Tasmania’s Freshest Cellar Doors, Scenic Sips and Sunlit Drives

Textural whites, crunchy reds and bubbles are all high on our wish list for late-summer drinking, and Tasmania has us covered. Think bright rieslings, creamy pinot gris, and the rise of nuanced, silky and spiced syrah/shiraz. Tasmanian wine is having a moment – and with good reason. Cool-climate vineyards coupled with years of winemaking experience are producing wines of elegance and freshness. The island’s sparkling wines consistently sweep trophies at national and international shows, with House of Arras in Pipers River leading the charge. Tasmanian chardonnays are earning top honours for their increasingly confident, complex styles, while Tassie pinot noir is some of the most sought after in the country.

Awards aside, Tasmania’s cellar door scene is growing fast. Fresh tasting room arrivals like Stargazer and Sisu, both in the Coal River Valley, join a host of openings over the past year, including nearby Caledon Estate. And more are coming – Tamar Valley’s Small Wonder and Bird in Hand at the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens are on the horizon. We can feel a road trip coming on, and in under two hours, direct flights from Sydney or Melbourne to either Hobart or Launceston airport get the adventure started. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Southern Sojourns: Hobart and Beyond

From Hobart, scenic routes wind through river valleys, weave past heritage cottages, hillsides dotted with apple orchards and, of course, plenty of rolling vineyards. To the east, the Coal River Valley sits just 30 minutes from the city. Here, you’ll find the new Stargazer tasting room and Tolpuddle, whose chardonnay was recently crowned the world’s best white wine by the 2025 International Wine Challenge. Multi-generational family wineries nearby include Pooley and Bangor Vineyard Shed, both pairing award-winning wines with stunning views.

Back towards Hobart and the Derwent Valley you’ll find some of the oldest vines in the state at Moorilla Winery. Set in the grounds of Mona, stop here for the art and architecture as much as the wine. Glaetzer-Dixon sits in an old ice factory right in Hobart, while Stefano Lubiana is Tasmania’s first certified biodynamic winery. Don’t miss Institut Polaire for Simha wines and Hobart’s best Martinis.

Venture south to the Huon Valley, where the newly opened Kiln Collective brings together Haddow & Dineen and Henskens Rankin for sophisticated sparkling. Also look out for Kate Hill Wines, and be sure to take in the view at Mewstone, perched above the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Time your visit for Hobart’s Tasmanian Wine Festival (February 7–8) or Taste of the Huon (March 8–9) to experience even more.

Northern Journeys: Launceston and the Tamar Valley

Fly into Launceston (or drive two hours from Hobart) and you’re in range of the Tamar Valley’s rolling hills and quiet country roads. Award-winning Holm Oak is an essential deep dive for pinot fans, while Velo, with its pared-back on-site restaurant Timbre, is perfect for lunch. Serious sparkling devotees will already have House of Arras as a non-negotiable, but be sure to also add in Delamere, Jansz, Josef Chromy and Pirie to the list. Clover Hill is another stylish sparkling house, with views all the way to Bass Strait.

Moores Hill, Tasmania’s first 100 per cent off-grid winery, offers tastings on a sun-drenched verandah. A short drive away, sip some lively alternative varieties and top-notch classics at the sleek Stoney Rise cellar door or amongst the intimate surrounds of Sinapius. Utzinger is another with different varieties in bottle, and be sure to check out the classy cellar door for Evenfall, Bellebonne, and Wellington and Wolfe next door.

Further afield, cruise out west to Ghost Rock, or east to Devil’s Corner, Spring Vale and Freycinet, all of which sit along spectacular coastal stretches. Book the flights. Fill the boot. Bring bottles home.