Bream Creek 2018 Pinot Noir

Tasmania is not the easiest place to make consistently great wine; with cold winters, bushfires and hail among the enemies of fine viticulture. Yet somehow, Fred Peacock at Bream Creek Vinyeard, established 46 years ago, makes consistency look absurdly easy. You never see a poor wine from Bream Creek, and yet the wines are among the more affordable from the Apple Isle. This recent release has a gorgeously aromatic nose with a bright cherry fruit allied to a long finish and impressive tannin structure. This has already swept up several show trophies and can be summed up as long, intense and beautifully balanced. One for sipping and savouring, perhaps in front of a roaring winter fire with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on the stereo. $42. www.breamcreekvineyard.com.au. 

Stargazer 2018 Chardonnay

Sam Connew has been in Tasmania for five years; via New Zealand, McLaren Vale and the Hunter Valley. This complete chardonnay from fruit grown on 20+ year-old vines at Ouse, in the upper Derwent Valley, is enough on its own to mark her as one of the stars of the Apple Isle. I recently tasted her range and this particularly won me over with fresh lemon rind characters on the nose, flinty minerality and mixed nut characters. This is the epitome of modern cool-climate chardonnay; tightly focused with citrus and white stone fruit elements in harmony with quality oak. $55. www.stargazerwine.com.au.

Quiet Mutiny 2019 Venus Rising Syrah

Many Tasmanian vineyards are too cool for shiraz to ripen consistently but care and attention in the vineyard and some smart winemaking from Greer Carland have produced a very attractive young Derwent Valley syrah that's full of the joys of youth and chock-a-block with spicy, peppery characters alongside some vibrant - and very varietal - fruit notes. This is a deliciously poised cool-climate red using a fair swag of older vine fruit. The juice spent 16 days on skins and was maturation in French oak (20% new) for just under 10 months. Medium-bodied with 13% abv, judiciously put together with soft red fruit flavours and supple tannins this is well worth seeking out for anyone who enjoys Tasmanian wines. $48. www.quietmutiny.wine

Holm Oak 2019 Arneis

Arneis is a fairly rare grape variety that originates from cool and hilly Piedmont in Italy, where is used in the wines of Roero and Langhe. Unlike many other Italian varieties it is is not widely planted elsewhere in the wine world - in fact this is the only example in Tasmania and one of only a handful in Australia. Husband and wife Tim and Bec Duffy produce an impressive example from the Tamar Valley with varietal pear and peach flavours and interesting layers of flavours. It is floral and dry and quite lean - and extremely food friendly. Pair with scallops. $28. www.holmoakvineyards.com.au.

Small Island 2019 Chardonnay

Former Domaine A cellarhand and Margan Wines alumni James Broinowski started in the wine business by crowdfunding support for his initial releases. He's subsequently built a reputation both as a quality winemaker and a distiller and is one of the finalists for the 2020 Young Guns of Wine Awards. This is an outstanding cool-climate chardonnay made from fruit grown at Saltwater River on the Tasman Peninsula. With just 12.8% alcohol and no oak this just oozes freshness and would be marvelous paired with fresh Tasmanian seafood. Extended lees contact has added textural elements to the crisp, citrusy fruit. $34. www.smallislandwines.com/ You'll also find this at Drink Co. in Salamanca. 

Ghost Rock 2019 P3 Rosé

A most unusual blend from one of the rising star producers in Tasmania; a delightful dryish rosé that is a field blend of pinot meunier, pinot gris and pinot noir from the Cradle Coast - outside Devonport. Those three grape varieties are rarely blended together but this works brilliantly with a vivacious nose of fresh-picked flowers and wild strawberries and a juicy palate that screams “drink me”. Pair with lightly spiced vegetarian Indian dishes like bhajis and pakoras. $30.  

Stargazer 2019 rada

Another stellar effort from Sam Connew, the former Wirra Wirra and Tower Estate winemaker who is making herself very much at home in Tasmania's Coal River Valley. This is a wild-fermented blend of pinot meunier and pinot noir from Pipers River and Coal River Valley that is is made very much in the style of Burgundy's passetoutgrains. It is a style that is very much in vogue; light-to-medium bodied with textural interest and a lightness of touch. You can enjoy this crisp and crunchy number slightly chilled on a warm day, or at cellar temperature with pasta dishes, or perhaps a late-season picnic. $38. www.stargazerwine.com.au.