VINEYARDS & CELLAR DOORS
Taking a day trip from Launceston heading North up the western side of the Tamar Valley the rolling hills which were once laden with apple and pear trees now are laden with grapevines that supply the vineyards in the Tamar Valley. With the diversity in the landscape, history and beauty of the Tamar Valley comes a vast array of different vineyards, cellar doors and restaurants offering a variety of wines and experiences.
The northern vineyards of the Tamar Valley are clustered together nicely if you want to take a tour of some quaint and unique cellar doors within close proximity you can compare their own distinct Tamar Valley flavours. Rowella is home to some of the best wineries in the Tamar Valley with Chartley Estate, Holm Oak, Waterton Hall, Iron Pot Bay and Goaty Hill wines all within a stone’s throw of each other. Visiting these beautiful vineyards in a truly beautiful part of the Tamar Valley is definitely one to add to the list of vineyards in Tasmania to visit.
Holm Oak is a beautiful vineyard with an entrance which is flanked by huge oaks that makes you feel like you are driving onto a movie set. Wines are diverse and acclaimed and tasting them at cellar door is a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
At Holm Oak selecting produce from the fridge and then you are provided with a plate and knives for you to build your own cheese platter. Taking this platter to seek out a spot in the garden to savour your wine and discover Tasmanian produce. When you have eaten and drank yourself full and happy, there is a very friendly pig on the property who just loves apples, he has a cheeky vineyard nickname, Pinot ‘d’ Pig, and paying him a visit is all part of the Holm Oak experience.
If art installations, views, wines, music and beautiful platters are your thing, then Goaty Hill Winery definitely needs to be added to your list. Scattered around their cellar door is quirky pieces of art which are great to discover as you wander across the lawn with a glass of wine in your hand. They have a variety of cheese platters to sit down on the lawn and graze over whilst you discover their wines and enjoy the peaceful surrounds of the valley.
If you need more than a grazing platter then sampling the menu at Iron Pot Bay will satisfy you- fresh and local diverse options, matched with their wines. The restaurant is quaint and renovated tastefully with a nod to the past. The casual and relaxed dining allows you to sit outside under a tall oak tree or in the sunshine enjoying the views. A vineyard experience that will change the way you think about the Tamar Valley.
Waterton Hall requires bookings for wine tastings and it is definitely well worth the effort as it is a wonderfully restored 1850’s stone barn, like many of the other grand estates in Northern Tasmania it is spectacular and it is one of the only ones in the Tamar Valley that you can visit.
All of these vineyards are owned and run by family operations and the service and warmth that you will feel is quintessentially Tasmanian, calling ahead to book if you know you are going to eat will ensure you are seated in a great location to soak in the spectacular Tamar Valley views.