Dr Clare Trythall
West Cape Howe - a Great Southern icon
West Cape Howe's labels will feel familiar to many West Australians, at home and abroad. I remember spotting those intricately drawn seahorses on supermarket shelves in the UK.
About the Author
Dr Clare Trythall
The winery's name is a reference to the coastal headland West Cape Howe, which forms the western limit of the Great Australian Bight and includes the southernmost point of WA.
The first recorded European exploration of the south coast of WA took place in 1627 by a Dutch explorer and his crew chartering the dramatic coastline between Cape Leeuwin and Nuyts Archipelago.
They sailed on the Gulden Zeepaard or golden seahorse; hence the West Cape Howe label depicts two golden seahorses with a world globe nestled between the two, symbolic of the exploration and the history of the region.
Established in the Great Southern in 1997, the winery has grown into a major WA producer with a strong local and export presence.
At the wine-making helm, senior winemaker Gavin Berry works closely with viticulturist Rob Quenby. They tread the balance of keeping their significant scale of operations sustainable while producing wines of great value.
The operation is centred on their Langton vineyard - one of the oldest in the region with mature vines established in 1978. This 100ha site in Mount Barker provides much of the premium Riesling and Pinot that the brand is known for.
It is complemented by their Russell Road vineyard in Frankland River and small parcels from select growers across the Great Southern. As the largest geographical wine region in Australia, the Great Southern provides great diversity across its five subregions, producing heterogenous conditions for different varieties.
The maritime coastal regions of Denmark and Albany are exposed to the Southern Ocean, experiencing higher rainfall and stronger winds. while inland Mount Barker. Frankland River and Porongurup boast a drier continental climate with warmer days and cool nights.
Drawing fruit from across the Great Southern's subregions, West Cape Howe has built a range that shows real depth and a genuine snapshot of the region's diversity.
The wines
Reviewer's pick: West Cape Howe 2023 Nebbiolo, RRP $28
The fruit for this comes from the estate's Frankland vineyard. Red cherry, raspberries, a spiced earthiness, bone dry finish with grippy tannins. Time in the glass allowed this wine to develop. As with all Nebbiolo, the high acid-high tannin profile benefits from a meal with high protein and high fat - think a ribeye steak, gamey meats, any and all cheeses.
West Cape Howe 2026 Mount Barker Riesling, RRP $22
Fruit sourced from the Langton vineyard in Mount Barker. Very aromatic with pear drop, honeydew melon and a hint of fennel. On the palate there is sweet green apple finished with bright, crisp acidity. This is screaming to be enjoyed with a Thai curry or spicy larb salad - a dish with some spice and fat to balance the wine's brightness and ripe palate.
West Cape Howe 2024 Styx Gully Chardonnay, RRP $36
Pear, toasty notes. The palate is fresh with ripe citrus, macadamia and a balance of saline acidity. The cool climate and lack of malolactic fermentation produce a clean, crisp style of chardonnay.
West Cape Howe 2025 Mount Barker Pinot Noir, RRP $22
A generous nose full of strawberries and cherries. Ample bright red fruit, mulberries and smooth tannins to finish.
West Cape Howe 2021 'Book Ends' Cabernet Sauvignon, RRP $36
Produced from a single vineyard in Mount Barker. Deep inky cassis. A perfumed nose full of rich blackcurrant, a hint of violet. Ripe plum and bramble, subtle note of chocolate, the softest of tannins melting to the finish. A natural partner to a pepper steak pie.
We have a selection of West Cape Howe wines to giveaway this month, head to our competitions to enter.