North West Tasmania is a complex, patchwork quilt of ancient geology and landforms. Indeed, there is greater geological diversity here than anywhere else in Tasmania. Some parts continue to be explored.
Agriculture provides the major land use.
European exploration and land clearing in the early 1800s uncovered deep, rich red basalt-derived soils, where dairying sprang up and vegetables and cereals grew prolifically. Today, this is Australia's food bowl. Home to more than 75 percent of the country's frozen peas and beans.
North West viticulture is small scale and artisan. In 2024, its growers accounted for just 2 percent of Tasmania's total wine grape harvest.
While a handful of sites prosper on basaltic soils, others can be found in the alluvial soils of river valleys that historically supported berry farms and fruit orchards. Clays, gravels and river sands offer good drainage and fertility but can be shallow in depth.
On valley margins and hillside slopes, Jurassic dolerite makes its presence known.
Vineyards here are well-drained and moderately fertile but endure very cool growing seasons. This is ideal sparkling wine terroir.
Set between the foothills of Mount Roland and the shores of Lake Barrington, 23 Rows Vineyard and Tiny Home Accommodation blends cool climate wine production with uber-cool, eco-friendly hospitality.
Ulverstone's Broadby family established Broad Acres Vineyard in 2016 on Tasmania's central north coast. Previously farmed for orchard fruit and vegetables, their landholding above Westella Drive is now also home to award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
Ray and Debbie McGinty established Devils Gate Vineyard at Barrington after emigrating from Surrey, England, in 2012. The couple's 30ha property sits high on a ridge that forms part of an ancient volcanic plateau. Red soils here are free-draining and nutrient-rich, with excellent water-holding capacity.
Before selling Nichols Poultry to TasFoods in 2016, Sassafras couple Sue and Rob Nichols spent almost 30 years transforming their small local start-up into a Tasmanian market leader. The family's recent foray into cool climate viticulture looks set to follow a similar trajectory.
Ghost Rock founders Colin and Cate Arnold began their North West wine odyssey in 2001 with the purchase of Pat and Kay Walker's 1.4ha Patrick Creek Vineyard. However, viticultural challenges posed by the site – established in 1988 – soon prompted a move to a more suitable site on Port Sorell Rd.
Mother and daughter Coral and Savannah Hargrave entered the industry in 2022 with the purchase of a 30-year-old vineyard 16km south-west of Devonport. The pair swapped lives in the Queensland sun for the peace and tranquility of rural Lower Barrington.
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.
In the early 1980s, Marcus and Gail Burns moved from a family apple orchard at Spreyton (15m above sea level) to the vine-clad slopes of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy. Between 1984 and 1993, Marcus's professional cycling career took all manner of twists and turns before the couple finally settled back on home turf.
Leven Valley Vineyard - at Gunns Plains, 25km southeast of Ulverstone - sprang into life as Moonrakers when former Sydney couple Steve and Diana Usher planted 0.5ha of Chardonnay and 0.5ha of Pinot Noir in 1997. The vines - and a little viticultural advice – came from Delamere founder Dr Richard Richardson.
Bronya Dance and Jade Nicholls left Melbourne's rat race and relocated to the Red Hills district of northern Tasmania in April 2021. The couple admit to purchasing the former 3 Willows Vineyard 'on the spur of the moment.'