WINE TRAIL
Discover 10 of Tasmania’s top wineries, as rated by James Halliday, and enjoy cellar-door tastings before filling your car boot with new-release wines and exclusive back vintages; many of which aren’t available on the mainland.
Tasmania’s top wineries as rated by James Halliday. Plus boutique brews, whisky, and cider.
1 GHOST ROCK VINEYARD
1055 Port Sorell Road, Northdown, (03) 6428 4005; ghostrock.com.au. Open Wed-Sun and public holidays, except Good Friday and Christmas Day, 11am-5pm (seven days Dec-Feb).
Kick off your tour at Ghost Rock Vineyard. Sample estate-grown pinot gris, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and riesling then recharge with an antipasto platter.
2 BAY OF FIRES WINES
40 Baxters Road, Pipers River, (03) 6382 7622; bayoffireswines.com.au. Open seven days: 10am-5pm; 11am-4pm in winter. Closed Christmas Day.
Bay of Fires, in the pretty Tamar Valley, is home to a cellar door serving top-rated pinot noir, riesling, and chardonnay, as well as world-class House of Arras sparkling wine.
3 TAMAR RIDGE
1a Waldhorn Drive, Rosevears, (03) 6330 0300; brownbrothers.com.au. Open seven days, 10am-5pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. Tamar Ridge, on the banks of the Tamar River, produces age-worthy riesling, elegant pinot gris, and pinot noir, plus fine Pirie sparkling. Bring your own picnic to enjoy on the lawn, or order a platter of cheese and terrine.
6 MILTON VINEYARD
14635 Tasman Highway, Swansea, (03) 6257 8298; miltonvineyard.com.au. Open seven days, 10am-5pm.
Milton Vineyard, south-west of Bicheno, dates back to 1826 and is one of the state’s most historic properties. Try aromatic gewürztraminer and Auslese-style iced riesling.
7 POOLEY WINES
Belmont Vineyard, 1431 Richmond Road, Richmond, (03) 6260 2895; pooley wines. com.au. Open seven days, 10am-5pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. Only 20-minutes north-east of Hobart, third-generation Pooley Wines in the Coal River Valley offers complex riesling and powerful pinot noir in an historic homestead setting.
8 FROGMORE CREEK
699 Richmond Road, Cambridge, (03) 6274 5844; frogmorecreek.com.au. Open seven days, 10am-5pm. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. Frogmore Creek offers stunning views over Barilla Bay, famed for its oysters. Sample floral rieslings followed by lunch with matched wines in The Restaurant.
4 JOSEF CHROMY WINES
370 Relbia Road, Relbia, (03) 6335 8700; josefchromy.com.au. Open seven days, 10am–5pm.
South of Launceston, Josef Chromy is set in an 1800s homestead with gorgeous lake views, a welcoming fireplace, and restaurant. Try the cellar-worthy Josef Chromy and Zdar labels.
5 FREYCINET VINEYARD
15919 Tasman Highway via Bicheno, (03) 6257 8574; freycinetvineyard.com.au. Open seven days, 10am-5pm (Oct-Apr); 10am-4pm (May-Sep). Closed Christmas Day.
On the East Coast of Tasmania, pay a visit to Freycinet Vineyard near Bicheno to sip bright pinot noir, crisp riesling, and textural sauvignon blanc.
9 STEFANO LUBIANA WINES
60 Rowbottoms Road, Granton, (03) 6263 7457; slw.com.au. Open Thurs-Mon, 11am-4pm (closed July). In the Derwent Valley, northwest of Hobart, seek out Stefano Lubiana Wines for biodynamic sparkling wine, pinot noir, riesling, and pinot gris. An osteria serves rustic Italian fare.
10 HOME HILL WINES
38 Nairn Street, Ranelagh, (03) 6264 1200; homehillwines.com.au. Open seven days, 10am-5pm. Closed Christmas day and Good Friday.
Home Hill Wines in the Huon Valley, south-west of Hobart, has a restaurant and cellar door featuring sparkling wines, chardonnay, and pinot noirs.