Nikola Estate

While the Nikola brand may be new to the Swan Valley, the Yukich family behind it is anything but. In 2019, Houghton Estate in the Swan Valley (vineyards, historic cellar door and the winemaking facility) was purchased by brothers Graeme and Kim Yukich (3rd generation) from the private equity Carlyle Group, forming what is now the Nikola Estate. Winemaker Damian Hutton has moved from a long history at Millbrook (Fogarty Group) to assume the mantle at Nikola. Looking further back in time, the first acquisition of Houghton property by the Yukich family occurred in 1989 (45ha sold to Mark Yukich, 2nd generation) which precipitated the formation of Oakover Wines in the ’90s. Prior to that, the Yukich Brothers wine company was formed in ’53 by Nikola Yukich. -ERIN LARKIN