Eversley Vines
Shelley and Matt Grant established Eversley Vines after buying a secluded Legana property and later falling for its cool climate vineyard potential. Shelley was a registered nurse, Matt was a career firefighter. They knew they were up for a challenge.
In 2017, the Grants began ground preparations in readiness for plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In the following year, Eversley's young vines were planted out on the 1.5ha vineyard site they'd created from their virgin bush block.
The West Tamar property on Bridgenorth Road sits on elevated rolling slopes that provide good air drainage and sunlight exposure. The soils here are derived from ancient sedimentary and dolerite-based geology with a smattering of ironstone. Their free-draining profiles help the couple maintain tight control over vine vigour and promote intense fruit concentration at harvest.
North-east facing vineyard rows not only enjoy river views, they also revel in the valley's mild maritime climate with its long, cool ripening seasons and occasionally fresh sea breezes.
Care of the land sits uppermost in the couple's minds. The vineyard is managed with a regenerative approach and by virtue of a good deal of intensive, hands-on viticulture. A quality fertiliser program – together with a chemical-free approach to weed management – are supported by a small flock of woolly workers that graze the vineyard over winter.
Eversley Vines was celebrated by industry body Wine Tasmania as its Most Improved Producer in its 2025 VinØ Program. The program is a sustainability initiative involving nearly half of Tasmania's total vineyard area.
The vineyard's inaugural harvest in 2021 spawned the first of the couple's very stylishly packaged wines.
The Eversley Vines business name celebrates more than a century of family fruit-growing tradition in Tasmania. Shelley Grant is a direct descendant of the Smith family that began growing apples, pears and cherries in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel during the 1920s.
When Eversley House and the orchards at Birchs Bay were destroyed in the devastating 1967 bushfires in southern Tasmania, the family relocated to Kayena in the Tamar Valley.
Eversley Cherries at Legana was operated by Shelley's uncle – Peter Smith – until he retired from the industry in 2016.
Eversley Vines' current portfolio comprises an enticing package of cool climate wines. Handcrafted NV Sparkling and NV Rosé Sparkling are made according to traditional method. Single varietal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – each made from three clonal selections – are supported by vintage Rosé (made entirely from the vineyard's Pinot Noir), Unwooded Chardonnay, and White Pinot Noir.
In 2024, the Grants opened the doors to their Eversley Vines Guesthouse. Now two years on, it consistently receives 5-star ratings and subsequent Superhost status on Airbnb.
The fully self-contained private space overlooks the vineyard, and offers the ideal setting in which to unwind with a good glass of Eversley. It's just 15 minutes from Launceston.
Key principals:
- Matt Grant: owner/operator
- Shelley Grant: owner/operator
Vineyard/cellar door address:
237 Bridgenorth Road, Legana TAS 7277
No cellar door tastings. Current sales are exclusively online via the Eversley Vines website
Telephone:
+ 61 (0) 409 643 002
Email:
info@eversleyvines.com.au
Website:
www.eversleyvines.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the Tamar Valley highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Consider: Grey Sands (MJT 17.3°C; 899 GDD) and Holm Oak Vineyards (MJT 18.1°C; 1234 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 Bridgenorth Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 775mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 359mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 169mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.7°C
- Growing degree-days: 1065 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: 29
*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: December 2025