European settlement along the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and into the Huon Valley began in the early 1800s as whalers, fishers and small-scale farming operations moved out of Hobart Town in search of sheltered waterways and productive landholding. The Huon provided river access deep into the southern interior, and by the mid-19th century the region was alive with boatbuilding, timber milling and fruit growing.
The geology is dominated by Permian mudstone and sandstone overlain in places by Jurassic dolerite and fertile river alluvium. The variety of soils found here – from loamy river flats to stony slopes – are well-suited to mixed farming, orcharding and viticulture.
The Huon Valley and D'Entrecasteaux Channel made major contributions to Tasmania's international renown as The Apple Isle, but when export markets collapsed in the 1960s, many businesses foundered. Surviving orchards often embraced organic methods and other specialty crops. Innovation and diversification have seen the emergence of artisan craft and food producers, aquaculture, viticulture and a wide range of eco-focused tourism ventures.
The very cool maritime climate in these parts offers excellent growing conditions for finely-crafted Chardonnay, aromatic Pinot Noir and expressive white grape varieties including Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling.
Vineyards dotted here and there are all small-scale and privately owned. In total, they accounted for just 1.2 percent of Tasmania's total wine grape harvest in 2024.
But small is beautiful.
Few places flatter to deceive like modern wineries. With all that high-tech equipment and gleaming stainless steel, they're quick to promote the view that winemaking is a manufacturing process. Nothing could be further from the truth, say former South Australian winemakers Duncan Ferguson and Susana Fernandez.
When 21-year-old amateur photographer Max Marriott flew out of Brisbane headed for New Zealand, it was a career-defining moment. He fell in love with the place. Months later, he went back to explore its wine regions. That prompted Marriott to ditch his course in mechanical and aerospace engineering and stay on to study viticulture and oenology.
We all know a slightly oddball aunt – whether it be from genuine personal connection or experiences of film and literature. So when Alice Davidson launched Aunt Alice as a side hustle in the SA port of Robe, you'd hardly be surprised by her winemaking in a beach shed, using a crab net as a de-stemmer.
Bruny Island Premium Wines is Australia's southernmost vineyard, located at the historic Wayaree Estate near Lunawanna on South Bruny. The island's horticultural history dates back to 1788, when Captain William Bligh explored Adventure Bay and planted the country's first grape vines and apple trees.
Andrea Kitto and Jamie Cowen had a deep and abiding love of their small bush block and former dairy farm at Sandfly – south of Hobart – so when they planted Pinot Noir and found the wine made their hearts race they just had to plant more. That was back in 2004.
The perfect match of grape variety and vineyard site is the viticultural equivalent of a marriage made in heaven. Few winemakers take the principle more seriously than those producing Pinot Noir. It took Jim and Daisy Chatto more than six years to find a site that ticked every box on their shopping list.
It was former Treasurer and PM Paul Keating that famously asked 'can a soufflé rise twice'? Much the same question could be asked of Owen and Eve Knight and their renowned Elsewhere Vineyard. The 10ha property had well in excess of 15 minutes of fame back in the 1990s. Could that be achieved all over again?
Five Bob Farm at Birchs Bay in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel has been in the Read family since 1960, when it was purchased and developed as a mixed farm with orchards, vegetables, and native bushland. Between 1970 and 2000, financial stresses saw this southern end of the Channel experience the loss of almost all commercial agricultural activity.
If you thought owning and operating a small family vineyard was all about vines and wines, think again. When Bob and Anthea Patterson established 3ha of Pinot Noir in 1988, they chose Hartzview as the property's name. Because what you see is what you get when you take the convict-built road to their cellar door at Gardners Bay.
Is sparkling wine really taken seriously, Frieda Henskens wonders. It's often seen as frivolous. A drink for the ladies. Party starter. (The serious wine comes later.) When the Henskens Rankin of Tasmania 2010 Vintage Brut was named Champion Wine of Show at the 2019 Tasmanian Wine Show, the news brought barely a ripple of consumer interest.