Tasmania, the tiny island gem down south from the continent of Australia, is a wonderland for the wine connoisseur to explore, glass by glass. Here, instead of stopping to smell the roses, the bouquet of wine in a sparkling clear glass will make you pause in delight.
The quality of Tasmania’s wines is world-class, with the terroir and climate so diverse it creates unique vintages, unlike any other region in Australia. Cool-climate varietals include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, with small areas planted of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasmania's answer to Champagne is the Pipers River region, where bubbles are produced to rival the French champagne region. Tasmania is a wine hub with over 230 individual vineyards, 160 licensed wine producers, 90 cellar door outlets, and more than 1500 hectares under creeping grape vines. One of Australia's first wine regions was Tasmania, where many cuttings were sourced for the very first vineyards of South Australia and Victoria.
Get out a map of Tasmania and plot your way around Tassie via cellar door sippings and luxurious beds through its myriad of wine regions: Tamar Valley, Pipers River, North West south of Devonport, Derwent Valley, Huon Valley, Coal River Valley, and the East Coast. Tasmania offers jaw-dropping scenery, gourmet restaurants, and a choice of accommodation from luxury lodges to winery retreats, where rolling out of bed in the mornings is in anticipation of the drops you will savor during the day.
Below are a few tastings of accommodation where you can go to sleep to the scented air and whisperings of row upon row of sprouting vines, explore deserted beaches, or relax on a cottage verandah with an excellent vintage of wine in your hand:
Lisdillon Estate, East Coast
Slowly savor the citrusy nuances of a light sauvignon blanc while appreciating the serenity of late afternoon on the verandah of a historical stone or weatherboard cottage with views that make you sigh in contentment. Or curl up in front of a fireplace with a glass of pinot oozing oak and dark plum aromas after a refreshing walk along the private beach. A boutique vineyard and working sheep farm, Lisdillon opened their rustic cottages up for guests in 2014. The farm has a long history dating back to 1830 when it was established by James Radcliffe, an Irishman. With an exciting history of murder in England, falling off horses on the property, and abandonment of the farm, it morphed into a township of 9 families who were tenant farmers. From there, it was reclaimed to its former glory of a working sheep farm and vineyard, incorporating the town's revamped cottages as stunning accommodations.
Nest@Waterton Hall, Tamar Valley
Before sampling the fantastic wines on offer, lovingly created from hand-pruned vines, relish the taste of the amazing foodie items offered for breakfast from the region: wood-fired bread, Hillwood berries, Tamar Valley yogurt, double-smoked bacon, fresh eggs from local chooks, and house-made sausages to set you up for a day of wine tasting. For a 2-night escape, the complimentary goodies—wine and cheese for late arvo sipping—will keep you smiling throughout your luxurious stay. A historic estate with a cozy accommodation pod snuggled into the Shiraz vines overlooking the Tamar River, Nest@Waterton Hall is the ideal place for vino enthusiasts to chill out. Wines to taste as you sit amongst the vines include cold drops of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Viognier, and Riesling.
Charles Reuben Estate, Coal River Valley
A family enterprise producing wines and spirits, it's one of the oldest in the area, established in 1989. This is a destination escape for the aged brandy connoisseur who also likes to indulge in Tasmania's wine varietals while surrounded with lavender's soft, sweet aroma. Yes, it's a lavender farm and a distillery. Small and exclusive, Charles Reuben Estate is also for elegant rosé lovers chasing savory wild strawberry flavors. You can take time out from your wine exploits in the stunning 'Pinot Cottage' sitting amidst the vines on the estate. With views over the vineyard, you will have an open-plan lounge area complete with a fancy European kitchen, under-floor heating, and a spa in the bathroom for romantic dips while sipping.
These are only a few relaxing wine-sipping and sleeping options in Tasmania, where you can gurgle, spit, swill, and relish to your heart’s content.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
