Calling golfers who love their wine and food

 

Calling all lovers of luxury, Tasmanian food and wine, and golf. 

How about three nights at delightful Country House, dinner, Pooley wine experiences and the chance to play two of the best golf courses in Tasmania? 

The the inaugural Prospect Epicurean Open from April 19-22 might be of interest. 

The experience includes a three-night stay at Prospect Country House - just across the road from owners the Pooley family's cellar door - and rounds of golf at 7 Mile Beach and Royal Hobart Golf Club.

From seasoned low handicappers pros to weekend enthusiasts, the event is designed for golfers of all skill levels. 

After the golf, participants can retreat to the heritage comfort of Buscombe's Restaurant and Prospect Country House in the Coal River Valley for a five-course degustation dinner, Pooley wines, and the quiet of the very pretty 1830s estate.

Mathew Goggin's 7 Mile Beach (above) is one of Australia's newest top-rated courses and participants will be led by pro golfer Scott Laycock and John Davis from Tasmanian Golf Experiences. 

Davis will also host the 18 holes at Royal Hobart Golf Club. 

The experience includes all transfers, accommodation, curated meals, Pooley wines, green fees and pull buggies included. All you need is a toothbrush and your golf clubs. The price is $3,150 person.

For full details email Lisa Pooley at lisa@prospectcountryhouse.com.au or check out https://prospectcountryhouse.com.au/

Connew named winemaker of the year

Samantha Connew (above) added to a growing number of honours won by members of the wine industry in Tasmania in 2025 when she was named ASVO Winemaker of the Year.

The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) this week named the winners of its 2025 Awards for Excellence, including ‘Winemaker of the Year’, ‘Viticulturist of the Year’, ‘Wine Science and Technology Award’ and the new ‘Emerging Talent Award’.

Connew, vigneron/owner of Stargazer in the Coal River Valley, north of Hobart, was "recognised for her huge commitment to volunteering her time and expertise back to the industry, particularly to reward excellence in others".

She was was the youngest judge and first woman to serve as chair of judges at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and is the current Chair of Judges at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show. She serves as a tutor and on the Board of the Len Evans Tutorial and has previously served on the board of Wine Tasmania and the advisory board of the Australian Women in Wine Awards.

“This has been a challenging year for me personally and professionally (as it is for so many in the wine industry right now) so to be awarded this accolade by my peers is a timely reminder of why we do what we do despite the obstacles, and what a great industry this is to be a part of, and how I’m fortunate to be able to contribute,” Connew said.

Connew earlier this month opened the new Stargazer vineyard tasting room.

Viticulturist of the Year was Steve Faulkner, currently senior viticulturist for Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley, while the Wine Science & Technology Award went to Kerry Wilkinson, Professor of Oenology at the University of Adelaide.

Maggie Jarrett, originator of the concept of the Rootlings wine industry youth network in NSW, was the recipient of the new Emerging Talent Award. She works for SeeSaw Wines.

Image: Adam Gibson

Stargazer opens bijou vineyard tasting room

One of the most exciting wine brands in Tasmania has just opened a new mini tasting room.

Sam Connew's Stargazer Wines has unveiled a dedicated tasting room on its estate vineyard in the Coal River Valley.

The opening marks a significant milestone for winemaker and owner Connew, who founded the label in 2013 after being drawn to the region for its cool-climate conditions that reminded her of her native New Zealand.

Coinciding with the opening is the release of the 2025 vintage estate-grown Palisander wines - a single-vineyard pinot noir and riesling sourced from the now five-hectare vineyard that the tasting room overlooks. Tasting notes soon.

The small, architecturally designed space (above) reflects Connew’s bespoke, small-batch approach to winemaking.

Seating just 12 guests, it has been designed to host one-hour guided tasting experiences around a handcrafted communal table. Three guided tastings will be held per day, and the tasting room will also host special events, including collaborative dinners.

Before founding Stargazer, Connew had already built an impressive reputation across Australia and abroad.

She was senior winemaker at Wirra Wirra Vineyards in McLaren Vale, later managed Tower Estate in the Hunter Valley, and served as manager of the Hunter Valley node for the Australian Wine Research Institute.

 
A formative vintage in Oregon ignited her enduring passion for cool-climate viticulture.

“Opening this tasting room is a very personal achievement for me,” Connew said.

“Much of my earlier career centred on achieving consistency, but Stargazer has been about embracing the nuances of site, season and variety.

"This space is an opportunity to bring those stories to life and share them first-hand with the people who enjoy our wines.”

Bookings are essential for the intimate tastings, held Friday through Monday at 10am., 12:30pm and 3pm. 

Guests can reserve via the Stargazer website, with tastings priced at $35 per guest. Stargazer wine club members enjoy complimentary visits.

Bookings: stargazerwine.com.au

Image: Adam Gibson

New Tolpuddle releases reflect a special site

 

It is now almost 15 years since Shaw+Smith co-owners Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith MW visited Tasmania and purchased a vineyard on a whim. 

The Tolpuddle Vineyard in the Coal River Valley was planted with chardonnay and pinot noir clones best suited to making sparkling wines. 

But Shaw and Hill-Smith had very different plans, Their vision was to create one of the best single vineyard sites in the country, producing world-class table wines. 

After some re-planting, new clones and a decade and a half of work on the vines, Tolpuddle has established a global reputation for excellence. Mission accomplished. 

"There was never any great plan to buy in Tasmania," the duo says. We were simply blown away by some of the wines from this vineyard that we had tasted from barrel, then fell in love with the site when we visited. Both serendipitous and spontaneous.

"We believed, and still do, that it is a special site with potential to produce wines of outstanding personality and quality."  

The 2024 Tolpuddle Chardonnay and 2024 Tolpuddle Pinot Noir were launched this week at the award-winning tasting room surrounded by the vineyard. CD manager Pip Anderson did a great job of overseeing the tasting and lunch.

The wines hit the market this morning and are sure to be in high demand following international wine show successes for the 2023 releases. 

"We think this already one of the great single sites," Shaw told guests who were lucky enough to taste five previous vintages of each variety: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022 - which illustrated just how gracefully both wines age. "A lot has changed over the last 15 years."

The new releases are super impressive - and very food friendly - and you can read full reviews at www.tasmanianwineonline.blogspot.com this weekend.

New cellar door recognised at architecture awards

The recently opened Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room in the Coal River Valley has taken out the top honour for Commercial Architecture at the 2025 Tasmanian Architecture Awards. 

The awards were presented by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) earlier this month. The project also received a commendation for Sustainable Architecture and the EmAGN Project Award.

Held annually, the AIA awards recognise excellence across commercial, public, educational, residential, interior and heritage architecture. 

Designed by Hobart-based Tanner Architects and built by Cordwell Built, the Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room is nestled within the vineyard, with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping views of the vines. 

Salvaged West Coast Tasmanian timber features throughout the building, and guests can enjoy seating both indoors and outside. 

“We deliberately chose to use local architects and builders for the project," said Tolpuddle Vineyard co-owner and project director Martin Shaw. 

"Tanner Architects interpreted the brief brilliantly and Cordwell Built did a sensational job in construction. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) jury citation said: “This project exemplifies a refined and disciplined approach to commercial architecture, achieving balance between agricultural authenticity and architectural sophistication. 

"Likewise, the built form is sensitively integrated within its landscape, demonstrating a strong connection to place. The clear delineation of tasting areas and amenities ensure a seamless and intuitive
user experience."

The Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room is open by appointment Friday through Monday 11am to 5pm with last bookings at 4pm. Tastings are $55 per person.

See tolpuddlevineyard.com

Image: Adam Gibson   

Derwent Estate confirms purchase of Tasmanian wine tourism favourite Puddleduck

Puddleduck, one of the most popular wine producers and cellar doors in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, has been purchased by one of the state's leading brands, Derwent Estate. .

Owners Darren and Jackie Brown announced this week that the business would officially be sold; and Derwent Estate's Andrew Hanigan today confirmed the deal has been completed.

Puddleduck will continue to operate as a stand-alone business.

"We are incredibly excited to be taking over the ownership of Puddleduck Vineyard," Hanigan said in a statement to GoTR.

"The brand that Darren and Jackie have built over the last three decades is amazing and unique, and we are humbled to be able to continue this on.

"The synergy between our family business and theirs seemed like a great fit and we are thrilled to be able to work in the world renowned Coal River Valley."

Derwent Estate, based at Granton, is a fifth-generation family farming business operated by the Hanigan family.

“It's a tough thing to do to let you know that after 27 years of growing, making, and sharing wine at Puddleduck Vineyard, that the time has come for some of our family to step away from the business,” Puddleduck said on its Facebook page.

“As of Friday the 9th of May, ownership of Puddleduck Vineyard will transition to new owners.

“The familiar faces of the family namely - Darren, Jackie, Nick and Sue - will be changing to new family faces and they will introduce themselves in the very near future.

“This change marks a significant moment for us personally and professionally, and while it’s not without emotion, it feels like the right time for both Puddleduck and our family.

“Over nearly three decades, we’ve had the privilege of building Puddleduck into what it is today – a family-run vineyard and cellar door in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, where every bottle is grown, made, and sold on-site.

“We’ve always taken pride in offering a warm welcome, quality wines, and (quite) a few duck-related quirks along the way!

“Throughout the years, we’ve been fortunate to work with wonderful suppliers, partners, and supporters like you, and we want to express our sincere thanks for being part of our journey.”

Puddleduck is best known for its Bubbleduck sparkling wines and popular cellar door.

  

Top chef signs up for new Tasmanian cellar door eatery

One of Tasmania's newest cellar doors has pulled of a coup by signing one of the island state's star chefs.

Caledon Estate this week announced that chef Paul Foreman will be joining the team at its recently opened Richmond cellar door from Saturday, April 26.

Foreman will be in the kitchen Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays producing a menu of share plates that will be designed to match the Caledon wines.

Foreman, formerly of Gondwana, Marque IV, and Kalis Group Hotels, brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to the kitchen and has built relationships with Tasmanian producers and growers.

Daytime dining will be the initial focus at the cellar door with the possibility of dinner service in the future. The Caledon cellar door is also currently taking bookings for weddings and other events.

Those visiting the Coal River Valley and the Caledon cellar door will enjoy an architecturally designed building that showcases sandstone from the property.

The large windows give all seats an extensive view from kunanyi/Mt Wellington over the Coal River Valley. The building features an open fire, ensuring comfort whatever the Tasmanian winter weather brings.

I've tried a couple of the wines - and they are impressive. 

For more information and bookings, visitors can call the vineyard on 0490 498 776 with an online booking system coming soon.

Join an expert for a lavish weekend celebrating fine Tasmanian wines

So you really enjoy cool-climate wines from Tasmania?

You don't mind splashing out on a special weekend of indulgence.

Wine writer and educator Tyson Stelzer might have something that is right up your alley with his Tasmanian Wine Weekend on May 23-25.

Stelzer, one of the world's leading experts on Champagne, will showcase top Tasmanian winemakers and their wines for what he describes as "the ultimate opportunity to immerse yourself in the places, people and processes behind not only Tasmania’s greatest sparkling wines, but its finest pinot noirs, chardonnays and rieslings, too."

The event will be be held after vintage in the Coal River and Derwent Valleys outside Hobart.

The weekend promises "lavish lunches, a cocktail-style dinner, prestige sparkling masterclass and a gala dinner, all in the presence of Anna Pooley and Justin Bubb (Pooley Estate), Steve and Monique Lubiana (Stefano Lubiana), Natalie Fryar and Hugh McCullough (Bellebonne and Wellington & Wolfe), Ed and Jen Carr (House of Arras) and Liam McElhinney (Lowestoft)".

The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of House of Arras and the 10th anniversary of Bellebonne, and the weekend will showcase more than 40 of the benchmark wines of current and back vintages from each of the six estates, matched to dishes crafted from the finest and freshest Tasmanian ingredients.

The all-inclusive weekend features all wines, meals, transfers via Apple Isle Tours and a choice of accommodation at Prospect Country House, Acquila Eco Resort or Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport. Special rates are also available should you wish to extend your stay.

There will be free time for an optional helicopter tour, round of golf, or just or to relax.

"My Tasmanian Wine Weekend has been in the making for more than two-and-a-half years, and I am very excited to welcome you to experience the incredible people, places and wines of Tasmania," Stelzer says.

For full details: https://www.tysonstelzer.com/tyson-stelzers-tasmanian-wine-weekend-23-25-may-2025/

Small Wonder gets a lot bigger

Overstory, owners of Tamar Valley wine brand Small Wonder, has announced the acquisition of a 24-hectare vineyard in the Coal River Valley. 

The strategic acquisition just east of Richmond and 20 minutes from Hobart marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth and expands its footprint into another of Tasmania’s most celebrated cool-climate wine regions.

Small Wonder, known for its premium organic wines and formerly known as Goaty Hill, recently opened a new state-of-the-art winery in January 2024. 

The acquisition of the Marengo Road vineyard in the Coal River Valley will enable Overstory to double its production volume in Tasmania over the next three years, allowing for portfolio expansion and growth in both domestic and international markets.

Fruit from the vineyard has previously been used by premium producers including Bubb and Pooley.

"We are thrilled to broaden our presence in Tasmania and take this next step in enhancing the quality and variety of our wine offerings,” said Paul McArdle, CEO at Overstory.

"Consistent with our approach at our Tamar Valley location, we are committed to achieving organic certification for the Coal River Valley vineyard over the next three years, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable, high-quality winemaking practices."

The recently acquired vineyard, planted between 2017 and 2019, features a diverse mix ofbcool-climate varietals, with predominantly pinot noir and chardonnay along with small amounts of shiraz, riesling, pinot gris and viognier.  

Overstory says the purchase cements “the company’s position as one of Tasmania’s leading producers of cool-climate wines”. 

I co-incidentally tried two excellent Small Wonder pinots this week. The future looks bright. 

Meet Tasmania's stunning new wine tasting facility

One of Tasmania's most successful wine brands has unveiled a stunning new tasting room in the Coal River Valley - but you'll need to make an appointment if you want to eat and drink. 

Tolpuddle Vineyard will open its new Tasting Room outside Richmond - 25 minutes from Hobart - to the public next Friday (December 13). 

In addition to structured tastings featuring current release chardonnay and pinot noir alongside back vintages ($55), there will also be tasty treats on offer for those lucky enough to secure a time slot. 

Tolpuddle, which released its first wines in 2012, has been a global success story with its wines praised by international critics including Jancis Robinson and Tim Atkin and a swag of trophies from leading international wine shows. 

The Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room will be managed by Pip Anderson (above), previously general manager of hospitality at MONA, and will be open from Friday to Monday, 11am-5pm with appointments available online.

To accompany the tasting flight, guests can also choose from a tight menu of small share plates with local ingredients featured where possible, such as Tongola Curdy Goats Cheese with Hazelbrae Hazelnuts and Kunzea honey. Caviar is a worthy exception, but the scallops are definitely local.. 

The Tasting Room will also be available for exclusive wine-focused events for 15-30 guests. 

Sam Bray, formerly of MONA and Manky Sally’s, has devised the menu - and the offerings are outstanding (I was lucky enough to attend a sneak preview). 

In addition to the wine flights, wines will be available by the glass ($25-30) and by the bottle.

The building, surrounded by vines planted by visionaries Bill Casimaty, Garry Crittenden and the late Tony Jordan at what was then Strathayr, was designed by Hobart-based Tanner Architects and constructed by local builder Cordwell Built. 

The Tasting Room has large floor-to-ceiling windows providing views over the vines. Salvaged timber from the West Coast of Tasmania features throughout and there is seating both inside and out.

Tolpuddle is owned and operated by two of the canniest operators in the Australian wine business, cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith AM MW (the founders of Shaw+Smith in the Adelaide Hills). 

In 2011, the pair visited Tasmania intending to buy nothing more than lunch. They tasted several wines but were impressed with the quality of wines made using grapes bought from Tolpuddle, which was planted in 1988. 

They made an offer for the vineyard - which was not for sale - and made their first wines the next year. 

“When we first bought the vineyard in 2011, we envisioned a day when we would build a Tasting Room in the midst of the vines to showcase our wines from this special site," Shaw said. 

"We love this vineyard and now have a tasting space so visitors can experience Tolpuddle Vineyard first-hand.”

Hill-Smith says the vineyard team led by Carlos Souris has put in a lot of work over the past 12 years, raising standards. 

"But we have been staggered by what a success it has been," he said. "It has been hugely rewarding the way the wines have been recognised around the world for their quality." 

See www.tolpuddlevineyard.com

A spring festival in the southern vineyards of Tasmania

If you love cool-climate wines and have been meaning to escape to Tasmania for a few days then the weekend of November 1-3 might be the perfect opportunity. 

No fewer than 37 wine producers from the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley and the Huon Valley/d'Entrecasteaux Channel are teaming up for Spring in the Vines, the fourth edition of a weekend of tastings and entertainment. 

They range from big names like Frogmore Creek, Pooley, Derwent Estate, Nocton and Bream Creek to tiny wineries like Yellow Point, Premaydena Hill, and Saltwater River Wines, perhaps making just 100 dozen cases off the beaten track. 

Spring in the Vines is presented by Wine South Tasmania who have teamed up with several top Hobart hotels and local wine tour guides to show off the wine trails across the south of the island state.

Tasmania is known for its pinot noir, chardonnay, sparkling wines and riesling, but there are also adventurous producers including Kate Hill Wines, who produce shiraz from the coldest and southernmost shiraz vineyard in the country. 

Plan your visit at https://www.winesouth.com.au/events

You can drive yourself, or join a chauffeured wine tour with The Derwent Experience, Ageing Barrel Tours, or Apple Isle Wine Tours. 

Hotels offering discounted rates of up to 15% for the weekend include The Tasman, Hadley’s Orient Hotel, The Old Woolstore and MACq 01. 

Tasmanian wine gamble has paid big dividends

Cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith (above) are not averse to taking a risk or two. 

When they launched their first wine brand 35 years ago they opted to use sauvignon blanc as the headline act. 

At that time sauvignon blanc was virtually unknown in the southern hemisphere. 

The success of the Shaw + Smith brand has since paved the way for hundreds of Australian producers who followed in their footsteps and planted sauvignon blanc. 

Thirteen years ago, considering creating a brand in Tasmania, they chose the Tolpuddle Vineyard in the Coal River Valley, originally planted by some of the savviest operators in the wine business. 

The vineyard is on a gently sloping north-east site with soils that are light silica over sandstone: ideal for chardonnay and pinot noir.  

The only problem was that Tolpuddle had initially been planted with chardonnay and pinot noir clones best suited to sparkling wine production, not the premium table wines for which Tolpuddle has become well known.

"The 2023 vintage got us to a point where we are full planted - and everything in the ground is as we want it ," says Tolpuddle national sales manager Tom Donegan, who hosted a 2023 vintage release tasting in Hobart last week, along with Pip Anderson, who will run the Tolpuddle tasting room when it opens adjacent to the vineyard in November.

The 2023 vintage was the coldest on record, but winemaker Adam Wadewitz and his team have worked some magic. 

Both new releases reflect the work viticulturist Carlos Souris has been putting into the vineyard, including re-plants, grafts and extensions, while organic practices have been evolving over a decade or more.  

The 2023 Chardonnay has marvellous tension and bright acidity, along with impressive cool-climate balance, while the 2023 Pinot Noir walks a tightrope of fruit and savoury characters and finishes with delicacy and elegance. .

Both share intense, complex fruit flavours, vibrancy and minerality.  

Find out more at https://www.tolpuddlevineyard.com/ but be warned that stocks are getting low after only a couple of weeks of release. 

Understandably so. If you are very lucky you might still find some in retail land. 

Tasmania to get a new premium cellar door

Tasmania is to get a new wine tasting facility later this year with pinot noir and chardonnay specialist Tolpuddle announcing the opening of its cellar door. 

Tolpuddle is based in the Coal River Valley and is owned by Adelaide Hills winery Shaw + Smith. 

Pip Anderson (image), one of Tasmania's leading wine professionals, will join Tolpuddle Vineyard and Shaw + Smith team in August. 

She will take on a hybrid role -  primarily as the manager of the Tolpuddle Vineyard Tasting Room in addition to overseeing the Tasmanian market alongside the Joval Wines team. 

Anderson was most recently general manager of hospitality at Tasmanian icon MONA and has previously been head sommelier at Merivale venues Felix and Ivy in Sydney. 

She is also an experienced wine judge, Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) educator, former Hobart chair of Sommeliers Australia and a Len Evans Tutorial scholar.

“I look forward to being a part of solidifying Tolpuddle Vineyard’s sense of identity and place here in Tasmania," Anderson said. "The Tasting Room will provide an incredible opportunity for people to visit one of Australia's most significant single vineyard sites. 

"I look forward to welcoming them all here.”

David LeMire MW, Shaw+Smith joint CEO and head of sales and marketing, said: “Pip was always our No.1 draft pick for the Tolpuddle Tasting Room. She will be fantastic.”

No date has yet been set to the opening of the tasting facility. 

The Tolpuddle vineyard was planted by industry experts Garry Crittenden,  Tony Jordan and Bill Casimaty in 1988.

Yabby Lake swoops for Tasmanian vineyard site

Leading Mornington Peninsula wine producer Yabby Lake is expanding its footprint to Tasmania.

General manager and winemaker Tom Carson (pictured) disclosed today that Yabby Lake has acquired a 12-hectare property at Campania in the Coal River Valley wine region outside Hobart.

The property is planted to 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay with five hectares already functional and another four hectares ready for planting. 

The 2023 vintage will see fruit picked from the vineyard and then transported to Victoria, Carson said. 

The Yabby Lake portfolio also includes Heathcote Estate in the Heathcote region north of Melbourne.

Carson said the purchase is a strategic investment in the potential of pinot noir in cool-climate Tasmania. 

Yabby Lake joins Brown Brothers, Hill-Smith Family Vineyards and Shaw + Smith as mainland companies with vineyards in Tasmania, while Alistair Tulloch from the Hunter Valley and Mac Forbes from the Yarra Valley are among mainlanders to have planted vineyards.

"For Yabby Lake it expands our pinot noir footprint and extends our commitments as pinot noir specialists here in Australia," Carson said. 

"We envisage a new brand will be created to bring to life our Tasmanian journey and tell the story of this special site."

Robert and Mem Kirby established Yabby Lake Vineyard at Tuerong on the Mornington Peninsula in 1998, having planted their first vineyard at Red Hill in 1992. 

They planted Heathcote Estate in 1999 and former Yering Station winemaker Carson has overseen both brands since 2008. 

Yabby Lake won the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, one of Australia's most sought-after show awards, with its Block 1 Pinot Noir 2012 Pinot Noir in 2013, and is regarded as one of Australia's boutique pinot producers.