Harewood Estate
The Great Southern wine-growing region offers unparalleled versatility and quality for winemakers. From the elegance and finesse of cool-climate Riesling to the subtle intensity of Denmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The texture and richness of Mount Barker Cabernet, along with the structure, weight, and complexity of Frankland River Shiraz.
Harewood Estate highlights this potential through a range of wines made from grapes grown in carefully selected, low-yielding vineyards.
Harewood Estate Vineyards
400km south of Perth, you’ll find our home, estate block and winery. Driving in, there’s a series of steep hills and valleys before you emerge onto the rolling slopes of the vineyard and eventually, the Southern Ocean.
It’s a pristine place, long cool summer days and ‘mean’ gravelly soils that slowly ripen the grapes to produce wines of intense flavours.
The river valley has a crucial role, funnelling cool and humid air north from the ocean moderating the afternoon heat to provide a long, slow ripening period for grapes.
Despite its lofty name, Mount Barker is largely dry, open grazing country with scattered vineyards, but it was the gravelly soil conditions that Olmo likened to Bordeaux, in France.
Great stands of towering Eucalypt forest and a massive series of rounded granite knobs give way to sweeping views out over the Porongurup Ranges.
This elevated vineyard produces crisp, cool-climate wines on granite soils.
James Kellie – Winemaker
I was fortunate to land my dream winemaking job at the renowned Howard Park, in the Great Southern. The plan at that stage was to hone my skills, learn as much as I could and move to Tasmania; 15 years later we’re still here.
In 1998, whilst at Howard Park, I started making wine on contract for Harewood and in 2003 my family and I took the plunge to purchase Harewood Estate. It was a nerve-racking time, we decided to build a 300 tonne winery and were up to our necks. I knew it was ambitious, but we were making a serious commitment to develop sub-regional wines that showcased the variety of the Great Southern.
Hard work is paying off; the winery has grown to 500 tonnes and we’ve received 31 national and international Trophies, hundreds of medals and the coveted 5 Red Star Rating from influential wine critic James Halliday which is awarded to the top 5% of Australian wineries for “a consistent record of excellence”.
The aim of Harewood Estate hasn’t changed: grapes are grown in select, low yielding vineyards to create wines that represent the best the region has to offer.
Awards
For 17 consecutive years, Harewood Estate has received 5 stars from James Halliday – Australia’s most influential wine critic – for “wines of exemplary quality and typicity”.
We have been awarded the elusive Five Red Stars for a “consistent record of excellence” since its introduction in 2006.
More than anything else, these awards are a testament to the quality of wine grapes grown throughout the Great Southern region.
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Learn About Western Australian Wine Regions
Encompassing the The Swan Valley, Chittering & Surrounds the key varietals grown here include Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc & Verdelho.
What you might not know is it is Australia’s 2nd oldest wine region and has the hottest climate of any wine region in Australia. It is actually too hot here to produce certain varietals like Pinot. So, if you find one here, the fruit will probably be from down south.
Being on the doorstep of Perth we often forget it’s only a 25 minute drive from the city. We are so lucky to have a major wine region so close to the city.
An untapped resource that we are excited to showcase. We encourage you to take a drive up through the Bickley Valley. Not only are there some great wineries, but it’s a lovely drive with some fantastic views!
Most wineries here in the Bickley region are quiet young and a little different, with some varietals somewhat uncommon in WA. It has its own microclimate, producing differences in a Cabernet or Shiraz found down on the coastal plain. Up here you will find other varietals like Durif, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, and some Pinot Noir & Merlot.
The region stretches from Jarrahdale, through Bickley and the undulating landscapes of the Darling scarp.
The first commercial vineyard began operation in 1974 by Peel estate, which is still there today and producers some wonderful wines! Shiraz is the area’s strong suite.
The sea breeze comes much sooner than the swan valley keeping the temperatures a little cooler. Unfortunately, a region with few wineries that have a cellar door at present.
The Ferguson Valley and surrounds sits about 15 mins East of Bunbury and is home to a number of small boutique wineries. It’s majestic rolling hills, and the changes between the prevailing summer easterlies to the afternoon sea breeze makes for a diverse set of microclimates.
The region also encompasses the coastal plain, and down to Donnybrook providing different styles. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon & Sauvignon Blanc are the kings of this area, but wineries are experimenting with new plantings.
World renowned Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay live here, but there is still diversity in the climate that creates different styles from a winery 30km North of Margaret River, to 15km’s south of Margaret River.
There are 70 wineries with a 5 star rated (James Halliday) Cabernet. Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon are also strong in the area. Margs wipes other Australian regions off the table when they blend a Sauvignon Blanc and a Semillon.
If you have not been a fan of Chardonnay in the past, I suggest you give it another go. Styles change, and the regions Chards is rated amongst the best in the country.
Situated to the East & West of Bridgetown the area is exposed to cooler temperatures and a higher elevation compared with Margaret River.
The Blackwood Valley mainly produces quality aromatic Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. You can expect to find a vivid shiraz full of black fruits, and a textured, medium-bodied cabernet sauvignon. There are much fewer wineries in the Blackwood Valley compared with Margaret River.
The first vineyards in the region were established in 1976 and the area is now home to several award-winning wine producers and grape growers who supply some of Australia’s finest restaurants.
This is Karri Forrest country, and the rich soil is loved by Vineyards and Avocado’s galore! Its cool and wet in Pemberton for about 6 months, receiving far more rainfall than most other wine regions in WA.
The area can receive over 1.2 meters of rain per year. It is not uncommon in summer for Perth to be Sunny and 33c, while Pemberton is partly cloudy with cool ocean breezes from the South East and only 24c.
This lush soil combined with cool weather helps Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay thrive here, and keep an eye out for a lovely floral Cabernet Franc as well.
Much debate has been had over splitting up the Manjimup and Pemberton regions. Manjimup has a warmer climate and less fertile soil whereas Pemberton’s soil is richer.
The Warren River runs through the middle to split up the regions. The area is reasonably young in plantings, dating back to the late 80’s. The wines produced in this area are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and a few Cabernet Franc’s. For me, the Manjimup and Pemberton regions produce the states best Merlot. If you haven’t been a Merlot fan, it could be you are yet to try one from these regions.
The biggest single wine region in Australia – I bet you did not know that! There is such diversity in terrain, climate and soil type that just about anything thrives down here.
Denmark, Mount Barker and the Porongurup’s are the key areas, Some of WA’s finest Shiraz comes from north of Denmark in the Frankland River area, while most of Australia’s best Rieslings come from the Porongurup’s. Just ask James Halliday who says it himself!
Due to the sheer size of The Great Southern and its varied terrain, it has the capacity to produce world-class wines from a range of classic varieties. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay. There are 5 star wineries littered throughout the region. I need no convincing in taking a trip to Denmark for their wineries.