The Ultimate Visitor Guide to the Tamar Valley Wine Region

Where is the Tamar Valley wine region?

The Tamar Valley is located on the northern coast of Tasmania, starting just above the city of Launceston and running towards the north coast, past Beauty Point and George Town, to the opening of the Bass Strait. The majority of Tamar Valley wineries are concentrated along the western banks of the River Tamar, between the towns of Exeter and Beaconsfield and around the settlement of Sidmouth. The “Batman Bridge” near Sidmouth joins the eastern and western sides of the river. 

The adjacent Pipers River wine region (on which FLT has a separate, dedicated guide) is on the eastern side of the river, just east of the Tamar Valley, and is often included as part of Tamar Valley wine tours. It is about 45 minutes from Launceston by car.

How to get to the Tamar Valley wine region

The Tamar Valley starts at Legana, just outside Launceston, making it effortlessly easy to get to on any Tasmanian road trip. 

From Launceston: it’s only 15 minutes to the start of the Tamar Valley wine region at Legana on the west bank, or half an hour to Sidmouth (a central point for surrounding wineries) either by continuing along the A7, or heading up the east side of the river and over Batman Bridge.

From Devonport: it’s only about 45 minutes on the B71 to the start of the Tamar Valley wine region around Beauty Point, or an hour to Sidmouth and the bridge over to the eastern bank of the valley. 

From Hobart: it’s about a 2.5-hour drive straight from Hobart to the start of the Tamar Valley at Legana, via Launceston, along National Highway 1. You can also fly (indirectly) to Launceston airport, which is only 20 minutes away.

What wine types is the Tamar Valley famous for?

The Tamar Valley is the biggest and most significant wine region in Tasmania, and one of Australia’s premier wine regions. It accounts for over one-third of Tasmania’s total wine production, and there are dozens of different vineyards producing a range of varieties. However, in particular, the fertile river valley’s soils (and perfect cool maritime-climate growing conditions) have garnered a strong reputation for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and, especially to the east towards Pipers River, Sparkling wines (typically done in “Champagne style” or méthode traditionelle). Aromatic whites – especially Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer – also do well here, and have increased in number over the past years. Overall, Tamar Valley wines are typically well balanced, often complex, and tend towards the dry and delicate side. Having said that, there is amazing diversity between producers within the region. And you can pretty much find whatever you want!

Which Tamar Valley wineries and cellar doors to visit?

There is a lot to choose from, and a lot of different ways to go with Tamar Valley wineries. Each vineyard offers something different, and different people have different priorities. Therefore, this is only a small handful, with plenty of other deserving candidates out there. Still, if you are looking for five of the best Tamar Valley wineries and cellar doors to visit, here are a few to get you started:

Holm Oak Vineyards 11 W Bay Road, Rowella

Cellar Door: 10am-2pm, Mon-Fri

Run by the viticulturist-winemaker dream team couple of Bec and Tim Duffy, Holm Oak is an impressively productive vineyard located on a low bend of the Tamar River near Rowella. The panoramic Cellar Door has a good atmosphere, with a few friendly, well-domesticated pigs often hanging around. Like other Tamar Valley wineries, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the main specialties here. However, Holm Oak also produce a noteworthy range of bolder, deeper reds, including a peppery, small-batch Shiraz – a rarity in Tasmania – and a 50-50 Pinot Noir Shiraz blend, both of which are great tasting options when cosying up beside the Cellar Door fire in winter! In summer, enjoy a picnic on the huge outdoor area with a refreshing, melon-and-grapefruit noted Arneis, Tasmania’s only such release of this traditional northern Italian variety. 

Swinging Gate Vineyard 103 Glendale Road, Sidmouth

Cellar Door: 10am-5pm, Mon-Sat; 12-5pm Sun

A relatively small, Phoenix-like operation who embrace the minimal-intervention approach, Swinging Gate have quietly started making complex, small-batch wines from old vines that were planted decades ago but were then left to their own devices as the winery closed for 15 years. Now wiser with age, these vines have been given new life thanks to the reopening of the vineyard and new energy, which has led to some quality vintages of complex whites – including a decadent, hazelnut- and apricot-tinged Amarone Bianco – over recent years, alongside a funky range of cider. In addition to being a fabulous Cellar Door for tasting these wines, the beautifully restored farm machinery shed also doubles as a day spa. And if you can’t make the drive home, you can even stay on site in a star-topped Domescape pod. 

Iron Pot Bay Vineyards 7 West Bay Road, Rowella

Cellar Door: 11am-4pm, Tue-Sun

The vines stunningly set against a backdrop of eucalyptus-dotted fields and forest-drenched hills stretching out into the distance, Iron Pot Bay is a heckuva spot to sit down with a good wine. Lucky they’ve got plenty of that on offer, then. The citrus-hinted Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and the Primis dessert wine are particular targets for any white-wine lovers, while the Pinot Meunier is a wonderfully light alternative to their already-delicate and soft Pinot Noir. The cute, quaint Cellar Door and Cottage is open Tuesday-Sunday, or tastings can be booked in advance.

Velo Wines 755 West Tamar Highway, Legana

Cellar Door: 10am-4pm, Mon-Fri; 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun

Velo is located right at the start of the Tamar Valley wine route in Legana. Everything they do in winemaking seems to be inspired by tradition and heritage – above all, a dedication to historical French varieties, and traditional French processes, to make a range of classic cool-climate vintages. However, a visit to Velo Wines also shows the winery to be one fully embracing modernity, pushing the boundaries by incorporating contemporary art, design and architecture into what they do on the vineyard. As such, their Cellar Door is an impressively designed space, and a great spot for tasting their superb Cabernet Sauvignon or elegant, Champagne-style Vintage Sparkling, aged over lees for at least five years and infused with tangy lemon and lime notes.

Stoney Rise Wine Company 96 Hendersons Lane, Gravelly Beach

Cellar Door: 10am-5pm, Thu-Mon

If you’re looking for an impressive, up-market Tamar Valley cellar door experience, then this might be your best choice. Oozing elegance and class while still maintaining a nonchalant, effortlessly classy vibe and relaxed atmosphere, the Tasting Room at Stoney Rise feels like the place you would like to take a first date. The Tasting Room is open five days a week, with a classy charcuterie board and snack menu available between 12pm-3pm. The highly drinkable No Clothes Pinot Gris and the lightly oaked yet complex Holyman Project X Pinot Noir are popular choices among a lengthy tasting menu. They also offer a substantial selection of non-wine drinks at the bar, as well as encouraging you to taste several other local, small-scale wine producers by having their vintages on offer as well. For that reason, it’s a good winery to target if you want to kill several birds with one stone!

Remember, this is only a small selection of the many great wineries to visit in the Tamar Valley. If you simply want to find a place in the area and explore for yourself, there are plenty more great wineries to discover!

Where to stay when visiting the Tamar Valley wine region

• Sidmouth: A tasteful little village just west of Batman Bridge, with amazing river views through the trees and dozens of vineyards within a short distance, Sidmouth is the ideal central base for exploring more Tamar Valley wineries.
   
• Beaconsfield: Full of historical sites, this once booming gold-mine town used to be the commercial centre of Tasmania. Now, it’s a picturesque town handily close not only to Tamar Valley’s vineyards but also the waterfalls and walking trails of the Holwell Gorge State Reserve and the soft sands of Greens Beach.
   
• Beauty Point: A small, peaceful fishing town that got its name for obvious reasons with gorgeous views at the mouth of the river Tamar, Beauty Point is also home to a world-first Seahorse World aquarium and a popular scenic walking trail. 
   
• George Town: One of Australia’s first colonial settlements and still draped in relics from Tasmania’s penal-colony past, George Town is perhaps most popular for its stunning Bass Strait views and ornate architecture.
   
• Launceston: With the start of the Tamar Valley wine trail just 10 minutes north in Legana, it’s possible to base your Tamar Valley wine experience out of Launceston, too.

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

Platypus House

Wine may be the main attraction that draws visitors to the Tamar Valley, but it’s often the photos of and encounters with Tasmania’s elusive, remarkable platypus and echidnas that people share most upon their return from Tasmania. This wildlife centre in Beauty Point, open 7 days from 10am-3pm, is the best place to see them.

Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre

Walk through the best preserved memento of the western Tamar Valley’s 19th-century gold-mining heritage at this incredibly popular museum and discovery centre. There are interactive exhibits, kids activities, and thousands of fascinating historical objects you can get hands-on with (including panning for gold).

Low Head 

Walk to the iconic lighthouse for sensational views over Bass Strait, explore the unique Pilot Station, visit the Low Head Maritime Museum for a rundown on the region’s intriguing seafaring past, do a treetop walk, or meet some of Tasmania’s cutest local inhabitants with a Little Blue Penguin Tour at sunset!

There are plenty more posts, covering all things Tasmania, on First Light Travel’s dedicated Tasmania blog page. You can also find plenty of self-drive tour itinerary options, many of which already include the Tamar Valley. If you’d rather customise your own itinerary, but need a few questions answered, then no worries: you can contact FLT’s travel-planning advisors, for free, for help