The Wine Farm

Neil and Anna Hawkins craft exceptional cool-climate biodynamic wines in Victoria’s Gippsland region, with a particular focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Working across two tiny vineyards on Gippsland’s red volcanic soil belt, this is an authentic soil-to-glass operation in every sense.

Neil and Anna began revitalising their original three-hectare, dry-grown vineyard in 2014. Their vineyards are not immaculately bare or intensively managed. They are living ecosystems, buzzing with insects, mowed and fertilised with the help of sheep, and rich in grasses, earthworms and microbial life.

Neil’s deep knowledge of biodynamic farming, soil health and the microbial world guides everything they do. No systemic chemicals or artificial fertilisers are used, and under-vine growth is managed manually and gently. The focus is always on nurturing healthy soils and resilient vines for vitality, not volume.

The grapes are carefully harvested by hand into shallow crates and fermented with native yeasts. In the cellar, Neil favours seasoned French oak, extended lees ageing and long periods of bottle maturation. Most wines rest in bottle for at least two years before release, allowing them to develop complexity and harmony without losing their purity.

We first visited Neil and Anna in 2018, during the lead-up to opening our store. Their warmth, generosity and extraordinary vineyard left a lasting impression, as did the wines. The Wine Farm represents everything we value: thoughtful farming, patient winemaking and a genuine connection between people, soil and place.