Rivulet Wines

Rivulet Wines is the brainchild of 2023 Young Gun of Wine finalist, Keira O'Brien. Brought up in North East Victoria, O'Brien's early career moves led her on a merry dance through various property, retail and IT management roles before freelance writing and vintage experiences set her on a path into cool climate winemaking.

In 2016, O'Brien moved south to take up a position at Winemaking Tasmania, where she honed her knowledge and skills alongside industry pioneer, Julian Alcorso. The new kid on the block also set out to forge close collaborative relationships with client growers across the State.

By 2018, O'Brien was ready to launch her side-hustle, Rivulet Wines. Successful completion of Bachelor of Wine Science studies afforded her the intellectual freedom and motivation to begin championing characterful small-batch wines distinguished by authenticity and a sense of place. In doing so, old vines were saved from imminent destruction. Unloved varieties like Siegerrebe and Sylvaner were given chances to strut their stuff in expressive new ways that highlighted texture and winemaking creativity.

Two years spent as winemaker/manager at the iconic Freycinet Vineyard drew to a close with the 2024 purchase of an established 2ha vineyard outside Swansea. This new-found nurturing role now supports 0.5ha of productive vines while hands-on rehabilitation of the remainder of the vineyard continues. O'Brien's goal is to replant with varieties better suited to the site, thus broadening and deepening Rivulet's roots in Tasmanian cool climate terroir. 

In the meantime, Rivulet draws on fruit resources from across the State. Milton Vineyard provides a temporary work-space for winemaking, bottling and cellar maturation.

Key principal:

Keira O'Brien, owner/winemaker

Vineyard/cellar door address:

600 Grange Road, Swansea TAS 7190

No cellar door sales. See the Rivulet Wines website for tastings and sales options.

Telephone:

+61 404 845 854

Email:

keira@rivuletwine.com

Website:

www.rivuletwine.com

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

Climate data* for sites contributing to Rivulet Wines 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 Grange Road, Swansea 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 605mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 396mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 140mm
• Mean January temperature: 17.5°C
• Growing degree-days: 1091 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: 18

*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