Wine regions of Tasmania

Tasmania is home to seven distinct sub-regions that produce a range of wine styles – and offer very different tourism experiences.

The Tamar Valley is the oldest and largest wine district in Tasmania and veers from rustic to sophisticated. Known for producing sparkling wines, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, it stretches from Relbia, near Launceston Airport, where Josef Chromy has an excellent cellar door and restaurant complex, to north past Launceston on both sides of the Tamar River. Velo Wines has an excellent cafe and tasting facility. Tamar Ridge, Stoney Rise and Holm Oak are among the best-known names but it is also worth checking out Goaty Hill, Moores Hill, Native Point, Humbug Reach, Three Wishes, Marion's Vineyard and Winter Brook and the wines from Grey Sands.

The Pipers River region, north-east of Launceston was pioneered by Andrew Pirie at Pipers Brook Vineyard in 1974. With a climate close to that of Champagne in France, sparkling wines are the speciality. In addition to the Pipers Brook cellar door and cafe, also visit the Jansz Tasting Room, Bay of Fires and boutique producers like Delamere, Sinapius and Leaning Church at Lilydale.

The East Coast wine region stretches from Bicheno to the Tasman Peninsula and the coast road produces some of the state's best wines. Freycinet Vineyard is among the best pinot noir producers while Spring Vale, Milton Vineyard, Gala Estate and The Hazards (home to Devil's Corner) all offer tastings. Closer to Hobart are Darlington, Bream Creek, Cape Bernier and Sugarloaf Ridge (the last three of which require appointments).

The North West, the newest wine region in the state, has only a handful of pioneering producers including Barringwood, Lake Barrington Vineyard, Ghost Rock and newcomer Blue Penguin at Penguin. There are also several smaller producers without cellar doors.

Down south, Panorama Vineyard at Glaziers Bay grows grapes for a number of mainland producers and also has a wide range of varieties on sale. At nearby Ranelagh, outside Huonville, Home Hill is a producer of superbly textured pinot noirs with an excellent restaurant. Hartzview produces both wines and liqueurs and has panoramic views while small producers like Two Bud Spur, Elsewhere, Wombat Springs, Heriots Point and Highland Brae welcome visitors by appointment.

To the north of Hobart, stretching past New Norfolk, the Derwent Valley offers contrasting experiences. The glitz of Moorilla Estate, part of the same complex as the Museum of Old and New Art - MONA, as well as The Source restaurant and a wine bar, is very different to the rustic Stefano Lubiana cellar door, home to one of the few biodynamic producers in the state. Also check out Derwent Estate and look out for wines from Laurel Bank and Kinvarra.

Just a hop, skip and jump from Hobart Airport, the Coal River Valley is home to several smaller producers. Peter Althaus produces stunning cabernets and merlots under the Domaine A and Stoney Vineyard labels. You can taste both Frogmore Creek and Meadowbank wines at a joint tasting facility with an excellent on-site restaurant, while the Pooley cellar door at Richmond has a charming vibe. Also check out Puddleduck, Coal Valley Vineyard, Pages Creek, Nocton Park, Morningside, Third Child and Observatory Hill.