Dalrymple Vineyards
Dalrymple Vineyards was established in 1987 by oncologist Dr Bertel Sundstrup, along with his wife Anne and sister-in-law Jill Mitchell. The trio drew inspiration from Anne and Jill's father, Bill Mitchell, who planted vines at Blackwall in the Tamar Valley in the 1960s and called it Tamarway.
Business and personal connections with Taltarni Vineyards' Dominique Portet encouraged the family to develop Dalrymple as a supplementary fruit source to Taltarni's Clover Hill sparkling wine venture, which commenced at Lebrina in 1986. (As it turned out, each operation maintained their single vineyard focus.)
Dalrymple's first vines – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon – were planted on steep north-facing slopes not far from Bass Strait. Early wines quickly gained acclaim, with Dalrymple Pinot Noir and Chardonnay winning gold medals and trophies at national wine shows in the early 1990s. Later plantings of Sauvignon Blanc proved an instant success, with the 1994 vintage and subsequent releases establishing a reputation as one of the country's best cool climate examples of the variety.
Production of a Special Bin Pinot Noir in 1996 – as an adjunct to Dalrymple's flagship wine – telegraphed the good doctor's professional retirement and his willingness to add winemaking to his vast kitbag of skills and experience. By 1998, Sundstrup had taken over winemaking entirely from contract makers and was enjoying the role immensely. All the while, he was continuing to flesh out the family's wine portfolio with trophy and medal winners.
In 2007, the property was purchased by Hill-Smith Family Estates, owners of near neighbour Jansz Tasmania, and South Australia's historic Yalumba Wines (1849). Subsequent rationalisation and modernisation of the vineyard expanded its focus on premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The site's ironstone-rich basaltic soils are derived from ancient volcanic activity, and combine with the area's cool maritime climate to produce low yields of intensely flavoured wine grapes.
Expert on-site winemaking – under the care of local hero Peter Caldwell – emphasises small-lot ferments, wild yeasts, and minimal handling.
Beyond Pipers River, Dalrymple also sources Pinot Noir from Penna (Coal River Valley), Swansea (East Coast) and Ouse (Derwent Valley), giving voice to subtle regional variations across its wine range. Together, these sites showcase Tasmania's diverse Pinot Noir terroirs, while remaining true to the variety's fundamental attributes of fragrance, elegance and complexity of flavour.
Key details:
- Hill-Smith Family Estates: owner/operator
- Peter Caldwell: Dalrymple vigneron
Vineyard/cellar door address:
1337 Pipers Brook Rd, Pipers Brook TAS 7254
No cellar door sales currently. See website for details of online and retail sales.
Telephone:
+61 (3) 6382 7229
Email:
info@dalrymplevineyards.com.au
Website:
www.dalrymplevineyards.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the North East highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Consider: Apogee (MJT 17.2°C; 975 GDD) and Dalrymple Vineyard (MJT 18.1°C; 1204 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 Victoria's Macedon Ranges* (MJT 19.9°C; 1365 GDD) are regarded as the coolest GIs in their respective states.
Climate data* for Pipers Brook Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 801mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 371mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 187mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.1°C
- Growing degree-days: 1204 GDD
- Average no of hot days (35°C or more) per year: 0
- Average no of cold days (minimum 4°C or less) Sept 1-April 30: 9
*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