Our Story
THE WINES OF OUR FAMILY ARE UNIQUELY EXPRESSIVE – HAND CRAFTED EXAMPLES OF THE OF THE MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION. WE PRODUCE WINES WITH ELEGANCE AND PERSONALITY THAT EXPRESS THEIR SENSE OF PLACE, AND OUR LOVE OF PRISTINE FRUIT FLAVOURS.
FAMILY & HERITAGE
“In the late 1920s my father Giuseppe immigrated from Italy to Australia and our family’s agricultural roots were planted when he started farming on the banks of the Harvey River.
A man dedicated to his family, those humble beginnings grew into orchards and farms around Harvey. Eventually becoming Harvey Fresh, the family business which myself and brother grew up in.
My father’s dedication to work and his rich entrepreneurial spirit, shared by many Italian immigrants in the area, was perfectly counterpoised by the creative, practical and thoughtful nature of my mother Camille. Their constancy and devotion to a better future are the foundations upon which my family and I have built Fishbone.
A childhood spent running around orange trees and working on the orchard from a young age built in me a desire to create something beautiful of my own. With my wonderful wife and four daughters, we get to continue our family’s tradition of working on the land, and creating exceptional Western Australian wine for people to enjoy.
My youngest daughter Juliette works alongside me everyday. She is the second generation of Fishbone and an absolute go-getter. From the vine to the final bottle, she has that same hunger and passion that I saw in my father growing up.
Together, we are going to continue to make exceptional celebratory wines for families to enjoy for years to come.”
Kevin Sorgiovanni, Fishbone Owner
OUR WINEMAKING
Head Winemaker, Stuart Pierce is a Jimmy Watson trophy recipient and part of the family here at Fishbone.
Together Stuart and Kevin have built an exceptional vineyard in the Margaret River Wine Region, and a line-up of award-winning wines across three distinct labels that celebrate the sites unique properties.
Now embarking on his 21st vintage with Fishbone, Stuart is just as excited today – as he was during his first Fishbone vintage in 2005
– to make some seriously beautiful wine.
Stuart’s travels through Europe and years working in renowned South Australian wine regions like McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and
Padthaway have influenced his dedication to the holistic health of vineyards and delicate approach.
He has a strong focus on organic practices, attention for the natural ecosystem, and native biodiversity. His winemaking philosophy is keenly focused on the vineyard, and the importance of nurturing the soil and the fruit before harvest.
Put simply, Stuart is dedicated to creating wines you want to pour another glass of, that celebrate the character, diversity and natural beauty of the variety and the
region.
“My philosophy or approach is to achieve as much as possible in nurturing a healthy vine. Good vineyard management is key to producing the best of fruit, and the better then fruit – the better the wine. When it comes winemaking, once the fruit is harvested, I try my best to preserve and build on the ‘primary’ fruit foundations. Once I have established the flavours of the wine, I am blending to amplify that final presentation people experience in the bottle. If, and when, I do blend a wine - I try to visualise drinking that wine at a lovely bar or restaurant with someone. I immerse myself in that moment as a means of determining what that final wine will be. At the end of the day – wine is best shared with great company, and great food. So, I want the wines to really shine in that environment.”
OUR VINEYARDS & APPROACH
In 2014 we discovered a 165-acre site in Wilyabrup, which showed great potential as a winery. Formerly a dairy farm, transforming the property into a vineyard was an absolute labour of love.
Today, more than 22-acres are under vines and perfectly positioned to let the crisp and coastal properties of the Margaret River region shine through every drop of wine we make under the Fishbone and Joseph River Estate labels.
The gently sloping terrain of the Wilyabrup estate is a classic pea gravel vineyard. The well-drained soil and north facing plots are home to a number of classic and alternative varieties.
Five hectares of Chardonnay grown across three sites in Margaret River include the Gin Gin clone; the foundation of Western Australia’s global dominance with Chardonnay.
The unique Western Australian heritage of the Houghton’s clone is included in most of the four hectares of Cabernet. Also grown across three distinct plots, to build diversity and variety in the fruit, the wines benefit from the clone selection which has created some of Margaret River’s greatest Cabernet over the years.
Smaller plots of Vermentino, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Malbec also call the Fishbone estate at Wilyabrup home.
The neighbouring vineyard we manage approximately three kilometres to the east offers beautifully contrasted soil properties to the Wilyabrup site. The dark sandy foundations provide the perfect growing conditions for rows of Shiraz, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc.
The fruit is what sings in a glass of our wine, and so soil health, site orientation, fruit diversity and vine condition are the foundation of our treasured vineyards.
We practise minimal intervention wine making, so the true properties of the fruit are featured at the front of every wine.
Margaret River
OUR WINES
JOSEPH RIVER RESERVE
The Joseph River Estate range represents a winemaking journey underpinned by inspiration, meticulous viticulture, uncompromising commitment to quality, and excellence in winemaking.
The wines are 100% Margaret River fruit, hand-picked, barrel aged and limited release. This artisan range is well suited to a cellar collection, and is best known for the Jimmy Watson winning 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.
BLACK RANGE
The Fishbone Black Label is a range of elegant, pure and sophisticated single variety wines. They completely honour the region, and the delicate winemaking approach gives varieties an opportunity to truly sing in the glass. These wines showcase pure varietal expression with regional distinction.
Under the watchful eye of our head winemaker Stuart Pierce, the award winning range showcases the best of our Wilyabrup estate vineyard and distinct qualities of the world-renowned Margaret River Wine Region.
BLUE RANGE
A shade of cerulean, as bright as a clear the summer sky or shimmering ocean shallows of Western Australia, the iconic Fishbone Blue Label is synonymous with light, bright and beaming wines made in the Margaret River region.
An accessible, casual and laid back collection – the wines of our Blue Label are fruit-driven, easy to drink and versatile. The label produces a range of fresh and lively flavours that are ready to enjoy with friends, family and food.