Pipers Tasmania 2025 Syrah

This is the impressive latest addition to the Pipers Tasmania range - a collection from Luke Whittle and the Pipers Brook team that offers affordable cool-climate wines. This is made from fruit grown on Tasmania’s slightly warmer East Coast and offers a mix of bright fruit, hints of pepper and spice and a nicely balanced palate. It's immediately accessible and very food friendly. It was launched in Tasmania but is now being distributed nationally by Pure Wine Co. $35. https://www.kreglingerwineestates.com/product/Pipers-Tas-2025-Syrah

Freycinet Vineyard 2025 Louis Schönburger Riesling

This unusual sweet white blend has found favour with a couple of Tasmania's best producers - and is a very amiable companion for spicy dishes from the likes of Thailand and Korea, or maybe an Indian vegetable curry.  This one, from a pioneering producer on the east coast, is a blend of 67% German hybrid schönburger and 33% riesling, with a melange of sweet/ripe tropical fruit flavours to the fore, along with hints of white spice and citrus notes. Aromatic, and soft on the palate, this would also pair well with a platter featuring soft blue cheeses. Drink young. Drink chilled. $33. https://freycinetvineyard.com.au/

Spring Vale 2019 Family Selection Pinot Noir

 

Hitting Tasmania’s delightful east coast? Want to take home a very stylish local wine that is mature and ready to enjoy right now? This one hits the bullseye; delicious classic cool-climate pinot noir from land at Cranbrook that has been farmed by the Lyne family since 1875. The vineyards arrived a bit later: in 1986, but Spring Vale is very much part of regional history. I really enjoyed the balance of this wine; beautifully poised between fruit and savoury notes, and well worth a splurge. Note, however, that it is made in tiny quantities - from one barrique - and virtually impossible to find anywhere other than cellar door. $125. www.springvalewines.com

Spring Vale 2023 Pinot Noir

 

The Lyne family has been farming at Spring Vale, on Tasmania's east coast, for over 150 years - and making wine for close to four decades. The vineyards were established in 1986, adapting historic farmland into rows of vines. The east coast is the warmest of Tasmania's sub-regions and produces wines with plenty of flavour. This bold pinot wine - mature at three years of age - has dark, rich fruit flavours and chocolate/vanilla notes not necessarily associated with the island state. It has an earthy and textural finish and would be an excellent companion for roast lamb and all the trimmings. The historic cellar door is well worth a visit. $58.springvalewines.com

Boomer Creek 2024 Chardonnay

Boomer Creek is one of the newer names on the Tasmanian wine landscape and its delightful cellar door is a terrific place to stop during an east coast drive. Here a tasting involves great views, the chance to enjoy some deli treats and well-made wines. The first vines were planted in 2012 and the operation is a third-generation family business. This is an impressive cool-climate chardonnay with plenty of varietal flavours balanced by elegance on the finish. There are aromas of toasty oak and vanilla while the palate us driven by stone fruit flavours and hints of crisp citrus. The Boomer Creek team recommends pairing with seafood dishes like salt and pepper calamari or creamy garlic scallops. It would be foolish to argue. They've got it spot on. $45. https://boomercreekvineyard.com.au/

Freycinet Vineyard 2021 Louis Syrah

Climate change has seen several of Tasmania's top vineyards become increasingly capable of producing succulent cool-climate shirazes. This one, from the Freycinet Vineyard on the east coast, represents excellent value for lovers of aromatic, spicy reds. The Louis range of wines is designed for everyday enjoyment or for short-term cellaring, and this hand-picked number is right on target. At five years of age, it offers immediate drinking pleasure and is a stylish, medium-bodied red with classic spice and pepper on the nose leading to soft red and dark fruit flavours on a supple palate that also offers some deli hints. Very food friendly - pair with lamb dishes, or a winter pasta and ragu. $35. https://freycinetvineyard.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/