Marchand & Burch

Terroir summary

The Australian collection is drawn primarily from the Mount Barker and Porongurup subregions of Western Australia’s Great Southern, where ancient soils, elevated vineyards and a strongly maritime influence meet long growing seasons, moderate temperatures and cooling Southern Ocean influences. The French collection is sourced from carefully selected vineyard sites throughout the Côte d’Or and broader Burgundy region, including estate fruit belonging to Marchand, and through long-established grower relationships.

Heritage:

The Marchand & Burch story began in 1990, when Jeff Burch first met Pascal Marchand in the cellars of Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard. Despite arriving from opposite sides of the world, the pair quickly forged a friendship through a shared fascination with Pinot Noir and a belief in terroir-driven winemaking. Over the following years, discussions evolved into a collaborative vision, culminating in the formation of Marchand & Burch and the release of the first wines from the 2007 vintage. Since then, the project has grown into one of Australia’s most distinctive fine wine partnerships, bridging the traditions of Burgundy with the emerging maturity of Western Australia’s Great Southern. More than three decades after their first meeting, the wines remain a reflection of the friendship and philosophy that inspired them.

Philosophy:

Both Marchand and Burch were drawn to the Burgundian concept of terroir—the interaction of soil, climate, site and human influence—and sought to apply this philosophy equally to Western Australia. Vineyard management focuses on understanding and preserving site expression, while winemaking aims to complement rather than dominate vineyard character. Whilst not certified biodynamic, many of the vineyards contributing to the French collection are from biodynamically managed plots. While in WA, under the Burch Family Wines umbrella, the same careful environmental practices are used as for Howard Park wines, as is the general progression towards an entire organic estate.

People:

Jeff Burch is one of Western Australia’s most influential wine figures, founding Burch Family Wines and helping champion the quality potential of both Margaret River and the Great Southern. His counterpart, Pascal Marchand, is one of Burgundy’s most respected winemakers, renowned for his work across leading domaines and his advocacy of terroir-focused and biodynamic viticulture. The Australian wines are crafted by Nick Bowen, Chief Winemaker for Burch Family Wines, whose experience across Western Australia’s leading cool-climate regions has been instrumental in defining the Australian expression of the Marchand & Burch style. Working closely with the vision established by Burch and Marchand, Bowen applies a restrained, site-driven approach in the winery, aiming to preserve vineyard character and regional identity.