Boutique, minimal intervention Hunter Valley winery Harkham Wines has been pioneering natural winemaking in the region for almost 20 years. Now, the winery is set to open an Italian restaurant at its Pokolbin location – the perfect accompaniment to its fun, relaxed cellar door and small batch wines.

Opening on July 18, Harkham Restaurant & Bar will serve up casual Italian fare designed to be shared, so gather your family and friends – it’s time to wine and dine the day away.

Don’t mistake casual for boring, however. Everything has been thought of to add a few special touches to the dining experience. That means when truffles are in season, you’ll be able to add shavings on everything, and there’s even a caviar cart for when you’re feeling extra fancy.

The menu is split into six sections – antipasti, pasta, pizza, mains, sides, and desserts – and covers all your favourite Italian dishes like rigatoni alla vodka, margherita pizza, veal cotoletta, and of course, tiramisu.

Harkham Wines owner and winemaker Richie Harkham has worked with restaurateur and friend Marco Ambrosino, and newly-appointed Harkham head chef Shaun Nash (ex-Cutler and Co) on a menu that matches with Harkham wines, so you can enjoy its exceptional drops while you dine.

Of course, the full range of Harkham’s renowned natural and reserve wines will feature on the menu, alongside other boutique producers with a minimal intervention ethos, including bottles from other Hunter Valley wineries and rare French wines. 

Want to break up the wine? You’re in luck, because Richie has created an exclusive cocktail list with Byron Woolfrey, co-founder of Trolley’d, a portable bar hire business known for embracing sustainability, native Australian ingredients, plus foraged and local organic produce.

Highlights from the cocktail list include the Finger Lime & Riberry Negroni, the Blood Orange & Smoked Chilli Margarita, and the Illawarra Plum & Lavender Whiskey Sour.

The restaurant itself brings the outdoors in, with lots of earthy finishes and beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows that can be opened up when the weather calls for it. There’s plenty of room to kick back and relax with a wine, whether you’re in the restaurant or outside by the fire pit. The laidback atmosphere is made even more convivial with live music on Saturdays from 3pm-6pm.

Harkham Restaurant & Bar has been in the works for years now, and Richie is keen to see it open for business.

“Not long ago we identified a gap in the market for a casual offering where people can come to enjoy simple food paired beautifully with a glass of Hunter Valley Semillon or shiraz rather than locking into a fine dining experience with a two-course minimum.

“For years I have dreamed and planned for this new restaurant and I am so excited to see it finally coming to life,” he said.

Harkham’s new restaurant will be open from 12pm-5pm on Thursdays (lunch), 12pm-11pm on Fridays (lunch, snacks, dinner), 8am-11pm on Saturdays (breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner) and 8am-6pm Sundays (breakfast, lunch, snacks). The cellar door is open 10am-5pm, Thursday through to Sunday.

Photography credit: Nikki To