Our island state has quicklyestablished itself as a prominent Australian wine destination, with numerous winemakers relocating from the mainland to acquiredesirable vineyards or currentlyobtaining its renownedpure fruit. Quality isabundant, from the Tamar Valley’s lush, meanderingscenery to the picture-perfect East Coast.
Tasmania’s sparkling wines are internationallycelebrated, and its pinot noir, chardonnay, and riesling are esteemed by diningestablishments and merchants. The solelimitation is that these wines are available in restrictedquantities, and not everyone of them crosses the strait. This finalaspect is asignificant one. The demand for wines fromTasmanialeadstoa price thatisaboveaverage,establishing it as one of our top premium regions.
Inaddition to art, food, and nature that draw people to visit, Tasmania offers an inspiring settingfor some of Australia’s most thrilling wines
The history of wine in Tasmania
Tasmania possesses a surprisingly extensive history of winemaking. Indeed,asstated in James Halliday’s Wine Atlas of Australia, the initial vines in Victoria and South Australia originated from thisarea,specifically from Port Arthur in the south. Bartholomew Broughton established Tasmania’s inaugural commercial vineyard in 1823, and by 1865, 45 different varieties were cultivated. Shortlythereafter,however, winemaking nearly stopped,“partlybecauseof the gold rush on the mainland,” and it didnotresume for almostacentury.
Tasmania’s contemporary winemaking history started in the mid-1950s, as the Hydro-Electric Commission assisted two of its trailblazers – Jean Miguet, who established the first vineyards in the north, and Claudio Alcorso, who launched Moorilla in the south two years after.
Currently, a diverserange of producers residesin Tasmania, ranging from family-owned wineries to contemporary producers and major corporate brands. Tasmania has emergedasAustralia’spremier winemaking regionin the 21st century, attractingmanyeagertojoinin. Nonetheless, the rivalry for this esteemedterritory has hindered all except a select few from settlingthere,preserving Tasmania’s status as a top-tierdestination
