Greetings from Howard Park

Tell us the story of the winery.

Howard Park Wines celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We first produced cabernet and riesling from an agricultural shed in the Great Southern of Western Australia. We now produce over 25 different varietals and have Cellar Doors in Margaret River and the Great Southern. Burch Family Wines is a family owned and operated company which produces Howard Park, MadFish & Marchand & Burch wines. We focus on making wine with regional typicity from our vineyards in Margaret River and the Great Southern of Western Australia.

What's your nickname when you're at work?

Being the Chief Winemaker I tend not to know what is said about me out of ear shot. Mother Superior has been mentioned by the less reverent in the team.

What's your winemaking philosophy?

To preserve the quality and style of our grapes so that a “sense of place” is reflected in our wines.

What's your favourite cocktail?

I don’t drink cocktails that much but recently we have been making Vermouth at Howard Park and I love all the different botanical aromas and flavours you can infuse into the base wine. I have also recently discovered the world of speciality tonic waters. So as close as I get to a cocktail is Howard Park Vermouth with Tonic and a twist of orange which we have called “Vivacious Lady”

Tell us about your most memorable food and wine moment.

The night before walking the Cinque Terra I was in a restaurant in Levanto and selected a bottle of Tuscan red wine, I cannot recall its origin. The wine was delivered to the table with a small chunk of Parmigano Reggiano and so began my love affair of Italian red wine and the king of cheeses. Such a simple act and such a perfect matched.
You’re a castaway and you can only take three wines, one book and two luxury items with you - what are these and why?

Three Wines

Vintage Champagne from a great year, Howard Park’s Allingham Chardonnay , and the super Tuscan Solaia – all my favourite wine types

One Book

Collected poems of Louis MacNeice – His poems are beautifully structured and his words give great imagery to powerful themes. Lots of meaning to ponder on the desert island.

Two Luxury Items

Umbrella and mineral water – if I drink all that wine I will need to sleep in a shady spot and when I awake I will need to rehydrate.

If you weren't working in wine, what would your 'Plan B' be?

Study horticulture and landscape architecture then build fabulous large scale vertical gardens in interesting places.

You can cook for three guests (living or dead): who are they, and what would you cook them? Also give us a run-down of what you'll be drinking.

My mother Thea, my partner Stuart , Lucille and Poppie, my Irish Wolfhounds , Louis MacNeice and the Italian lady from the restaurant in Levanto. We'd have barbequed Marron and Allingham Chardonnay.