Origins

Wild, coastal and pure

MadFish Wines draw on the ancient to create the contemporary. This wild and raw coastline of southwest Australia has been battered for centuries by powerful surf, yet calmed by the expanse of poetic white sand beaches and turquoise pools.

It is here along this wild coastline that you will find MadFish Bay, the namesake for this modern range. It is a spot like no other, where opposing tides collide, forcing schools of glinting fish to break the ocean surface. This premium grape-growing landscape delivers a natural smoothness to the wines with a consistency that contradicts the energy of its dramatic origins. MadFish Wines reflect the true potential of Great Southern and Margaret River wine.

The Journey

Since MadFish founder, Jeff Burch, started travelling in the 1970s to surf the southern coast of Western Australia, the sea has been a constant source of ingenuity and enjoyment. Simplicity is key as well as the associated pleasure of family, friends, food and, of course, wine. This is what inspired the Burch family when they launched MadFish wines, and what continues to inspire them today. It’s about the enjoyment that their product brings into every household, becoming part of a celebration, or a simple relaxed Friday evening as the sun sets over the ocean.

From the beginning, the idea was to keep it simple. MadFish wines debuted with their premium white, ensuring that clean characteristics and the vibrant fresh flavour of the grapes were at the heart of all they produced. The range has since grown to over fifteen varieties, sold internationally, each as pure and deliciously crisp as the original. Every award-winning vintage has been created with joy and cheer in mind.

The Burch Family

MadFish Wines is owned by the Burch family and embodies their affinity with the southwest coast of Western Australia.

A crucial factor drawing Jeff Burch into the world of wine was his love of Margaret River’s coastline, spending many hours of his youth in the surf back in the 1970s. Later, that love saw him return with his wife Amy and a young family, eventually establishing a beachside holiday home in the surfing town of Yallingup.

The Burch family spent a lot of time in the Great Southern region, particularly the renowned southwest surfing town of Denmark. Here, they learned the legend of MadFish Bay and were inspired to create its namesake wine label.

The Wine Team

Our wines come with impressive credits and our team of both experienced and up-and-coming winos and cellar hands work around the clock during vintage to make our well-loved MadFish classics. This industrious, devoted crew is led by our talented Chief Winemaker, Nic Bowen, and Senior Winemaker, Mark Bailey.

When making MadFish Wines, we focus on exceptional grapes and the pristine vineyards on which they grow. Our dedicated vineyard teams work tirelessly year-round tending to the vines with care and attention and ensuring that only the finest fruit goes into each bottle. Led by Chief Viticulturist, David Botting, and Group Vineyard Manager, Stephen Kirby, the grapes are shepherded from vine to bottle to create varietal, crisp wines designed for easy enjoyment.

Our winery and vineyard teams work together to craft our MadFish originals as well as small-batch, one-off alternative varieties, made from carefully sourced parcels of fruit. These contemporary wines are exclusively available at our cellar door or by joining our wine club.