Mike Harms
CULTIVATING CLASSICS
At the celebrated Petaluma winery and vineyards, viticulturist Mike Harms combines all the attention to detail of an ex-accountant with an unyielding passion to help produce some of Australia’s best wine.
After a career detour in finance, Mike landed a job taking care of some of Australia’s most exciting vineyards. More than two decades later, he still loves what he does. Based in the Adelaide Hills, he manages seven vineyards growing mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He’s also responsible for Petaluma’s vineyards in the Clare Valley, renowned for its Riesling, and Coonawarra, where it’s all about Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. It all comes together at Mike’s favourite time of year – harvest – when his careful planning is put to the test.
In pursuit of perfection
Barossa Valley born and bred, Mike developed an early interest in the wine industry, helped by the fact that his dad was an accountant for the high-profile Orlando Wines. And while Mike’s first career was in commercial banking, he soon heard the call of the vines, and studied horticulture and agricultural science.
He joined Petaluma winery in the Adelaide Hills in 1996. Founded by Brian Croser and his wife Ann in the mid-1970s, Petaluma has been a beacon for modern Australian wineries and wine brands, pioneering grape growing in the region’s cool, wet Piccadilly Valley.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes along the way,” says Mike. “I still enjoy getting up in the morning and coming to work. There’s always new challenges out there.”
Petaluma is known for its exceptional wines, and Mike manages the vineyards meticulously to deliver the best possible fruit.
“We have a no-compromise approach to wine quality,” he says. “Everything is hand-pruned and hand-picked and it’s all about getting the timing right of all those operations.”
These days, Mike’s focus is on adopting organic practices and minimising chemicals.
“I think there’s a bit of a shift away from the more industrial-based approach to viticulture to more reliance on enhancing soil biology and natural systems,” he says. “Our approach in the vineyard is one of nurture more than anything. It is about encouraging resilience, so vines can withstand the stresses of drought or hot summers.
“[Petaluma winemaker] Mike Mudge and I feel like we’re custodians of the brand and so I take that fairly seriously. It’s about stewardship ... and making everybody in the team feel that we're all doing our bit.”
“Our approach in the vineyard is one of nurture more than anything. It is about encouraging vine resilience.”– Mike Harms
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