Between its rich history, heritage architecture, beautiful landscapes, thriving dining scene, award-winning whisky industry, and, of course, Mona, it can be easy to overlook Tasmania’s vine-related offerings. However, you’d be remiss to do so; the island has become an inextricable part of Australia’s viticulture industry, with the burgeoning Tasmanian wine scene winning over casual imbibers and experts alike with its cool climate styles.
While Tasmania is technically considered a single wine region, it’s a diverse one, with seven distinct wine growing subregions spread across two key areas — Northern Tasmania and Southern Tasmania. These subregions are the North West, Tamar Valley, and Pipers River in Northern Tasmania, and the East Coast, Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley and Huon Valley/d’Entrecasteaux Channel in Southern Tasmania.
The best wineries in Tasmania
The best wineries in Tasmania are scattered across the island. Some can be visited as day trips from Hobart, while others are best threaded together as a road trip.
1. Devil’s Corner
Set on the rugged East Coast of Tasmania, Devil’s Corner is flanked by the Moulting Lagoon wetlands and the Hazards mountain range. This unique terroir is celebrated in the winery’s Resolutions and Hazards ranges, which capture the elegant subtlety and lighter body of Tasmania’s cool climate grape varieties. Set within a contemporary structure designed by sustainably minded Tasmanian architecture outfit Cumulus Studio, the Devil’s Corner cellar door comprises an outdoor courtyard with casual dining options courtesy of Tombolo Freycinet and Fishers of Freycinet; the Devil’s Den, an underground cellar for private wine tastings and intimate events; and the Hazards Tasting Room, a welcoming space for hosted tastings that captures stunning views of the Freycinet Peninsula and Moulting Lagoon.
The latter location sets the scene for Devil’s Corner’s latest offering, the Moulting Lagoon Adventure, which takes place over the winter months. Forget Champagne and caviar, it’s all about sparkling wine and oysters — shucked before your eyes off the back of a ute while sipping a glass of sparkling cuvée or riesling and taking in the surrounding native wetlands. The experience is buoyed by a tour of the winery, lunch, and premium wine tasting.
The Moulting Lagoon Adventure runs from the 4th of May to 3rd of August, on the first Sunday of each month from 12pm to 3pm. Tickets are priced at $245pp, with bookings essential via the Devil’s Corner website.
Best for: pinot noir, riesling, chardonnay
Region: East Coast
Address: 1 Sherbourne Rd, Apslawn, Tasmania, Australia
2. Frogmore Creek
A hop, skip, and 20-minute drive across the Derwent River from Hobart is Frogmore Creek, home to two distinct wine labels: 42 Degrees South and Frogmore Creek (which encompasses the Winemakers Reserve and the Single Block Series ranges). Located in the southern region, Coal River Valley is cooler and drier than the East Coast and Tamar Valley, resulting in slowly ripened grapes that produce wines defined by their crisp acidity and pure fruit flavours. We recommend trying the Frogmore Creek Single Block Series Cabernet Sauvignon.
Best for: cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay
Region: Coal River Valley
Address: 699 Richmond Rd, Cambridge, Tasmania, Australia
3. Josef Chromy
Just ten minutes from Launceston, Josef Chromy is one of the most bucolic wineries in Tasmania. Located in the Tamar Valley region, the cellar door is housed within an original 19th century homestead and overlooks the heritage garden and lakeside vineyard. While the winery produces all the classics using a minimal intervention approach, its sparkling wines and whites are the highlights here. The former are produced using Methode Traditionelle (the traditional method for Champagne production, which involves a second fermentation) known for their crisp green apple acidity while the latter offer delicate fruit notes and gentle acidity. Opt to add a two- or three-course lunch onto the back of your wine tasting to experience the pours in action. Oh, and if you come across Josef Chromy’s Gewürztraminer, don’t pass it up.
Best for: sparkling wine, pinot gris, riesling, pinot noir
Region: Tamar Valley
Address: 370 Relbia Rd, Relbia, Tasmania, Australia
4. Tamar Ridge
Having dedicated itself to the pursuit of the perfect pinot noir, Tamar Ridge produces elegant and complex expressions that speak to its location. Nestled within the Tamar Valley, which has a comparatively warmer climate and clay-limestone soils which allow for the production of intense reds, Tamar Ridge has several flagship pinot noirs on offer. They’re best paired with one of the cellar door’s cheese plates and followed up by a tour of and gin tasting in the neighbouring Turner Stillhouse.
Best for: pinot noir
Region: Tamar Valley
Address: 1A Waldhorn Dr, Rosevears, Tasmania, Australia
5. Tolpuddle
Specialising in chardonnay and pinot noir, Tolpuddle makes use of the dry, cold climate of the Coal River Valley to produce wines defined by their acidity and purity of flavour. The tasting room accommodates just six people, ensuring your experience will be an intimate one. While the cellar door doesn’t have a dedicated restaurant, it does have a selection of bites and small meals that serve as the ideal accompaniment to your tasting flight.
Best for: pinot noir, chardonnay
Region: Coal River Valley
Address: 37 Back Tea Tree Road, Richmond, Tasmania, Australia
6. Pooley
Family owned and operated establishment Pooley enjoys interesting environmental conditions, influenced by the surrounding maritime climate and experiencing more extreme temperatures throughout the year, with more distinct seasons than other subregions. The result is a long growing season with a long ripening period, which translates to ideal conditions for cool climate grape varieties like pinot noir, pinot grigio, riesling, and chardonnay. While the wines are the obvious drawcard, the restored 19th century sandstone building and the surrounding hills serve as the ideal setting in which to wile away an afternoon.
Best for: pinot noir, pinot grigio, chardonnay, riesling
Region: Coal River Valley
Address: 1431 Richmond Rd, Richmond, Tasmania, Australia
7. Stefano Lubiana
Known for being Tasmania’s first certified biodynamic vineyard, sixth-generation outfit Stefano Lubiana specialises in pinot noir, chardonnay, and sparkling wine. Our favourite is the latter, best enjoyed with one of the cellar door’s charcuterie platters.
Best for: sparkling wine, pinot noir, chardonnay
Region: Derwent Valley
Address: 60 Rowbottoms Rd, Granton, Tasmania, Australia
Words by T. Angel
