The Complete Visitor Guide to Coal River Valley Wine Country

How to get to the Coal River Valley wine region

The valley, located immediately east of the city, stretches out through the quaint towns of Cambridge and Richmond, extending northwards towards Campania and Colebrook further inland. The best way to reach the Coal River Valley wine region is by car from Hobart – especially straight from Hobart International Airport. 

Cambridge is only 15 minutes from Hobart CBD, or 5 minutes from Hobart International Airport, along the B31 or Tasman Highway. Richmond is only a 10-minute drive further on, and the majority of Coal River Valley vineyards you can visit are located between these two towns. This means you have the choice of about a dozen vineyards – and some cute places to stay – within a half-hour drive from central Hobart. 

The hills and vines around Campania, where several wineries have vineyards (although many are not open to the public), are only 5-10 minutes further up the B31 from Richmond.

Coal River Valley Wine Varietals

The Coal River Valley is one of Australia’s southern-most major wine regions. As such, it should be no surprise that, as with elsewhere in Tasmania, the name of the game here is primarily slow ripening, cool-climate wine varieties with high fruit and acidity flavours. There’s a strong influence from classic northern French wine-making traditions (although not as much sparkling wine is produced here as there is in northern Tasmania). Above all, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir are almost ubiquitous across Coal River Valley wineries, and they account for the majority of the region’s production. 

Still, it’s not only about the climate in the Coal River Valley. The region also benefits from an unusually diverse geology, from alluvial loams and iron-oxide rich clay soils to rich volcanic deposits of basalt, Jurassic dolerite, and Triassic sandstone in pockets. As a result, different grapes produce well in different parts of the Coal River Valley, and there are also significant producers of high-quality Rosé, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, and even Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, and Merlot in parts.

Which Coal River Valley wineries and cellar doors to visit 

Pooley Wines Estate 1431 Richmond Road, Richmond

Cellar Door Tastings: Every day, 10am-4:30pm     Pizza: 12-3pm, Fri-Sat

It’s easy to forget about wine at Pooley. Their “cellar door” is not some dank, dusty subterranean room, but rather the elgantly restored coach house and barn of a grand 19th-century estate. One that is listed as a property of historic importance not only for its magnificent house and grounds, but for the fact that much of the sandstone with which Richmond was constructed – including its famous bridge – was quarried from the property. Combine that with its hillside location offering superb views of the countryside, and Pooley Wines is worth a visit for its architectural, historical, and natural beauty alone. Still, it does help that their nearby Butcher’s Hill and Campania vineyards also produce a stunning range of wines, ranging from a meaty Syrah to some sharp-fruity Rieslings and an excellent sharp-sweet Gewurtztraminer. 

Frogmore Creek 20 Denholms Road (winery) & 699 Richmond Road (restaurant), Cambridge

Cellar Door: 10am-5pm, Thu-Mon    Restaurant: 11:30am-3pm, Thu-Mon

Frogmore Creek is, first and foremost, a winery, particularly renowned (around Australia and beyond) for Riesling and Pinot Noir. Still, it’s hard not to talk about food when you mention a visit to Frogmore Creek, and that’s because of their restaurant. Awarded a prestigious hat in the much-acclaimed Good Food Guide (Australia’s equivalent of the Michelin Guide or the Gault Millau), Frogmore Creek’s restaurant takes culinary creativity to a different level, resulting in things far beyond your standard wine-and-cheese offerings – think pulled pork lollipop with broccoli jelly, or a playful “lemon lego” dessert, featuring edible blocks of lego sorbet. Bookings strongly suggested.

Puddleduck Vineyard 992 Richmond Road, Richmond

Tours: 10:30am & 2:30pm, Mon-Fri      Cellar Door: 10am-5pm

Maybe the best single choice for a family-friendly winery visit in the Coal River Valley, a lot of things at Puddleduck are done in the name of having fun – whether letting the kids run around in their expansive playground and outdoor ‘Green Zone’, or taking the option to arrive at the vineyard and ‘Adults Only’ outdoor Deck area by Rotorlift helicopter. You can also book a hen’s do and a kids birthday for groups of 12 or more, or pat one of the eponymous ducks. Still, one thing that Puddleduck is serious about – unsurprisingly, given it’s run by Tasmanian winemaking stalwarts Darren and Jackie Brown – is their wine (particularly Rieslings, both dry and sweet).

Coal Valley Vineyard 257 Richmond Road, Cambridge

Cellar Door: 11am-4pm, Fri-Mon

Smaller than most surrounding vineyards, Coal Valley manage to take a very hands-on approach, with some unique processes that other, bigger producers struggle to do on scale. All Coal Valley wines are made from 100% single-estate grapes, grown on vines at their picturesque 5-hectare property just outside Cambridge and picked by hand. The result is wines that show diverse character and characteristics from year to year, with less uniformity than bigger labels, which makes it very interesting to taste differences between vintages here. Over the years, this has led them to hone in on superb Pinot Noir, which is by far the speciality and focus here (although a small amount of Tempranillo is released each year). 

Nocton Vineyard 373 Colebrook Road, Richmond

Cellar Door: 10am-4pm, Daily

Wrapped over 34 hectares of undulating hills in the heart of the Coal River Valley, Nocton’s vines have been in the ground since the 1990s, longer than most in the region, and over that time they have managed to carve out a distinctive reputation. Known for consistently producing quality Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Sparkling wines like many Tasmanian wineries, Nocton also manage to produce an outstanding Merlot (a rarity in these parts). Slowly aged in oak over a number of years, the Willow Reserve Merlot is a wonderfully rich, chocolatey wine with deep berry notes and high tannins; a fantastic “fireside wine” that pairs well with rich meat dishes. 

Where to stay when visiting the Coal River Valley wine region

• Richmond: One of colonial Australia’s prettiest historic towns, Richmond’s quaint, old-timey streets are full of beautiful 19th-century architecture and historical sites. Be sure to pop down to the Sunday market on Bridge Street.
   
• Cambridge: Essentially an outer suburb of Hobart but very handily placed beside the airport and at the start of the Coal River Valley, Cambridge is a great option for visitors wanting to explore the wineries of the region. It also has some hidden gems for aviation nuts and whisky lovers.
   
• Campania: An epicentre of Coal River Valley wine-making since the 19th century, this quaint rural community with superb surroundings is Italian not only in name. Its rolling hills could easily make you think you’re in Tuscany.
• Hobart: It’s easy enough to get to the Coal River Valley from Hobart in under half an hour, so if you’re comfortable in the city, there’s no reason to leave!

What else is there to see and do in the Coal River Valley?

Richmond 

The jewel in Coal River Valley’s crown is the pretty, picturesque, historic town of Richmond. Home to the oldest stone bridge in Australia, the one-of-a-kind ‘Pooseum’, and a tiny model village of Hobart in the1820s that is so detailed it even depicts the outbreak of a pub brawl, Richmond offers something for everyone.

Wicked Cheese

Few things pair better with wine than cheese, and so it’s handy that this acclaimed artisan cheesemaker is just down the road from most Coal River Valley vineyards. From whisky cheddar to deep-fried camembert, a hard goats cheese or a “Wicked Blue”, there’s a lot for cheese lovers to get excited about here.

ZooDoo Wildlife Park 

Perfect for a fun family day out, learn about and encounter some animals up close at this popular local wildlife park. Meet the meerkats, mingle with the marmosets, sidle up to a serval, feed an ostrich, or watch the lion keepers do their uniquely delicate job.

Coal River Farm

A great addition to any Coal River Valley food and wine tour, drop into this working family farm for a look around and a taste of their housemade artisanal chocolate, small-batch cheese, and other delicious delights.

To find out more about travelling in Tasmania – including how to visit the Coal River Valley and other Tasmanian wine regions – have a look at First Light Travel’s Tasmania blog page. If you’re ready to start planning your trip, but need some guidance, you can reach out to FLT’s expert travel planners for advice. Or, you’ll find a number of self-drive tour options already on the website.