Ph: 0492 938 975

email: jharden601@gmail.com

Spring/summer 2024

Another year coming to a close for us all and the festive season about to start! It seems to have happened so quickly – but everything here in 2024 was early. It was a good season for quality and quantity and it was all picked at least a fortnight before our normal time. It's hard to explain why and easy to blame it on Climate Change, but the growing season was quite cool while winter was mild though wetter than usual. Spring began early too (as did the allergy season!) and we now have a good crop fully set and ready to bring us a great harvest to follow the excellent 2023 and 2024 Vintages. Again, weather permitting – a long way to go yet. A great wild flower season has now settled into the more familiar summery pattern of spectacular paddocks of golden Coreopsis gone wild, and the native shrubs like Dogwood and the Christmas melaleuca. The vineyard and all of Ballandean are such a picture now. Greenery and wildflowers everywhere. If I was young again I'd have a Spring in my step!!

My dog Lily has been with me a year now and established her own routine. Her earlier history as an urban adoptee dog meant she took a while to adjust to the farm life and open spaces, but she loves the visitors and escorts them into the cellar door and plays with their furry companions too. A big, boofy dog who has finally found her place and generally lifted the happiness level around here..

Current Releases

The hotter weather has brought on the popularity of the whites, as expected, particularly the 2021 Reserve Chardonnay. Its character has developed beautifully over its nearly 4 year life, but all the other whites have grown too.The 2019 Malbec with Friends has been an outstanding success in the reds but we are now into our last bin – big, rounded, soft-finishing flavours that have introduced many of our visitors to the Malbec grape. The 2022 Paragon , young as it is, has made a remarkable debut and is now showing its full character. The 2021 Malbec is now fully developed too, and gives a proper appreciation of just what that grape can do on the Granite Belt. Bungawarra's best kept secret till recently :)

Well, our busy season for visitors is now behind us – it was lovely to welcome so many of you over the last few months. We have come through a lot over the last few years and now it's time to enjoy some travel again … A friendly glass of Christmas cheer is next for us all, along with the best of Season's Greetings …

For the moment then……....Cheers, Jeff Harden (please note new phone number)

 

Sunset at Bungawarra,

 

 

 

 

 

Below: Son Thomas and his bride Danielle,
married at Bungawarra June, 2012
A wonderfully happy day for Bungawarra!

 

 

 

 

 

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Above: 2012 APPLE & GRAPE FESTIVAL - Penny & Tricia at the Bungawarra Tent with
the lovely "Colours of Rio" Latin dance troupe

Left and below:: Bungawarra's Wine Tent at the Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Festival, March 2010
(Penny & Tricia in command)

Synchronised pouring moment.....