Trial Bay Estate 2024 Pinot Noir

 

So you like to support artisan producers? They don't get much more micro than Trial Bay Estate at Kettering, a hamlet in the d'Entrecasteaux Channel south of Hobart. Trial Bay produces just one single vineyard wine each year from its 2 acres of vines - and there were just 895 bottles made in 2024. That's bottles, not cases. Some wines just leap out of the glass with their youthful vitality and this is an excellent example; turbo-charged with vibrant fruit character from the hand-picked grapes that are organically grown, although not certified. Red berries and French oak are well aligned and previous vintages have rewarded cellaring for 4-5 years. $55. https://www.trialbayestate.com.au/

Kate Hill Wines 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

There is a delightfully chilled, youthful vibe about this new release from Kate Hill in the Huon Valley. It is a bright, blue-eyed child of a wine, blessed with citrus and tropical fruit notes ahead of light herbaceousness in a style that pays homage to the classic sauvignons of the Loire Valley. Made from southern Tasmanian grower fruit, it spent some time in older oak building mouthfeel and is perfect for late summer enjoyment, perhaps with a quiche and green salad, or maybe sushi/sashimi. I declare some bias here: I have been known to pop up at Kate's cellar door - but I wouldn't do that if I didn't enjoy her wines. Love the colour-coded labels, too. $34. https://www.katehillwines.com.au/

Pooley 2025 Butcher’s Hill Riesling

The Pooley family were pioneers of high-quality winemaking in the Coal River Valley, just past Hobart Airport, and have earned international acclaim. Their cellar door is a "must visit" for wine lovers venturing to Tasmania. They are better known for pinot noir than riesling, but this delicious new release underlines how good the grape variety can be in Tasmania. This is a single vineyard wine with serious structure and depth of flavour; far removed from its "high-acid, drink now" cousins. The 2024 vintage quickly sold out and this will doubtless do the same. There are classic citrus notes here, but also interesting textural notes on the palate. Pair with scallops or pasta dishes with seafood. $70. https://www.pooleywines.com.au/  

 

Resolution Vineyard 2025 Pinot Noir

Resolution Vineyard is something of a wine secret, even to locals in southern Tasmania. The tiny one-hectare property, planted 24 years ago, is tucked away in the hills overlooking the d'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island - next to the local cemetery outside the hamlet of Middleton. The vineyard, owned and operated by the Lamont family, grows only pinot noir and production is the hundreds of bottles, not cases. I tasted this young release, vinified by Alain Rousseau at Frogmore Creek, just after it had been bottled and it needed a couple of hours to relax and show at its it best. I tried it again a few days later and it had come together beautifully; floral, fresh, crunchy and vibrant. $40. www.resolutionvineyard.com.au

www.resolutionvineyard.com.au

Wineglass Bay 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

Tasmania is best known for wines made from pinot noir and chardonnay - but it also produces several other styles, like this super seafood-friendly sauvignon blanc, made by the talented team under Claudio Radenti at Freycinet Vineyard under the Wineglass Bay label, a nod to a beautiful local east coast beach. This is fresh and lively with tropical and herbaceous notes, ripe fruit and zingy acid on the finish. A percentage spent time in seasoned oak barrels to add mouthfeel. It is designed for immediate enjoyment, preferably well chilled. It paired beautifully with avocado and lobster, but would also be great with local oysters. A seriously fun wine. $30. https://freycinetvineyard.com.au/

Stoney Rise 2025 Savagnin

There is not much savagnin around. Originally from the Jura region of France, where it is used to make the famous vin jaune oxidative wines, in Australia it was originally erroneously marketed as the Spanish grape albarino. Nowadays it is often confused with sauvignon blanc. In the right hands it makes white wines that are very textural, in this case with salinity and length added by three days of maceration. Stoney Rise winemaker Joe Holyman, a former wicketkeeper for Tasmania, has very steady hands and this is an interesting wine; grippy, food friendly with apple/nutty notes and savoury/spicy hints. You'll find Holyman's sense of humour on the front foot on the back label with nonsense nods to broadbean hotpot, Palatschinke and yodelling. Pair with a cheese platter, or quiche lorraine. $42. https://www.stoneyrise.com/  

Holm Oak 2023 The Wizard Pinot Noir

 

Another outright winner from a family-owned Tamar Valley producer that makes top-notch wines across several price points. Bec and Tim Duffy's vineyard at Rowella produces excellent quality cool-climate fruit and this is estate-grown, made and bottled. It is a wine for those who like their pinots with plenty of flavour and structure. Some of the fruit comes from younger vines with clones selected for offering structure and complexity. The 30% whole-bunch material helps lift the mouthfeel game with maturation in French oak barriques for 12 months. So think dark fruit flavours, well balanced oak and cellaring potential. Save this one for the cooler months and pair with a rich winter casserole. $65.  https://holmoakvineyards.com.au/

Glaetzer Dixon 2019 Mon Pere Shiraz

Cool-climate Tasmanian shirazes are terrific mid-term cellaring prospects, but Nick Glaetzer at Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers has done the work for you, re-releasing two outstanding back vintage examples of the Mon Père Shiraz. GDFW is celebrating 20 years in Tasmania with re-releases of 2018 and 2019 Mon Père. Both are excellent in different ways, but the 2019 is my pick right now. It comes from a cooler year and is more more aromatic and elegant with dark pepper and deli notes along with dark fruits. The 2018 ($90) is richer and rounder, so it is horses four courses. $85. https://www.gdfwinemakers.com/. 

Rivulet 2024 Glaziers Bay Chardonnay

 

Keira O'Brien is a talented winemaker who has worked with some of the best in the business in Tasmania. She sources small amounts of fruit from various vineyards around the state for her small-batch wines under the Rivulet label. This one uses grapes from Owen and Eve Knight's Elsewhere vineyard in the Huon Valley, one of the most southerly in the country. The chardonnay vines here are over 40 years old. This was one of the stars of the Budburst Tassie Wine Expo, with a symphony of flavours - elegant fruit, smartly-judged oak and bight minerality. Simply sensational drinking. Pair with old skool roast chicken and stuffing. $58. https://rivuletwine.com/  

Bream Creek 2025 Pinot Gris

 

You can choose any wine - literally any wine - from the Bream Creek range and you won't be disappointed. Fred Peacock and his team from the Tasman Peninsula are masters of consistent excellence. This has the lot - length, texture and balance - and probably sits midway between gris and grigio styles. It's classic cool-climate white with appealing pear/apple/citrus flavours and plenty of palate interest/crunchy acid alongside immediate drinkability. Pair this anything from a mushroom quiche to fritto misto. Startlingly good value at $36. https://www.breamcreekvineyard.com.au/

Stoney Vineyard 2023 Pinot Noir

 

From the David Walsh stable; Moorilla Estate/Domaine A, this is a very stylish pinot noir from the Stoney Vineyard in the Coal River Valley. Winemaker Conor van der Reest has conjured up a very elegant wine, what we used to call feminine, with classic cool-climate pinot character, well balanced flavour and a very smooth finish. This is one of those wines that just evaporates in your glass. Think cherries, chocolate notes, ginger, Asian spices but with a very sexy, soft finish. Pair with Chinese roast duck. My sample was provided by Wine Tasmania. Exceptional value at $42. https://domaine-a.com.au/

Quiet Mutiny 2025 Charlotte's Elusion Rosé

 

Here is a rosé with a difference; primarily made from the pinot meunier grape that is traditionally used in sparkling wines. This offers a food-friendly alternative dry table wine that is perfect for enjoying chilled over summer. Quiet Mutiny is the personal label of Greer Carland, whose family owns Laurel Bank vineyard overlooking the Derwent River. This was a standout at the recent Budburst Tassie Wine Expo. The fruit for this wine was sourced from the warmer East Coast of Tasmania and this lively number has both vibrancy and personality. Perfect for enjoying with a Middle Eastern mezze plate, or some pan-fried salmon (preferably not farmed salmon). $37. https://quietmutiny.wine/  

Aunt Alice 2025 Ocean Chardonnay

 

Alice Davidson is a talented winemaker who has worked with outstanding talents including Peter Dredge and is now building a formidable reputation for her own label, which sources fruit some several vineyards around the state. She is currently building a micro winery at Geeveston in the Huon Valley. This is a very impressive new release tasted at the Budburst Tassie Wine Expo that is at once varietal, fresh, vibrant and accessible. It is elegant and food friendly; suitable for short-term cellaring. You could pair this with anything from American pork ribs to traditional roast chicken. $55. https://www.auntalice.com.au/  

Hughes & Hughes 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

 

This is a perfect choice for enjoying on a warm afternoon. In fact I can't think of a wine that says "summer fun" so impressively. Hughes & Hughes is the the label the Hughes brothers from Mewstone Vineyard in southern Tasmania use for their entry level wines made using grower fruit. This recent release features grapes grown in the Iron Pot Vineyard in Rowella in the Tamar Valley in the north of the state. This is tank fermented, crisp, delicious, vibrantly fruity and best enjoyed well chilled with a picnic on the beach or on a riverbank. It is unfined, unfiltered and full of the joys of youth. $35.  https://www.mewstonewines.com.au