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Tasmania
A late bloomer
Despite appearing on the ‘wine scene’ on fairly recently, many people would be surprised to learn that Tasmania has a long wine heritage. In fact, Tasmania can claim to have founded both the Victorian and South Australian wine industries. Wine was commercially made and sold in Tasmania several years before vines were planted in either of those states, and was the source of their first vines, with a number of cuttings obtained from the Port Arthur colony in Southern Tasmania.
However, Tasmania’s wine industry didn’t really reach take off until 1974 when Dr Andrew Pirie established Pipers Brook Vineyard. By producing excellent wines and marketing them effectively, Pipers Brook vineyard brought Tasmanian wine to prominence in the minds of wine drinkers. Since then, their reputation has grown both domestically and internationally, gaining outstanding acclaim for their premium quality table and sparkling wines.
Diversity is the key
The whole island of Tasmania is an official wine zone. There are no wine regions. However, there is a broad division between Northern and Southern Tasmania, and within this division distinct viticultural areas exist, with a wide range of microclimates and soil types. Tasmania’s complex geography has helped produce wines of extensive diversity and character.
Central to the vineyard areas of Northern Tasmania is the city of Launceston, located on the banks of the Tamar River. The Tamar Valley lies to the north west of the city, and to the north east is Pipers Brook and Pipers River. These combined areas are commonly referred to as the Tamar Valley Wine Route. The area is a mix of players from large companies such as BRL Hardy’s Bay of Fires, and Yalumba’s Jansz Wine Company, to smaller wineries producing much sought after premium wines.
The outstanding grape varieties are Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir, with a special note being made towards Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. Alongside its contribution to the high quality table wine market, this area also produces what are possibly Australia’s best sparkling wines.
Southern Tasmania incorporates wine areas within easy reach of the state capital, Hobart. Top quality vineyards and wineries grace the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley, Huon Valley and D’ Entrecasteaux Channel. As you might expect with Tasmania’s distinctly seasonal, cool climate, vineyards need to be carefully located for maximum exposure to the sun, and protection from the cold southerly winds. Tending to reside around rivers and bays, the grapes experience the tempering effects of large bodies of water. Very much like the North, key grape varieties are Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir with small patches of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Pinot Noir is of particular high quality providing complex and rich refined wines.
Tasmania’s tourism paradise
Tasmania has embraced food and wine tourism in a major way, sponsored by a farming culture hugely proud of its produce both on land and at sea. Many wineries provide accommodation and sponsor cultural events, as well as establishing fine restaurants along with their cellar doors. Throw in travel times compressed from hours to minutes, stunning lake and mountainside scenery, towering forests and beautiful rivers - Tasmania truly is one of Australia’s unique destinations, and a tourist delight.
We Recommend
Ninth Island
Pinot Noir
A sensational cool-climate Pinot Noir from the makers of Piper's Brook. Tasmania is now recognized as a world class Pinot region and with wines of this quality one can see why!
Jansz
Brut Vintage
Tasmania is producing world-class sparklings and this is one of the very best examples. Subtle complex and elegant it shows fine intense fruit with classic toasty creamy yeast character.
Bay Of Fires
Sparkling Brut
From legendary sparkling maker Ed Carr, the Bay of Fires Sparkling is the precursor to the triumphal House of Arras range. With its genesis in such quality wines, its easy to see why the new range is already winning huge applause.
Dan Murphy's supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol. New South Wales: Liquor Act 2007. It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years.Victoria: WARNING: Victoria Liquor Control Reform Act 1998: It is an offence to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years (Penalty exceeds $7,000), for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase or receive liquor (Penalty exceeds $600). WARNING. Under the Liquor Control Act 1988, it is an offence: to sell or supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years on licensed or regulated premises; or for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase, or attempt to purchase, liquor on licensed or regulated premises.South Australia: Liquor Licensing Act 1997, Section 113. Liquor must NOT be supplied to persons under 18. Queensland: Under the Liquor Act 1992, it is an offence to supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years. For more specific legislation in your state or territory visit our Liquor Licensing Acts page. ABN 88 000 014 675.