Terroir Summary:
Across eight estate vineyards spanning Margaret River, Pemberton and the Great Southern, Howard Park captures a broad spectrum of Western Australia’s terroir. Warm maritime sites deliver richness and structure, while cooler, higher-altitude and continental vineyards contribute acidity, aromatics and finesse. Soil diversity further enhances complexity. This variation allows precise matching of variety to site, resulting in a portfolio of great balance, depth and regional clarity.
Heritage:
Howard Park was established in 1986, with founding winemaker John Wade recognising the potential of the Great Southern for producing site-driven, ageworthy wines. The Burch family joined soon after, integrating their Margaret River property with the original Great Southern focus and ushering in a new phase of development in the early 1990s. Since then, they have driven the winery’s evolution, expanding across Margaret River, the Great Southern and Pemberton, and assembling a portfolio of vineyards defined by varietal suitability and regional expression. Taking full ownership in 1998, the family has refined this multi-regional model over three generations, establishing Howard Park as a benchmark for Western Australian fine wine.
Philosophy:
Howard Park’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that exceptional wine begins with site, driving a long-term commitment to estate-grown fruit and continual vineyard expansion. This is evident in the acquisition of Pemberton vineyards to support a growing sparkling program, and the development of Pinot Noir and cool-climate varieties in the Great Southern. Viticulture, led by Steve Kirby—recipient of the 2023 Margaret River Viticulture and Sustainability Excellence Award—focuses on site expression, clonal diversity and precision farming. In the winery, Chief Winemaker Nic Bowen brings a thoughtful, parcel-driven approach, combining blending expertise with a passion for sparkling wine and a focus on building complexity, texture and regional clarity across the range.
People:
Howard Park remains firmly family-led, with Jeff and Amy Burch at the helm, supported by the next generation (Natalie and Richard) across operations, sales and vineyard management. This continuity underpins a long-term, custodial approach to the estate. In the vineyards, Chief Viticulturist Steve Kirby brings extensive national experience and has contributed to industry research focused on clonal selection and varietal optimisation. His approach centres on site expression, vineyard precision and long-term sustainability. Chief Winemaker Nic Bowen joined Howard Park in 2021, bringing international and domestic experience, including a senior winemaking role at Hardys where he worked alongside sparkling specialist Ed Carr at House of Arras. A second-generation winemaker from the Great Southern, Bowen’s particular passion is for sparkling wine, driving the evolution of the Jeté range.
Beyond the Vine:
Beyond the vineyard, Howard Park plays a defining role in shaping the Australian wine landscape. As a proud member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, the Burch family contributes to a collective commitment to provenance, regional expression and long-term custodianship of the land. Their influence extends beyond their own estate, with ongoing investment in vineyards, sustainability initiatives and the promotion of Western Australia’s premium wine regions on the global stage.
