Delamere Vineyards
Delamere Vineyard – near Pipers Brook in North East Tasmania – was established in 1982 by Dallas and Dr Richard Richardson, who then recognised the region's potential for cool-climate viticulture and were assisted in their move from Sydney by Dr Andrew Pirie. The couple planted 3.3ha of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and made their first wines in 1986.
By the 1990s, the small family operation was finding its feet in the challenging growing conditions. Richard Richardson may have been a research scientist by training, but he believed grape-growing and winemaking also called for a touch of artistry. Dallas Richardson's striking printmaking, depicted on the vineyard's wine labels, backed up that proposition.
The first Tasmanian Wine Show – held in 1991 – attracted 43 entries from 16 exhibitors across the State. The Richardsons were among them. Chair of Judges James Halliday was a hard task-master and medals were few and far between. Delamere, however, was the star of the show. The Richardsons won three trophies – Best Wooded White; Best Wine in Show; and Most Successful Exhibitor.
Over the next 20 years, Delamere developed something of a cult following, with parcels of fruit also being purchased under contract by Hardys Wines for premium and prestige sparkling wine production.
In 2007, experienced winemakers Shane Holloway and Fran Austin and their families purchased the vineyard, returning Delamere to the front rank of Tasmania's leading family-run wine estates.
The 12-hectare vineyard lies on north-facing slopes of iron-rich ferrosol soils derived from Tertiary basalt. These offer excellent water-holding capacity and natural fertility. Planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the dry-grown vines are managed sustainably, using minimal intervention to enhance vine balance and soil vitality.
The Pipers Brook region's maritime climate – with its cool summers, long ripening seasons, and bright autumn sunlight – produces grapes of great purity, fine acidity and aromatic finesse. That makes them ideal for both still and sparkling wines. Indeed, under Fran Austin's direction, Delamere has developed an enviable reputation as one of the country's finest small-scale producers of traditional method sparkling wine.
As winemaker/manager at Bay of Fires in the early 2000s, the former Gourmet Traveller Young Winemaker of the Year (2005) rode shotgun with Ed Carr as the renowned fizz-wiz explored new sparkling wine territory to support his emerging Arras sparkling wine program.
Delamere's stylish estate-grown wines are now complemented by the equally stylish Flyleaf brand, made on-site as bright, expressive, early-drinking wines.
Delamere artistry is alive and well.
Key details:
- Shane Holloway: vigneron
- Fran Austin: vigneron
Vineyard/cellar door address:
4238 Bridport Rd, Pipers Brook TAS 7254
Telephone:
+61 (0) 456 910 274
Email:
info@delamerevineyards.com.au
Website:
www.delamerevineyards.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 Handpicked Baxters Road (MJT 18.3°C; 1247 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 Bridport Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 787mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 365mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 184mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.0°C
- Growing degree-days: 1170 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: 10
*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