Natalie Fryar’s Bellebonne finally has a cellar door. She’s partnered up with new Tamar Valley label Evenfall for a restaurant and tasting room in Legana, about 15 minutes’ from Launceston in Tasmania.
The 7.2ha site, planted as Elsmlie Winery in the mid-70s, was bought by Tasmanian-born berry tycoon Richard Winspear a couple of years back. Nat and her winemaker husband Hugh McCullough moved into the winery full-time in January 2023.
“I’ve made wines in a lot of places, but as Bellebonne has grown and Hugh and I started Wellington & Wolfe, we needed a place where we could control our own outcomes. It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Natalie says.
Evenfall Wines, which has just released its first vintage (2022), belongs to said berry tycoon. He’s enlisted award-winning winemaker Liam McElhinney to make wines from the estate-grown chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon down south at Tasmanian Vintners, where Liam is also head winemaker.
In the restaurant, chef Tom Kirby (ex-Qamby Estate/Hazelbrae) is cooking up produce from local farmers markets, fishing boats, oyster farms and country fields. Rounding out the impressive wine offering are bottlings from neighbours, friends and family, including Tassie labels Wellington & Wolfe, Utzinger Wines (Matthias Utzinger is Evenfall’s viticulturist) and Ossa Wines, which Liam also makes.
Expect sweeping Tamar River views – the restaurant and cellar door are perched atop a hill, with an outdoor deck for sunset sipping. Meanwhile the dining room has been given an elegant makeover, with dark wood and soft grey textiles.
Located at 2 Upper McEwans Road, Legana, the Bellebonne at Evenfall cellar door is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4.30pm.
Evenfall Restaurant is open on Thursday from 11am–4pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am–late and Sunday from 11am–4pm.
For more information and to make a reservation, visit evenfall.au.
Image credit: Monika Kulon.
