By Jacqui Bialocki
At first glance, Nazaaray Estate is a place defined by wine. Set against the rugged beauty of Flinders, the vineyard’s windswept rows and cellar door experiences tell the story of craftsmanship, patience and vision.
But behind every bottle poured lies another story, one far greater than wine itself. It is the story of determination to make a difference to the survival of one of the world’s most endangered species: the Bengal tiger.
For Nazaaray Estate founder Paramdeep ‘Param’ Ghumman, success has never been measured solely by what is produced from the land he cultivated in Australia. It has also been about what that success can give back.
Born in India, Param arrived in Australia in 1981 to build a new life with his wife, Nirmal. Years later, after transforming 20ha of rugged land into one of the Peninsula’s most distinctive boutique wineries, his thoughts often turned back to India, and to the disappearing wilderness that once inspired him. The Bengal tiger, an enduring symbol of India’s natural heritage, has faced decades of threat from habitat loss, lack of water, poaching, and the increasing pressures of human encroachment.
Driven by a desire to create meaningful change, Param joined forces with two close school friends, Pawan and Rajeev, who shared his passion for conservation. Together they launched Tiger Water Life, an initiative that addressed one of the most pressing challenges facing tiger habitats in parts of India: access to water.
Their solution was both practical and powerful, funding the installation of solar-powered water pumps in key tiger conservation areas. These pumps provide a sustainable water source in remote regions where seasonal drought can devastate ecosystems. By ensuring reliable access to water for wildlife, they help sustain prey populations, preserve fragile habitats, and create better conditions for Bengal tigers to survive and thrive. It is a simple concept with profound impact.
For Param, it is also deeply personal. Every tasting at Nazaaray Estate contributes financially to these conservation efforts, meaning visitors to this small Peninsula winery become part of a much larger story. Few would expect that a glass of cool-climate pinot noir in Flinders could help protect a tiger thousands of kilometres away, but that is precisely the legacy Param has created. His commitment is a reminder that conservation is not always led by large organisations or global campaigns. Sometimes it begins with individuals who care enough to act.
At Nazaaray Estate, wine is still at the heart of the experience, carefully crafted, distinctive, and shaped by the Peninsula’s unique coastal conditions. But perhaps the most remarkable thing being nurtured here is not found in the vineyard rows.
Through vision, generosity, and shared determination, Param continues to prove that even from a quiet corner of the Peninsula it is possible to have an influence on the fate of one of the world’s most magnificent creatures – a legacy poured not just into glasses but into the future of the Bengal tiger. Find out more at nazaaray.com.au
