Tamar Valley Wine Region

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AnnaB

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At the moment I am on holiday in Launceston and I was looking into visiting one or two wineries in the area or around Tamar Valley on Saturday. Anyone have any suggestions? I have been looking closer at Tamar Ridge Wines but that is kind of as far as I got. Anyone with any tips or suggestions?
 
Tamar Ridge Wines is good. Recommend their botrytis riesling.
 
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RoseAnna, I called into a few last weekend - below is what I posted. There is an AFFer from Launceston who works in the wine industry (viticulture/oenology) - his recommendations to me were;

"For the Western side of the Tamar river, leaving Launceston i'd recommend Tamar Ridges cellar door which is just past Legana, then head up to Moores Hill, then Goaty Hill and Holm Oak. All four wineries are definitely recommended.

The Eastern side is a bit more of a journey but Bay of Fires, Pipers Brook, Jansz, Cloverhill if your restricting it to four, then into Launceston for Dinner at Josef Chromys. :) "

I would love to hear what you think about the venues you end up at.

PS. I am picking someone up from the LST airport on Monday at 12.30 - if that happens to coincide with your flight out let me know.

I visited a few Tamar Valley vineyards on the weekend, these are my thoughts. (there are also some other photos in the "View from my office" thread)

'Holm Oak', very nice wines and setting. They do platters up from smallgoods available in their fridge. They had a range of free tastings (most of their offerings) or you can pay $15- for a flight of 4 Pinots including their premium one. ($130) It had a nice feel to it.
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'Goaty Hill', beautiful outlook and lots of awards for their Rieslings. They offer platters, they have a $4- tasting charge offset if you purchase. Overall it was nice but didn't grab me.

'Tamar Ridge' - big, flashy, modern. They have a broad range of offerings including a cheaper range (Tassie wines are generally more expensive than I see elsewhere) They carry Tamar Ridge, Pirie and Devils Corner ranges - I didn't see any Browns Brothers but there may have been some hiding somewhere. They have a function room and accommodation, they also serve meals. I have been a fan of Tamar Ridge Pinot for a long time and also love the Pirie Sparkling's. I had my first taste of their reserve and a single vintage that I thought to be a step above the range I already love. Free tastings.

'Moores Hill', a nice small vineyard with a café overlooking the vines. I liked the Pinot, sparkling and Riesling I tried and would lover to go back and enjoy some over lunch on the veranda. Good atmosphere, free tastings.
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'Wines For Joanie' is a relatively new place - they were busy landscaping with excavators when I called in but the tasting room was full of atmosphere (converted apple crate manufacturing shed) and a very genuine proprietor telling their story. They had a fruity vintage sparkling - very different than a dry toasty sparkling. They had a cheap fruit driven Pinot with a different label, but my favourite was their flagship Pinot - on the expensive side but stunning. Not sure if they charged for tasting, I purchased some wine so it didn't come up.
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'Swinging Gate Vineyard' is not marked on the wine route map and there was no sign on the main road - I went past it to visit Wines For Joanie so figured I may as well stop in. It has only just opened under that name and the previous owners had just been selling fruit. The wines were very fruity (intentionally) as he needed some sell now/drink now wines for cash flow. I like citrusy Rieslings - the fruity style is not to my taste at the moment. I was very surprised that the Pinot had the same fruit salad characters as the Riesling - it was ok but not for me. He had a dry Fiano that was interesting and as I was about to leave he offered some Amarone (made with Pinot and Shiraz as he does not have the traditional grapes) from the barrel out the back. It was my first try of this style and definitely unique. There was a small group their having a massive platter and he just fired up the BBQ to cook them lunch (Nigel's Sausages made from pork, pear, his Pinot and something else, a herb, but it escapes me) The CD was little more than an old shed but it had a definite charm. Free tastings.
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'Loira Vines' - I left with a bottle. I liked everything I tried - well the cold climate Shiraz was liked but not something I would buy (edit; this wine had a very distinct white pepper taste - I have never tasted pepper in a wine that was so clearly white pepper). The CD was tiny but the hospitality was huge. Cheese and crackers were brought out, I was treated like long lost family with genuine interest in where I was from and what I was up to etc. I left with a Pinot, but am kicking myself I didn't grab a half a case of Chardonnay - and I don't even like Chardonnay.... It has been mentioned elsewhere that I was put off by heavily wooded Chardonnays but this, like many others I am sure was not wooded and while fruity, a fruity I really liked. I will return, free tastings.
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'WinterBrook' I have nothing positive to say, so will leave it at tastings cost $4
 
The wineries in that region have (or certainly had) a system where you could buy, say, a couple of bottles at winery #1, they would give you a carton and then you could add to to it as you went along. Once filled at the last winery, they would do the AusPost shipping arrangements and you paid them for the freight. The system tended to be fairly prominently displayed at the wineries.

A good system for getting a varied selection without getting too locked in to one place, I thought.
 
The wineries in that region have (or certainly had) a system where you could buy, say, a couple of bottles at winery #1, they would give you a carton and then you could add to to it as you went along. Once filled at the last winery, they would do the AusPost shipping arrangements and you paid them for the freight. The system tended to be fairly prominently displayed at the wineries.

A good system for getting a varied selection without getting too locked in to one place, I thought.

This is still offered
IMG_8089.jpg
 
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Have used this option and it's a brilliant initiative.

And I though having carry on would save me money...............
 
RoseAnna, I called into a few last weekend - below is what I posted. There is an AFFer from Launceston who works in the wine industry (viticulture/oenology) - his recommendations to me were;

"For the Western side of the Tamar river, leaving Launceston i'd recommend Tamar Ridges cellar door which is just past Legana, then head up to Moores Hill, then Goaty Hill and Holm Oak. All four wineries are definitely recommended.

The Eastern side is a bit more of a journey but Bay of Fires, Pipers Brook, Jansz, Cloverhill if your restricting it to four, then into Launceston for Dinner at Josef Chromys. :) "

I would love to hear what you think about the venues you end up at.

PS. I am picking someone up from the LST airport on Monday at 12.30 - if that happens to coincide with your flight out let me know.

Thank you so much, both for the information and the offer. I am flying out Sunday but adding a stopover in Melbourne. A mini holiday in all the crazy is good for you I say :D

Looks like it will be Tamar Ridge and Holm Oak on the way back as we decided we will start with a longer drive up to Burnie and Hellyers Road Distillery. Who can go past a good drop of whiskey? Or at least trying to find a good drop :D
 
we will start with a longer drive up to Burnie and Hellyers Road Distillery. Who can go past a good drop of whiskey? Or at least trying to find a good drop :D

Thats my neck of the woods - I have an entertainment book voucher for the distillery tour, (buy one get one free) if you want it.
 
Thats my neck of the woods - I have an entertainment book voucher for the distillery tour, (buy one get one free) if you want it.

That is so nice of you. We havent booked the tour at all since we have no clue when we will be there... we just found it yesterday :D At this stage we will probably have to skip it as we have limited time but thank you so much for the offer. :D
 
Thank you so much, both for the information and the offer. I am flying out Sunday but adding a stopover in Melbourne. A mini holiday in all the crazy is good for you I say :D

Looks like it will be Tamar Ridge and Holm Oak on the way back as we decided we will start with a longer drive up to Burnie and Hellyers Road Distillery. Who can go past a good drop of whiskey? Or at least trying to find a good drop :D

Steady also assures me that the Distillery has an excellent cafe as well
 
That is so nice of you. We havent booked the tour at all since we have no clue when we will be there... we just found it yesterday :D At this stage we will probably have to skip it as we have limited time but thank you so much for the offer. :D

I am not sure, but I think they just run it when someone wants to go.

Steady also assures me that the Distillery has an excellent cafe as well

The two ronnies (drron and mrs drron :oops:) are also fans of the cafe
 
Well, I thought I should let you know that we had a lovely day out in northern Tasmania. The visit to Hellyers was a big hit, even though we were a bit early for lunch we did try out their savoury scones and they were lovely. Also tried out several of their whiskeys and I have to say I did like the Pinot Noir one. A lovely drop with a bit of a swing to it.

Continued on to Holm Oak and thank you so much for the tip. This was the better one of the two visited and very well worth the extra drive off the beaten track. Lovely staff that were very helpful and they had some really nice wines. Tried out their Pinot Noir flight and some of the ones were just remarkable.

Did also swing by Tamar Ridge on the way back, but have to say that I prefer Holm Oak. I realise Tamar Ridge gets a lot more people through and the staff was very helpful but Holm Oak was so much more personal and felt much more genuine.

Thank you so much for the help. This was really a great day to remember.
 
The wineries in that region have (or certainly had) a system where you could buy, say, a couple of bottles at winery #1, they would give you a carton and then you could add to to it as you went along. Once filled at the last winery, they would do the AusPost shipping arrangements and you paid them for the freight. The system tended to be fairly prominently displayed at the wineries.

A good system for getting a varied selection without getting too locked in to one place, I thought.

A bit late to the party here, however...

They definitely still do this, and it's not necessarily restricted to Tamar Valley wineries - we bought a few bottles from that part of the world, then filled up the rest of the case from the southern regions, and one of the Freycinet wineries were more than happy to ship it back for us!

I would also add Delamere to the list worth visiting (for next time at least) - they were super friendly and make a cracking Pinot.
 
Just came back from tasmania - I visited Josef Chromy - which was excellent and the staff were really friendly.
Goaty Hill had a beautiful spot for a cheese plate and tasting. The Mrs wanted to go to Jansz and the staff was pretty rude, so we quickly left and went next door into Pipers brook, which was my favourite, staff were great and even through in a bottle of wine for free.
We tasted the Lyre 15 and tasted great.
Later that night we stopped in Black cow bistro and tried 'Waterton hall shiraz' on recommendation from Sommelier, it was a cracking cool climate shiraz. I bought two bottles online as soon as I got to Sydney!
 
Just came back from tasmania - I visited Josef Chromy - which was excellent and the staff were really friendly.
Goaty Hill had a beautiful spot for a cheese plate and tasting. The Mrs wanted to go to Jansz and the staff was pretty rude, so we quickly left and went next door into Pipers brook, which was my favourite, staff were great and even through in a bottle of wine for free.
We tasted the Lyre 15 and tasted great.
Later that night we stopped in Black cow bistro and tried 'Waterton hall shiraz' on recommendation from Sommelier, it was a cracking cool climate shiraz. I bought two bottles online as soon as I got to Sydney!
I had the exact opposite experience with Jansz and Pipers Brook (15 months ago) sounds like I need to revisit Pipers Brook.

I got an email from them today sprouting about their Ninth Island NV Rose getting best sparkling under $25 in Tyson’s annual report- they had a link to my “discounted member pricing” - they will sell it to me at the discounted rate of $27 a bottle.....
 
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