Lanigan's Vineyard

When TJ and Bree Lanigan first contemplated setting up their own food and wine business, the couple were living and working in Geraldine, 90 minutes' drive from New Zealand's fast-growing wine region. But it wasn't Canterbury's Waipara Valley that loomed large on their radar. It was Tasmania's North West Coast.

Blood is not only thicker than water, it's thicker than wine, according to the Lanigans. Their move to Tasmania in 2020 was prompted by the desire to live closer to Bree's parents, former dairy farmers and Rocky Cape Retreat owners John and Sharleen McNab. 

Working hand-in-glove, the two couples set about transforming former grazing land and light scrub into a hilltop haven, ripe for development.

In 2022, the family planted Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. They began establishing what is now Lanigan's Wine and Cheese, a 90ha destination encapsulating shared passions for fine food and cool-climate wine. Rocky Cape's unique natural beauty turns the dial on the site's visual appeal up to 10. 

December 2024 saw the opening of a 120-seat vineyard café and function centre. It overlooks Bass Strait and offers breathtaking coastal views of The Nut at nearby Stanley. The quality of the experiences on offer during its first year of operation saw Lanigan's Vineyard included among the State's top three new tourism businesses at the 2025 Tasmanian Tourism Awards.

Bree Lanigan – a professionally trained chef with international culinary experience – plans to add artisan cheese-making to her creative repertoire in coming months.

Meanwhile, mechanical engineer TJ Lanigan now pursues rigorous, hands-on viticulture on a very challenging 1.3ha site. It's underpinned by ancient geology dating back to the Proterozoic age (2.5 billion to 540 million years ago). 

Lanigan's surely a pioneer in these parts. The nearest vineyard neighbour is almost 100 km away. 

Over-achievers, those Lanigans.

Key details:

• TJ Lanigan: owner/operator

• Bree Lanigan: owner/operator

Vineyard/cellar door address:

265 Rocky Cape Rd, Rocky Cape TAS 7321

Telephone:

+61 (3) 6450 6000

Email:

info@lanigansvineyard.com.au

Website:

www.lanigansvineyard.com.au

Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.

Climate data* for sites in North West Tasmania highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Consider: Leven Valley Vineyard (MJT 15.3°C; 701 GDD) and Scott's Mill Estate (MJT 17.5°C; 1149 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 Rocky Cape, 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 965mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 403mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 209mm
• Mean January temperature: 17.3°C
• Growing degree-days: 1144 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: 7

*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