Laurel Bank
In the 1970s, Kerry and Laurel Carland spent a year travelling through Europe in a VW Kombi. Along the way, they encountered Laurel Bank, part of the iconic Isle of Man motorcycle circuit. The name was committed to memory for more than a decade until the couple began their small hobby vineyard at Granton in 1986.
Laurel Bank – above the River Derwent, 20km north of Hobart – sprang into life with the planting of 1500 vines. It was a mixed bag – Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Subsequently enlarged to 2ha with the addition of Sauvignon Blanc, the quiet achiever made its mark at the 1995 Royal Hobart Wine Show, winning the Trophy for Most Successful Exhibitor.
The Carlands still continue with their tiny volumes of exquisite wine, albeit with the help of daughter Greer, formerly senior winemaker at Winemaking Tasmania and now owner of Quiet Mutiny. Fruit from 25-year-old Riesling vines has become a mainstay of QM's Charlotte's Elusion.
Viticultural fine-tuning brought Laurel Bank inclusion among Australia's 'Ten Dark Horses' in the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion.
Vineyard soils here are appropriately quite unique. Upper slopes – featuring high pH, black cracking clay – suit Riesling and Pinot Noir. Lower sections transition to sandy loam over sandstone and orange clay, a natural bulwark to potential high-vigour Bordeaux varieties.
The Carlands are nowhere near ready to just sit back and admire the river views. Vintage 2026 is set to provide yet another milestone – 40 years of successful family viticulture.
Quite something within the Tasmanian context.
Key principals:
Kerry Carland, owner/vineyard manager
Laurel Carland, owner
Greer Carland, winemaker
Vineyard/cellar door address:
130 Black Snake Road, Granton, Tasmania 7030
Cellar door sales by appointment
Telephone:
+61 3 6263 5977
Email:
info@laurelbankwines.com.au
Website:
www.laurelbankwines.com.au
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. Consider: Bruny Island Premium Wines (MJT 15.4°C; 747 GDD) and Tinderbox Vineyard (MJT 17.3°C; 1088 GDD).
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 Black Snake Road, Granton 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 593mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 325mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 122mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.3°C
- Growing degree-days: 1025 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: 26
*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: October 2025