Fowles Family

A mixture of English and Irish, the Fowles family ancestors arrived on Australian shores (by choice!) in the early 1800’s to pursue all the opportunities and excitement the new continent had to offer.

Successive generations and branches of the family have featured business men and women (including the founder of what is now the Bendigo Bank during the gold rush), lawyers, doctors, miners, soldiers, journalists, farmers, auctioneers – and more lawyers!

After 34 years as an auctioneer, David Fowles recently parted from his beloved interest in Fowles Auction Group, to concentrate on the family’s rural, property and financial interests.

One of David and Joan’s four sons, Matt, stepped up from a successful legal career with international firm Baker & McKenzie to run Fowles Wine, with particular interests in sales and marketing, strategy and business development.

In 2006 Matt was selected to join one of the wine industry peak bodies for ‘up and comers’ – the Future Leaders program.  As the only Victorian winery representative he has since contributed to a range of industry bodies including the Winemaker’s Federation of Australia.

Matt also runs the Fowles family’s 235 acre cool climate vineyard, Upton Run, located high in the pristine Strathbogie Ranges. The vineyard is home to a broad range of varieties including mature plantings of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The plantings of Shiraz are being expanded, and Arneis (an Italian white varietal), Vermentino (thought to be Spanish in origin) and Sangiovese (a medium bodied red from Tuscany, Italy) have been introduced to the vineyard.