Although the latitude would suggest that the climate in Tasmania would be much cooler than Victoria in fact the viticultural environment as measured by heat summation is quite similar to the cooler Victorian regions. Site selection is very important for successful ripening of all but the earliest maturing varieties.

The Northern Tasmanian Wine region has its major concentration of vineyards in the Tamar Valley to the north of Launceston. Serious winemaking started in the late 1970s with the establishment of vineyards in the Pipers Brook region.

In 2010 Brown Brothers acquired the vineyards and wineries owned by Gunn's. This gives Brown Brothers a cool climate source of grapes. This will also impact on the Broader Tasmanian wine scene as a dedicated wine company will now be applying their expertise to viticulture, winemaking and marketing

There are many boutique wineries in Tasmania, but a couple of the major players in the Australian industry have Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards for producing sparkling wines.

Among the smaller vineyards it is not surprising to see that cool climate varieties like Gewurztraminer and Pinot gris are chosen.

Some Wineries in Northern Tasmania using alternative varieties

• Barringwood Park Meunier, Pinot gris, Schonburger
• Bass Fine Wines Pinot gris
• Bay of Fires Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris
• Chartley Estate Pinot gris
• Frogmore Creek Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Ruby Cabernet
• Ghost Rock Pinot gris
• Grey Sands Aglianico, Malvasia, Meunier, Petit verdot, Pinot gris, Touriga Francesa, Viognier
• Hillwood Vineyard Pinot gris
• Iron Pot Bay Wines Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris
• Jinglers Creek Pinot gris
• Josef Chromy Wines Gewurztraminer
• Marions Vineyard Muller Thurgau, Pinot gris
• Pipers Brook Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris
• Pirie Estate Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris
• Rosevears Estate Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris
• St Matthias Pinot blanc, Pinot gris
• Tamar Ridge Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Savagnin, Viognier
• Three Willows Vineyard Baco noir, Pinot gris
• Velo Wines Pinot gris
• White Rock Vineyard Pinot gris
• Wilmot Hills Vineyard Gamay, Muller Thurgau, Siegerrebe

Contact Vinodiversity if you know of other wineries using alternative varieties to make Northern Tasmanian wine

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