Atom Wines
Richard Jones grew up on an historic farming property in the Jordan River Valley, ploughing paddocks and shearing sheep. Seven generations of Joneses had laboured there since the 1860s. But a life on the land wasn't for him. Beyond school, Jones spent more than a decade working interstate in oil, gas, and mining industries.
On returning home with his young family in 2016, Jones worked under the guidance of respected viticulturists Marty Smith and Mark Hoey during the establishment of Invercarron Vineyard at Broadmarsh. The experience unlocked a latent passion for cool climate viticulture.
Jones was quick to ply his new-found skills, accepting vineyard management roles with Peak Viticulture and SISU Wines.
He also listened long and hard during his periodic conversations with Tea Tree winemaking veteran, Robert Drew. Drew began making his wines in the Coal River Valley back in 1992. He was a ready sounding board. The pair talked through the best and worst of growing wine grapes in a cool-climate industry.
In 2021, Jones and his wife Rachael launched their own Atom Wines with barely 900 bottles of Pinot Noir. The boutique label sources premium fruit from the Coal River Valley, the East Coast and North West Tasmania. A thoughtful, network-based approach ensures access to exceptional fruit while supporting quality-driven growers.
The past couple of growing seasons have seen Jones managing a small emerging vineyard, located at the southern end of the Coal River Valley, on Backhouse Lane, Cambridge. That now sees the Joneses planning and developing their portfolio from the ground up. The 1ha block of Pinot Noir is expected to produce its first crop for the 2026 vintage.
The Atom portfolio includes a small amount of sparkling pét-nat for summer events, together with slightly larger volumes of still table wines. These are handcrafted from small batches of Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Syrah (Shiraz). A little Gewürztraminer comes and goes as a blending component.
The vintage Rosé and Entropic White (Pinot Gris/Riesling) have developed a strong following over four vintages.
Atom Wines are made under contract at Ghost Rock, near Devonport. Justin Arnold and Sierra Blair are charged with producing small batches of user-friendly wines with minimal intervention.
Talented local Demelza Rafferty was given the brief to develop Atom's wine packaging.
She spent more than 20 years working overseas in far-flung Amsterdam, London, Shanghai, Montreal, and New York City before returning to her home State in 2018. Large corporate clients – including Coca-Cola, Nike, Adidas, Absolut, Heineken, T-Mobile, and Samsung – have been farewelled in favour of adding value to emerging Tasmanian wine brands.
Rafferty's work with Atom is fresh, modern and eye-catching. Her Atom brand design and packaging were 2022 and 2023 AGDA award finalists. AGDA (Australian Graphic Design Association) is the peak national organisation representing the Australian communication design industry.
Jesse Hunniford's photography is right on the money.
The Atom brand itself is Richard Jones's acknowledgement of the extraordinary people within his orbit who have supported him on his wine journey – his wife Rachael, their three young children, and a small circle of great mates and family connections.
Sure beats chasing sheep.
Key details:
- Richard Jones: owner
- Rachael Jones: owner
- Justin Arnold: Sierra Blair: contract winemakers, Ghost Rock
Vineyard/cellar door address:
No cellar door sales.
See the Atom Wines website for tastings and sales options
Telephone:
+61 (0) 408 876 198.
Email:
drink@atomwines.com.au
Website:
www.atomwines.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the Coal River Valley highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Six Friends (MJT 15.9°C; 786 GDD); Pooley Cooinda Vale (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD); SISU (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD) figure among the coolest sites.
Richmond Park Estate and Strelley Farm Estate (both MJT 18.0°C; 1189 GDD) are considered to be among the warmest, along with Coal Valley Vineyard and Cross Rivulet Winery (both MJT 17.9°C; 1185 GDD).
Vineyard sites on the Australian mainland are far warmer than those in Tasmania.
South Australia's Piccadilly Valley* (MJT 20.4°C; 1730 GDD) and Macedon Ranges* (MJT 19.9°C; 1365 GDD) in Victoria are regarded as the coolest GIs in their respective states.
Climate data* for Backhouse Lane, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 557mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 315mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 126mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.2°C
- Growing degree-days: 1038 GDD
- Average no of hot days (35°C or more) per year: 1
- Average no of cold days (minimum 4°C or less) Sept 1-April 30: 12
*Source: My Climate View, utilising past data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Funded by the Australian Government.
Last page update: January 2026