Visiting Tassie? Don't miss these four family wineries serving up world-class wines and hospitality.
In Northern Tasmania, just a short drive from Devonport or Launceston, you're unlikely to find monolithic wineries producing cookie-cutter wines. Small-batch, hand-crafted wines are the name of the game here, with family-run estates punching well above their weight. It makes for a tight-knit community who support one another, and you're more than likely to find the same people managing the vineyards, making the wines and manning the cellar door. Ready to experience the family magic for yourself? Then be sure to drop by these four wineries.
Being one of the first vineyards planted in the area, Delamere is a slice of Tamar Valley history. Established in 1982, the winery was purchased in the mid-2000s by husband-and-wife duo Shane and Fran, who oversee both the vineyard and winemaking. Pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling are the specialties here, with all wines grown, crafted and bottled on the estate. The cellar door is best described as rustic; a small, welcoming space set among eucalyptus trees, enjoyed with a glass of sparkling rosé in hand.
The rolling green vineyards of Tasmania are a far cry from California, but when Marion and Mark Semmens spotted an apple orchard for sale back in 1980, they packed up their belongings and moved their life from the Golden State to the Apple Isle. The rest, as they say, is delicious history, and you'd be hard pressed to find a more stunning setting for a winery anywhere in the world. Set right on the banks of the River Tamar, Marion's Vineyard is the ideal place to while away an afternoon with a glass of cool-climate magic in hand, whether it's a pinot noir, tempranillo, chardonnay, pinot gris or whatever else catches your eye at the cellar door.
Scribbled these four wineries down on your list? Discover the rest of northern Tasmania's sweet spots at Dan's Vine Guide, and read up on what makes this region so special.
