20 Tasmanian wines to try

Tasmania is Australia’s coolest wine region – and we’re not just talking about climate. It’s renowned for world-class pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling, aromatic varieties including riesling, pinot gris and sauvignon blanc, and even warmer-climate varieties like syrah and cabernet sauvignon. It produces less than one per cent of the country’s wine, yet it makes up four per cent of its value.    

Tasmania's wine history

Tasmania’s winegrowing history dates back to around 1788 when the first vines were planted on Bruny Island, although it wasn’t until the 1970s that the region’s potential began to be recognised. Even then, up until at least the mid-aughts, the state was home to very few fulltime winemakers. Aside from its cold temperatures – once thought by some to be too cold for wine grapes – regular extremes of weather including wind, rain, drought, hail, and even snow make viticulture on the island not just challenging but risky. Thankfully, Tasmanian winemakers are a clever bunch of grapes, and their talents, aided by the region’s diverse soils and plentiful sunshine, result in some of the country’s best wines. 

Chardonnay grapes at Jansz. Image credit: Wine Australia.

Tasmania's winegrowing areas and best winemakers

Despite its varied topography, Tasmania is considered to be a single wine region (GI) with seven main winegrowing areas: the North West, Tamar Valley, Pipers River, East Coast, Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley, and the Huon Valley/d’Entrecasteaux Channel. Some of the biggest names in Australian wine have made these areas home, including Pooley Wines, Josef Chromy, Frogmore Creek, Freycinet, Domaine A, Pipers Brook, Devil’s Corner and more. And there’s an increasing number of wineries based in other Australian states making wine from Tasmanian grapes, such as Penfolds and Leo Buring.

Anna Pooley and Justin Bubb, winemakers at Pooley Wines. Image credit: Wine Australia.

Tasmania's best wines

While less than half of the wine produced in Tasmania leaves the state, fortunately there are still plenty of delicious examples to be found on the mainland and abroad. We’ve rounded up a list of 20 of Tasmania’s best wines, focusing on the four varieties/styles the island does best.

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