figures.

1. 2009Joins Australia's First Families of Wine

   Howard Park became the only Western Australian representative in the cited 12-member family-wine alliance.

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2. 2007First Marchand & Burch vintage

   The Howard Park-associated joint venture with Pascal Marchand produced its first Australian and Burgundy wines.

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3. 2005Abercrombie Cabernet gains international recognition

   Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon received recognition at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and was later listed at the Excellent level in Langton's Classification.

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4. 2000Margaret River winery wins architectural award

   The winery received the Royal Australian Institute of Architects commercial category award.

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5. 1993MadFish premium red follows

   The MadFish portfolio expanded with a premium red wine.

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6. 1992First MadFish release

   Howard Park introduced the MadFish label with a premium white wine.

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7. 1986Great Southern winery established in Denmark

   A Howard Park-associated winery was established in Denmark in Western Australia's Great Southern region.

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A premium, terroir-focused Australian wine house combining Margaret River and Great Southern fruit with family ownership, regional specialization, collectible wines and selected Burgundy collaboration.

• Howard Park Abercrombie Cabernet SauvignonPremium red wine

  A flagship Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon associated with Margaret River and recognized in international competition. It received awards at the 2005 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and was included in the fourth edition of Langton's Classification of Australian Wine at the Excellent level. Historical auction references also identified strong results for Howard Park Cabernet in barrel and large-format bottle sales.

• Howard Park RieslingWhite wine

  A collectible Riesling associated with Howard Park's Great Southern focus. It was identified in a Wine Ark survey as Australia's fourth most collected Riesling and was included in the book 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die. The cited material presents it as one of the label's notable landmark wines.

• MadFishContemporary Australian wine range1992

  A Howard Park-associated label launched with a premium white in 1992 and a premium red in 1993. Named after Madfish Bay near Denmark, the range uses cool-climate fruit and has been positioned as a contemporary, accessible expression of Australian wine. Its original label was designed by Noongar artist Maxine Fumagalli and received double-gold recognition in the International San Francisco Wine Competition's label-design context.

• Marchand & Burch Australian winesAustralian collaborative wines2007

  The Australian side of the Marchand & Burch joint venture includes wines made from Margaret River and Great Southern fruit, including Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Shiraz. The project combines Jeff Burch's Western Australian wine operation with the winemaking expertise of Pascal Marchand.

• Marchand & Burch Burgundy winesBurgundy wine2007

  The Burgundy portfolio of Marchand & Burch has included Meursault, Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze and Mazis-Chambertin. The venture is historically notable for linking the Burch family's Western Australian business with production in Burgundy, including a Grand Cru wine.

• 2009Join Australia's First Families of WineStrategy

  The alliance was created to promote the quality and diversity of Australian wine through established family-owned producers and landmark wines.

  What changed. Howard Park accepted membership in the 12-member alliance and represented Western Australia within the group.

  Aftermath. The membership strengthened Howard Park's association with Australia's established premium family-wine producers.

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• 2007Create the Marchand & Burch Burgundy partnershipStrategy

  The Burch family sought to extend its Western Australian wine activities through a collaboration with Burgundian winemaker Pascal Marchand.

  What changed. Jeff Burch and Pascal Marchand formed a joint venture producing wines in both Western Australia and Burgundy.

  Aftermath. The first vintage combined Australian Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Shiraz with Burgundy wines and received favorable attention in the Australian wine press.

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• 2009Howard Park joins Australia's First Families of Wine

  Howard Park was invited to join Australia's First Families of Wine, becoming the alliance's only Western Australian representative at the time.

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• 2007Marchand & Burch releases its first vintage

  The Burch family and Burgundian winemaker Pascal Marchand launched their joint venture with Australian and Burgundy wines.

  Product launch
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• 2000Howard Park winery receives architectural recognition

  The Margaret River winery received the commercial category award from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

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• 1992MadFish label introduced

  Howard Park released the first MadFish wine, a premium white, followed by a premium red in 1993.

  Product launch
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1. Howard Park Wines