McCormack Wines
When Bruce McCormack arrived in Tasmania on a working holiday in 1993, it wasn't long before he realised his time in the State was going to be more holiday than work without reliable employment. It was then that the 20-year-old decided to forego his Western Australian background in aquaculture for a future in Tasmanian viticulture.
It was a bold decision. Tasmania's fledgling wine industry amounted to several dozen vineyards and just 177ha of bearing vines.
But fortune favours the brave. Casual vineyard work in the Tamar Valley soon led to full-time vineyard management.
McCormack went on to complete a degree in viticulture at Charles Sturt University before spending 18 formative years overseeing major expansions at the iconic Pipers Brook Vineyard.
In 2011, 'Mr Tamar' struck out on his own, launching Bruce McCormack Grapevine Management Services. Business was brisk. In almost no time at all, the new start-up went from managing a single vineyard to overseeing ten different vineyards along the West Tamar.
In 2015, McCormack contributed advice and expertise to the establishment of a 0.5ha vineyard at Government House Tasmania.
Four years later, McCormack began establishment of his own Middle Arm Vineyard, north of Beaconsfield.
The site is barely 20km south of Bass Strait. Its iron-rich soils and gravelly basalt over clay and limestone offer excellent growing conditions. These combine with Middle Arm's unique maritime microclimate to create long, sun-drenched ripening seasons that are ideal for premium cool climate fruit.
The 2.5ha vineyard's vine selections are eclectic. White varieties Chenin Blanc, Fiano and Pinot Blanc comprised stage 1 (2019) of the property's plantings, along with red varieties Barbera, Pinotage, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Stage 2 - added in spring 2024 - included Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir.
In 2018, Bruce and his wife Patsy created McCormack Wines as an adjunct to their existing vineyard management services.
The current portfolio of dry table wines is made under contract by renowned Legana winemaker Matthias Utzinger. These are small batch wines, hand-crafted from Middle Arm Vineyard and from selected single vineyard parcels of fruit grown and managed exclusively by the McCormacks.
Production volumes are intentionally small.
Small is beautiful.
That was the catch-cry that lured this thoughtful, unassuming viticulturist to the State 30 years ago.
It proved a winning formula.
Key principals:
- Bruce McCormack: owner/operator
- Patsy McCormack: owner/operator
- Matthias Utzinger: contract winemaker, Utzinger Wines
Vineyard/cellar door address:
122 Bowens Jetty Rd, Beaconsfield TAS 7270
No cellar door. Visits and tastings by appointment only
Telephone:
+ 61 (0) 487 858 450
Email:
info@mccormackwines.com.au
Website:
www.mccormackwines.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).
These are significantly cooler than the growing conditions found in mainland Australia.
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 Bowens Jetty Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 802mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 368mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 185mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.1°C
- Growing degree-days: 1226GDD
- 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: 9
*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