Future Perfect Wines
Queensland-born Thomas New is a winemaker's winemaker, the driving force behind Future Perfect, a small-batch cool climate project based in outer Hobart. New's journey into wine has been a circuitous one. He trained as a botanist and ecologist, worked in hospitality and viticulture, then co-founded the Granite Belt's avant-garde La Petite Mort.
As a true wine disciple, New followed his nose to cool climate Tasmania, working vintage at Stefano Lubiana Wines along with overseas gigs in Austria and the US. Home base now is a small, shared urban winery, where his focus is on intuitively-shaped expressions of Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.
Small lots, big dreams, he notes. The perfect balance between science, nature and creativity.
New sources fruit from the Upper Derwent – Kinvarra Estate, first planted 35 years ago – as well as a handful of sites in and around Campania and the West Tamar. That gives him access to a selection of river valley slopes, with well‑drained clays over ancient sediments and gravels, fragmented by Tasmania's periodic intrusions of dolerite and basalt.
Genuinely cool, long growing seasons with slow ripening support finely structured wines with bright natural acidity.
New's work with Pinot Work encompasses easy-going House Wine and Carbonique to more complex and interesting Derwent Valley/Coal River blends, with the single‑block, single clone OOO Pinot Noir crafted to indulge his own personal explorations of site and season.
Packaging is striking. Ultra-contemporary. These bottles look good on the table.
New was named a Top 50 Finalist in the 2025 Young Gun of Wine Awards, recognition that the young bloke from Brisbane is not just New, he's a winemaker to watch.
Perhaps not perfect, but one with a future.
Key principals:
Thomas New: owner/operator
Vineyard/cellar door address:
Postal address: 28 Cordelia Court, Rosetta TAS 7010
Winery: 40a Negara Crescent, Goodwood TAS 7010
Tastings and cellar door sales by appointment
Telephone:
+61 (0) 430 094 135
Email:
potatocakes@futureperfect.vision
Website:
www.futureperfect.vision
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the Derwent Valley highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. e.g. Mount Direction Estate (MJT 16.9°C; 967 GDD) and Government House (MJT 17.8°C; 1165 GDD).
Sites in the Coal River, by way of comparison, also experience diverse growing conditions. Consider: Pooley Cooinda Vale (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD) and Pooley Butchers Hill (MJT 17.9°C; 1178 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 Glenora Road, Plenty 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 595mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 301mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 122mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.3°C
- Growing degree-days: 991 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: 36
Climate data* for Brownwood Estate Road, Campania 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 491mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 278mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 106mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.8°C
- Growing degree-days: 1131 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: 16
*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