In 1999, father and son, Spike and Raymond Fokkema, established Churchview and built it up from the ground. The property was selected for its ideal and fertile gravelly loam soils, ample clean water and north facing slopes. The 100ha estate has over the early years, accumulated a total of 56ha of vines, growing 16 different varieties.
Churchview pride themselves on cultivating, crafting and cherishing the land, the grapes and the wines. As stewards of the land, Churchview has worked hard to transform the conventionally operated farm, to a fully organically operated vineyard. After 15 years Churchview gained the certification in 2020.
In much earlier days the old farm at Churchview was home to Group Settlers when the land was first opened up to white settlement in the early 1920s. The aim of the Group Settlement Scheme, was to establish a dairy industry in the South West to supply the growing population of Perth. The Great Depression descended soon after the start of the scheme, adding to the hardships faced by the settlers, and many eventually walked off their land. However, much of today’s cleared farmland is the result of their labour.
To cultivate is to prepare and use land for crops.It is a well-known fact that the creation of a great bottle of wine starts in the vineyard, indicating the purity and quality of the fruit will dictate the purity and quality of the wine.
Churchview has worked hard over the past 20 years to convert the vineyard from a full conventional to an organically operated vineyard. Our philosophy behind the cultivation of our vines is simple, treating the environment with respect and maintaining healthy soils and vines with organic principals will ensure pure, quality fruit.
To craft is to make or produce with care, skill and integrity. Winemaking or vinification is both an art and science to which the skills required by the winemaker arguably amount to craftsmanship.
This special ability to craft the wine warrants that every single bottle produced is a reflection of the site and speaksabout the vintage, the climate and the array of flavour profiles each season brings. It’s the difference in vintage that makes winemaking an art and the ability to bring these flavours to you that makes wine so interesting. The fruit supplied and the winemakers imprint determines quality, identity and style. At Churchview we aim to make the best possible wine we can, and make that affordable to you.
https://www.churchview.com.au/