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About Us
About Us
Sitting on a beautiful 10 acres, only 12 miles east of Paso Robles, Bon Niche Cellars has a 7-acre sustainable vineyard, producing Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Originally planted in 2009, the vineyard is cared for now by Melani Harding and a menagerie of animals (and humans!).
About the Crew
Melani, Owner & Winemaker
Melani’s love of wine started when she was a Navy nurse stationed in Naples, Italy, in 2009. While living in Italy, she traveled throughout Europe and gathered wines along the way, creating an impressive collection. She fell in love with the way wine brought people together. Over the next 10 years, she hosted wine gatherings, taught and took classes, and took an informal but fun approach to learning about wine.
In 2017, Melani began volunteering at the Tackitt Family Vineyards for a Warrior Helping Warriors fundraiser, where she fell further in love with the winemaking process, the people, and Paso Robles. She offered to assist the Tackitts at their events and started to learn more about the intricacies of winemaking and viticulture under the tutelage of Leon Tackitt- this is where she realized her dream of owning a winery. Melani knows the importance of the translation of the Bon Niche name- “a good place.” Through the years, she has come to realize that life is about enjoying the people, the place, and the moment. Wine has brought many people, places, and special moments to life for Melani, and her dream is to create a very good place with great wine.
Gilbert the winery pig
Gilbert, our KuneKune pig, joined the farm in November, 2021. He loves to eat grass and visit folks on the patio!
See more of his adventures on Instagram @gilbertthewinerypig
Barley, Vineyard Supervisor
Born in 2015, Barley was rescued by Melani when he was nearly a year old. Three-quarters standard poodle and one-quarter St. Bernard (yes, really!), this St. Berdoodle loves being in the vineyard.
In 2020, Barley was hit by a car and became a tripawd – he’s still a happy dood, and we have been so supported by our community during his recovery. He’s since devoted his time to being our Vineyard Supervisor, chasing squirrels, rabbits, and identifying water leaks!
Follow his antics on Instagram! @barleyvondoodle
Larry & the Goats, Ground Management crew
Our collection of Nigerian Dwarf goats is led by Larry, who is extremely friendly and hopes you’ll open the treat bin! All of the goats are boys, and they help out with the weeds on the property. They love climbing on cars, trucks, the forklift, the atv… They aren’t allowed to roam during the growing season, so they travel the vineyard in our own “Goat Tractor” (patent pending, ha).
Wally & Joyce, Founders
Wally & Joyce created the beautiful vineyard from just a grassy, eucalyptus-shaded field. Lots of hard work, love, and dedication went into creating this “Very Good Place!” With the help of friends and family through the years, they’ve truly established a long-standing legacy. Visiting with Joyce and Wally is a highlight of many memories made at Bon Niche – Melani’s included! With a “real” retirement, they are excited to travel, spend time with their families, and to let Melani do the heavy lifting!