Hartzview Vineyard
If you thought owning and operating a small family vineyard was all about vines and wines, think again. When Rob and Anthea Patterson established 3ha of Pinot Noir in 1988, they chose Hartzview as the property's name. Because what you see is what you get when you take the convict-built road to their cellar door at Gardners Bay.
Twin peaks in the distance are the stars of the show. The Hartz Mountains. They're part of the UNESCO-listed Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. One of the largest conservation areas in Australia.
A visit to Hartzview is an opportunity to take in all that's special about nature and the environment in these parts. That was something the Pattersons first realised as newly weds in 1976. Fresh off the plane from Sydney, they arrived to take on the challenges of small scale farming offered by Audie Patterson's generous gift of love and eternal optimism.
The couple's total landholding spans 56ha. Its sits high on a ridge below Pig and Whistle Hill. The site is dominated by Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks, with periodic Jurassic dolerite intrusions. The yellowish podsolic soils here are moderately free-draining with excellent water-holding capacity.
Planting material was sourced as cuttings from the industry-pioneering Alcorso family at Moorilla Estate, outside Hobart. One clone is of unknown origins and dates back to the 1950s. The other is 8048. Also known as G5V15, it was an early favourite in the emerging Tasmanian wine industry.
Within a decade, the Pattersons had transformed their greenfield site into a well-managed, cool-climate vineyard. That included re-working initial infrastructure and converting trellises to what was becoming state-of-the-art Scott Henry. Prior to that, poor growing and ripening seasons had forced the couple to completely forego estate production of their 1996 and 1997 wines.
The vineyard's 230m elevation above sea level enables the site to benefit from very long growing seasons. These are characterised by mild summers with cool nights and reliable annual rainfall. Ever-present airflows help reduce potential disease pressures.
The past 40 years have seen the Pattersons continue to cultivate the district's renowned berry fruits. Seven faithfully restored pickers huts - no longer in use but dating back to the 1930s - still stand on the property. They are heritage-listed. Unique to Hartzview.
During the Second World War, Italian PoWs were among the itinerant labourers that came to pick gooseberries.
Today, the fortified fruit wines, cassis and Spiced Apple Mead Liqueur produced at Hartzview account for the lion's share of the Pattersons' business activities. A small volume of long-aged grape brandy is on the way. That noted, the vineyard's vintage Pinot Noirs - traditionally grown and made - are typically age-worthy. Vintage Rosé - created using the French saignée method - offers plenty of colour and dry flavour.
A former Lieutenant-General in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reserves, Rob Patterson FRD was an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipient in the 2019 Australia Day Honours. All past and present members of the Australian Defence Force and Reserves receive a 15 percent discount on all Hartzview wines, fortified wines and liqueurs, café items and homestead accommodation.
But it's not all about the wines. This is Hartzview. Grab your camera. The scenery here is spectacular.
Key details:
Rob Patterson: owner/vigneron
Anthea Patterson: owner/cellar door and sales manager
Vineyard/cellar door address:
70 Dillons Road, Gardners Bay, TAS 7112
Telephone:
+61 (3) 6295 1623
Email:
enquiries@hartzview.com.au
Website:
www.hartzview.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the Huon Valley/D'Entrecasteaux Channel highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Nandroya, Two Bud Spur (both MJT 14.8°C; 622 GDD) and Bruny Island Premium Wines (MJT 15.4°C; 747 GDD) appear to be the coolest sites south of Hobart.
Tinderbox Vineyard (MJT 17.3°C; 1088 GDD) and Trial Bay Estate (MJT 17.1°C; 1044 GDD) are the warmest.
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 Dillons Road, Gardners Bay 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 950mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 491mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 212mm
- Mean January temperature: 16.6°C
- Growing degree-days: 926 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: 17
*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