Explore wineries in Tasmania
In recent times, Tasmania has fast become one of the world's premier cool climate wine producers. If you're planning a trip to the Apple Isle, then make sure you don't miss out on a little wine tasting while you're at it.
A brief history of wineries in Tasmania
Tasmania's first vineyard – and Australia's second - was planted on Prospect Farm, New Town, in 1823 by Bartolemew Broughton. With the recent discovery of Australia's oldest known bottles of sparking wine in Broughton's long-forgotten cellar, Tasmania is now the oldest known wine-producing region in the country. By the time the first vineyards were planted in both South Australia and Victoria, using Tasmanian vine cuttings, the state had already established commercial vineyards at Campania, the lower Tamar at Windermere, Swansea, Port Arthur and New Town in Hobart, among other regions.
Alas, Tasmania's wine industry would be deal a savage blow with a ban on production of ports and sherries diverting most of the wine production to the warmer climate vineyards of the mainland. The gold rush of the same era saw many of Tasmania's wine workers flee to the fields of Victoria in the mid-1800s also, leaving few hands to tend to the vines.
Wine in Tasmania today
Fortunately for all wine lovers everywhere, cool climate wines made a solid comeback. In the 1960s, the Heemskerk Vineyard was planted by Graham Wiltshire on the Tamar, followed by an explosion of similar establishments, including Stoney, Ferycinet, Meadowbank, GlenAyre, Moorilla and many more that has since become famous for their inspired winemaking. Today, over 8000 tonnes of fruit is harvested each year by the 250 wineries in the region.
Visiting Tasmania for the wine alone is a good enough reason to make the trek. The Tamar Valley is a must, with some of the best cool climate wines the state has to offer. With more than 20 cellar doors along a 58 km stretch between Launceston and the sea, this is definitely a trip you need to have some time for.
To the south, Hobart is surrounded by a huge variety of wineries in almost every direction, from the lush Coal River and Derwent Valleys, to Port Arthur and the Huon and Channel Vineyards, there's an abundance of cellar doors on offer.
The east Coast and North West also offer up some amazing scenery and wineries, including Freycinet, Spring Vale and Milton all in the East, and Tiger Ranch in the North, offering it's limited premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
There are plenty of wine tours available too, so there's no need to drink and drive. If you're staying in Launceston, then a Venture Wine Tour offers a one-day trip to the region's cellar doors. If a two-day adventure is more to your liking, then try the Tamar Valley Touring Route, which goes to the region's wineries on the first day and explores the it's wildlife on the second.