A guide to Tasmanian food and wine tasting
24 Nov 2020
Food and wine in Tasmania is thriving. Read on to discover five of the best dining-and-drinking options in our beautiful island state.
Thanks to an abundance of growers, makers and creators, food and wine is now an ever-growing and vibrant part of local Tassie life. And with border restrictions in Tasmania beginning to ease, now is a fantastic time for the rest of Australia to make the journey over Bass Strait.
Some of Australia’s best produce is grown in Tasmania, from orchards of pears, apple and cherries to fields of lavender, so it’s no surprise that it hosts many of the nation's first vineyards.
The cool climate provides the ideal environment for slow maturity of the fruit, allowing the Apple Isle to produce several distinctive and flavoursome wine varietals.
While it’s famous mostly for white wines like Riesling, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, red wine production has also increased over recent years with notable examples of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Shiraz.
If discovering the real and authentic tastes of Tasmania (or, indeed, the famous Taste of Tasmania event!) while relaxing and exploring Tasmania’s food, whiskey and wine in its natural setting sounds appealing to you, then read on to find some of the best food and wine the state has to offer:
Freycinet Vineyards, Bicheno
Freycinet is best known for its crystal-clear waters and the picture-perfect Wineglass Bay. After exploring those must-see sights, fill your wine glass with some Freycinet Chardonnay or a Wineglass Bay Sauvignon Blanc, created by the Freycinet Vineyard and Winery.
Inspired by new growth and opportunity in the area, Geoff and Susan Bull planted the first commercial winery on the east coast in 1979 in the quaint town of Bicheno. The region now boasts over a dozen different vineyards, and most visitors rate Freycinet Vineyards as one of the very best.
Bruny Island
Just south of Hobart, start your culinary journey through the two islands of Bruny Island at The Neck – a narrow isthmus inhabited by penguins which provide panoramic coastal views.
Let your taste buds explore the many depths of Bruny Island as artisans and producers let you sample their craft beer, delicate vintage cheddar, hand-churned herb butters as well as chocolate fudges.
Bruny Island is home to Australia's most southern vineyard and some of the nation’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. Taste this premium, handcrafted wine paired with local cheese or freshly shucked Bruny oysters.
Craigie Knowe Vineyard, Cranbrook
Craigie Knowe Vineyard offers exceptional wines, and this family-run vineyard highlights the many tastes and diverse history of Tasmania.
As the oldest vineyard on the east coast, this well-established property in Cranbrook produces several full-bodied red wines and currently produces a diverse range of Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling wines loved by locals and visitors alike.
Take a stroll through the vineyard and learn more about the complexities of viticulture, before indulging in a lunch of cured meats and divine cheeses, perfectly paired with award-winning wine.
Moorilla Estate Winery, Berriedale
In lovely Hobart, located next to Australia’s most well-known art gallery MONA, there is an irresistible combination of great wine mixed with great art.
The Moorilla Estate Winery is owned by David Walsh, famous Tasmanian personality, gambler, and creator of the MONA Art Gallery.
Moorilla means “rock by the water” in local Aboriginal dialects. British explorers noted that this part of the island was “perhaps adapted to the growth of grapevines,” and the Moorilla Estate Winery in Berriedale now produces a range of delicious wines, much of which flows freely at Mona’s legendary parties, restaurants, bars, and festivals such and Dark Mofo hosted in winter.
The Agrarian Kitchen, Norfolk
Where good food is shared and local seasonal produce is celebrated, The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery offers a unique dining experience.
The restaurant is housed within the Bronte building at New Norfolk’s Willow Court in the town’s old mental asylum. Owners Rodney and Séverine converted this space, envisioning it filled with dinners, where local and seasonal produce could be celebrated.
Gain a true sense of place through the fresh local Tasmanian produce and devour their ever-changing seasonal menu, where ingredients meet fire on a handcrafted wood-fired oven and hot-smoker, built from old bricks from the Willow Court site.
Whether you’re an experienced oenophile or a newbie who wants to learn more, Tasmania offers a huge range of tastes and experiences. From Bruny Island in the south to Tamar Valley in the north, from east coast to west, this majestic island is a great place to discover wine and everything that makes it special.
With Inspiring Journeys you can explore the local produce throughout their Tasmanian journeys, bringing the tastes of Tasmania directly to you in style and comfort.
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