Our Family

David Hohnen

David Hohnen completed formal training in winemaking and viticulture in California returning to Western Australia in 1970 to develop a small vineyard on the outskirts of Margaret River. A grazing company, partly owned by his father John, and run by brother Mark had diversified and this was to become Cape Mentelle Vineyards.

While the young vines grew, David took a job managing the vineyard at Taltarni, in Victoria. He returned to make the first commercial release for Cape Mentelle in 1976.

In 1985 David received backing from Mark and other investors to see Cape Mentelle establish Cloudy Bay in Marlborough, New Zealand. Veuve Clicquot bought into Cape Mentelle in 1990.

As chief executive, David guided the growth of the company until 2003, at which time he left Cape Mentelle to pursue interests in farming, grape growing and winemaking in Margaret River.

Ryan Walsh & Freya Hohnen

Partners Ryan and Freya share the winemaking responsibilities at McH.

Freya was born and raised in Margaret River, around vines and wines all her life. An interest in Permaculture triggered her attraction to formal training in the agriculture sciences, and she completed a degree in oenology at Adelaide University, graduating as Dux of the year in 2000.

She has worked extensively in various Australian wine regions and France before settling back in Margaret River.

Ryan moved to Margaret River from the wheatbelt as a teenager and arrived at winemaking through his studies at Curtin University in horticulture and viticulture. He has gained considerable experience working in Canada and the USA and joined McH from Flying Fish Cove, where he was Assistant Winemaker.

Murray McHenry

Murray McHenry spent his childhood living in his parents' hotel, "Steves", in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth. As a very young man he was deeply involved in the wine retailing side of the family business.

Since the late 1960s the Steve's Hotel bottle shop has been unrivalled in its comprehensive collection of Australian and imported wines. Stephenie's, the hotel restaurant, has been awarded 'Wine List of the Year' on several occasions.

In the early 80s Murray, in a partnership, developed a successful chain of wine retailing stores. At this time, Murray also became involved with wine wholesaling. In 1984 he planted his first vines in Margaret River and today, farms grapes at two sites south of Witchcliffe.