The Harmans
We are David and Nicole Harman, owners and founders of Harman Wines –and along with our two children Jenna and James and our dog Banjo, some sheep, alpacas and our chickens we have created a pretty special place.
Our dream set sail in 2004 when a 10 acre former horse stud property was purchased. Full of dreams and determination we have over the years set about establishing a number of onsite vineyards, building our winery, cellar door, and restuarant, and planting orchards and an impressive kitchen garden.
Harman Wines opened in November 2018, and today our family owned and run award winning vineyard and winery in Wattle Bank, welcomes many visitors from all over the country who come along and experience what we have created. It has established itself as the region’s premier wine tourism destination. Our motto “Meet, Eat & Drink” is simple– “Meet” with family and friends, “Eat” –experience our full menu featuring local produce in our delicious tapas dishes and woodfired pizzas and “Drink” – enjoying our stunning cool climate wines or other local alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, all whilst enjoying our hospitality in a relaxed comfortable environment surrounded by our properties tranquil views.
Our Vineyard
Our 20 acre farm is situated 7 kilometres inland from the Bass Strait coast line. We are located just out of Inverloch at Wattle Bank which is in the pictureque region of the Bass Coast, Victoria. It should be no surprise that our location is a heavily maritime influenced cool climate zone where the vineyard is cooled in summer by gentle sea breezes allowing for a slow and consistent ripening of the fruit. The original vines were planted 2008, with plantings continuing ever since. The soils consist of rich loam over clay and are managed using a blend of organic principals
Winemaking
Owner David Harman is the winemaker at Harman Wines. Having originally studied and worked in the IT industry the call to winemaking became too loud to ignore. With links to the South Gippsland coast and a love for Pinot Noir the location to make beautiful wines was logical.
Fast forward a number of vintages, a vineyard, Winery and cellar door, David’s Winemaking style has evolved through experimentation and the use of old world techniques forgotten in this fast moving world. He enjoys making a variety of premium cool climate maritime influenced wines that talk volumes to the place they are grown and the season from which they grew. Wines are handmade where wild ferments are common but fining and filtering are not.
Sustainability
All things that happen at Harman Wines have sustainability practices in mind and are important considerations for running our Harman Wines business. We strive every day to find new ways to make our farm more sustainable and regenerative as possible.
We are a solar powered off-grid winery
Water from our roof’s is captured into water tanks and used in the cellar door and winery.
Our environmental friendly worm farm septic collects all our biodegradable wastes.
Our chickens when not keeping the vineyard clean enjoy the kitchen scraps while providing manure for use in the veggie garden and vineyard.
Our kitchen garden produces our own seasonal fruit and vegetables, herbs that is used in our food platters and pizzas and to make our relishes and sauces. Our visitors can walk through our gardens and smell, taste and view the produce being grown.
We are happy to say our soils are becoming healthier each year with native fauna numbers increasing as we continue to do anything we can to ensure the environment is improved.
Our ongoing sustainability commitment and efforts were recognised having won a number of the Bass Coast Business Awards for Environment and Sustainability.
Our Passions & Philosophy
LOCAL PRODUCE
Our kitchen garden produces our own seasonal fruit and vegetables, herbs that is used in our food platters and pizzas and to make our relishes and sauces
SUSTAINABILITY
All things that happen at Harman Wines have sustainability practices in mind. We strive every day to find new ways to make our farm more sustainable and regenerative as possible
RELAXED FAMILY ENVIRONMENT
Visitors can come along and
“Meet, Eat & Drink” – with family and friends, while enjoying our hospitality in a relaxed comfortable environment surrounded by the
tranquil views
We are super proud of our achievements & awards
2024
Gold Winner – VICTORIAN TOURISM AWARDS (Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries)
2023
GIPPSLAND BUSINESS AWARDS – Food and Wine Producers 2023
BASS COAST BUSINESS AWARDS – People’s Choice Award (Food & Beverage)
2022
Bronze – VICTORIAN TOURISM AWARDS (Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries)
BASS COAST BUSINESS AWARDS – People’s Choice (Food and Beverage) 2022
2021
Silver – VICTORIAN TOURISM AWARDS (Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries)
BASS COAST BUSINESS AWARDS
Winner – Resilience
Winner – Environment & Sustainability
2019
Winner of BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Bass Coast Business Awards
GIPPSLAND BUSINESS AWARDS – Food and Wine Producers
Winner – Environment & Sustainablity
Bass Coast Business Awards
People Choice Awards – Hospitality
Bass Coast Business Awards
2018
Winner of BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Bass Coast Business Awards
Winner – Business Excellence (0-5 employees) Bass Coast Business Awards
