| EAST COAST REGION | ||||
| Apsley Gorge | Bream creek | Coombend | Craigie Knowe | Darlington |
| Edithvale | Freycinet | Spring Vale | Yaxley Estate | |
| Apsley Gorge | ||
| Brian Franklin is an abalone diver turned winemaker- he has five hectares of vines and a waterfront winery in a spectacular setting at the Gulch in Bicheno. | The
pinots have been particularly good and the chardonnays have also won a swag
of medals over the last eight years. The latest triumph was winning the
best pinot trophy at the Adelaide wine show. |
Open 10am to 5pm daily.
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| Bream Creek | ||
| Fred Peacock could now be described as a "veteran" of the Tasmanian wine industry- as a viticulture consultant, he has been responsible for much of the success of many Tasmanian projects. |
The Bream Creek vineyard was established in the early 70s for Moorilla Estate- Fred bought it in 1990 and has since bought another smaller four hectare vineyard at Rowella in the Tamar Valley. The pinot noir has become one of the state's best and there has been some top class riesling, gewurtztraminer and schonberger also. Other varieties include chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and a sauvignon blanc recently added to the range. Tastings and sales are from Potters Croft at Dunalley, on the way to Port Arthur, which is open 10am to 5.30pm Sunday to Friday. |
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| Coombend | ||
| This five hectare vineyard owned by John and Jo Fenn-Smith has been best known for its superb cabernet sauvignon, always amongst the best in the state. |
More recently they have produced some excellent riesling and a terrific, racy sauvignon blanc. The vineyard has now been supplemented by 3000 olive trees, producing a delectable oil. Vineyard cottage accommodation is available. The cellar door is at the start of the driveway into Freycinet Vineyard, but don't be confused- Freycinet is at the end of the drive. Both are well worth a visit. |
Open 9.30am to 5pm every day. |
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| Craigie Knowe | ||
| A five hectare vineyard established in 1979 by Hobart dentist and general bon vivant John Austwick. |
His love of Bordeaux led him to plant all the major Bordeaux varieties and his cabernets have become legendary, with many only now starting to show their best. A little pinot noir is also produced, but cabernet is the main event- he is now in partnership with Ray Jensen. |
The vineyard is open 9am to 4pm on weekends only.
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| Darlington | ||
| One
of the East coast's newer vineyards planted at Orford in 1993 by Margaret
and Peter Hyland, a bit over a hectare of pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling
and sauvignon blanc. |
I tasted the wines at Festivale and was particularly impressed with the riesling and an unwooded chardonnay. Peter explained that this is his "retirement hobby"- he may find that he's busier now than when he was working as a builder. |
The cellar door, at Holkam Court, Orford is open 10am to 5pm every day. |
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| Edithvale | ||
| A new two hectare vineyard at Sorell planted by Bruce and Irene Clennett, with no wines released as yet. | Open by appointment only. | |
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| Freycinet | ||
| The East Coast's premier producer with a flawless track record over 17 vintages. |
Abalone diver Geoff Bull got things started back in 1980 and there is now more than five hectares of picturesque vineyard, including a higher altitude planting specially for sparkling wine. The pinot noir and chardonnay have a national reputation and there have been some spectacular cabernets and rieslings too. To me however the star of the show is Radenti. the vintage sparkling wine named after Claudio Radenti who is married to fellow winemaker Lindy Bull. This is a sensational drop which would not be out of place in a Champagne tasting. Claude also makes a great beer, branded Hazards Ale. |
Freycinet is open 9.30am to 5.30pm every day.
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| Spring Vale | ||
| What is the best pinot noir in Tasmania? Spring Vale must come very close- consistently wonderful wines, full of rich perfumed fruit, silky and seductive. |
The tasting room is one of the most atmospheric in the state, in a converted stable built by convict labour in 1842. Recently Spring Vale owners Rodney and Lyn Lyne have been making a bit of a stir with some spectacular gewurtztraminer and pinot gris, and the chardonnay's not too dusty either. A great
range of wines and a must-visit on the East coast. Just north of Swansea-
open 10am to 5pm every day. |
Open 10am to 5pm every day.
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| Yaxley | ||
| Bill Yaxley is a well known Tasmanian artist whose work has featured on the Hawley Vineyard labels. |
His small vineyard at Copping is coming up to its tenth birthday and produces pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, with the wines made by Andrew Hood. The tasting rooms double as a gallery for Bill's paintings. |
Tasting rooms open 10am to 5pm every day. |
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