The cool rules in Southern Tasmania.

As one of the most southerly areas in the world for viticulture, the super cool climate is ideal for classic northern European grape varieties such as riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir.

Climate was an irresistible attraction to vigneron Greg Melick at Pressing Matters.

“I chose to plant in the Coal River Valley as, in my opinion, it is the region in Tasmania most suited to the style of wines we wish to produce.”

“The Valley can produce exceptional fruit with concentration of flavours, colours and tannins.”

The Pressing Matters chardonnay is one wine worth seeking out with its bright citrussy crunch, stone fruits a plenty across the palate and something one wine writer describes as a “steely mineral focus.”

There’s a cool, fine-edged elegance associated with the wines of Southern Tasmania, something visitors will enjoy getting up close to during the upcoming long weekend Southern Open Vineyards event, – February 28 – March 2 – a festival showcasing the wines and wineries of the district.

The wineries of Southern Tasmania are broken into four distinct areas: Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley, Huon Valley/ d”Entrecasteaux Channel and the South East. Getting there is easy with most wineries only one hour out of Hobart.

When you are living and working on the land in such a cool part of the world, patience comes in handy.

“Patience is key here,” admits Matthew Hughes at Mewstone in the Huon Valley. “Low yield expectations and a readiness to wait for the right moment are essential to a successful harvest.”

But the gains are enormous.

“The extended cool growing season in Southern Tasmania gives our fruit an intensity that’s hard to replicate,” he enthuses. “This results in a vibrant, fresh ripeness.”

Like the rest of Tasmania, two grapes dominate the sub-region – chardonnay and pinot noir. They work individually as table wines and occasionally get together in sparklings.

For Kate Hill who runs her eponymous winery at Huonville in the Huon Valley, pinot noir dominates production and sales. She produces a range of pinots that explore everything from the sour cherry and spice fruit notes to the more gamey and savoury. However, it is her shiraz which is setting many a wine writer’s tongue a-wagging.

“There is quite a bit of interest in our shiraz,” she admits, “particularly as it is possibly Australia’s coolest shiraz vineyard site.”

For Fred Peacock at Bream Creek Vineyard in the South-East, he admits to a soft spot for riesling. “It’s my favourite variety,” he says. Visitors to the vineyard on the Marion Bay Road at Bream Creek will have the added encouragement to try the wine when they see the original riesling vines planted in 1974. Old vine riesling is a delight to behold both visually and in the glass.

Bangor Vineyard Abel Tasman Pinot Noir 2020
93 Points | $56 | Drink: 2025-2030

Walks a dark berried, wild path full of complex scents and flavours. Holding its age very well indeed with a notable freshness set amongst scents of dark rose floral, dark cherry and plum fruits with spice and a distinct earthiness with autumnal, leafy notes. The palate is well mapped out in fine tannins offering a smooth entry before building some nice grip through to the finish. Ripe red and dark cherry fruits sprinkled in peppery spices line the palate in harmony with restrained cedary oak. Reveals an attractive savoury elegance, fine-edged throughout, cool climate in structure, with a distinctive and lasting earthy, undergrowth savoury presence.

From the South-East district of Southern Tasmania, Bangor is part of a historic seaside town on the way to Port Arthur and has been under the custodianship of the Dunbabin family for five generations.

Bangor Vineyard will be part of Southern Tasmania Open Vineyards 2025 weekend.

Merriworth Estate Pinot Noir 2024
91 Points | $37 | Drink: 2025-2028

This is one inviting, juicy and youthful pinot noir worth exploring not just on price but on quality. Bright, ripe summer red berry and cherry fruits to the fore and a fragrance of spice, bramble and dusty cacao. While the aromas are lifted in perfume, the palate is grounded in supple cherry fruits, spice, dried leaves and light floral, musk notes aided by chewy tannins. Fills the mouth with loads of summery pinot flavour and runs long. Crunchy acidity adds a nice easy drinking tick right now, but some short-term ageing could be embraced if you have the patience.

Merriworth is based at Tea Tree in the Coal River Valley, north of Hobart. Established in 2001 on a hill overlooking the Jordan River, Merriworth is planted to riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir. New varieties are planned.

Merriworth will be part of Southern Tasmania Open Vineyards 2025 weekend.

Southern Open Vineyards festival, Southern Tasmania, February 28 – March 2, 2025

Highlights include:

• Exclusive Winery Access: Meet winemakers and preview new vintages, incl. Frogmore Creek, Nocton Vineyard, Quiet Mutiny, Sailor Seeks Horse, Derwent Estate, Bream Creek Vineyard, and more.
• Custom Tours: Self-guided adventures (touring maps) or chauffeured itineraries incl. The Derwent Experience, Ageing Barrel Tours, or Apple Isle Wine Tours.
• Special Offers: Discounts at Hobart’s luxury hotels incl. The Tasman, Hadley’s Orient Hotel, and The Old Woolstore (event partners).