The magnificent
Distant South
In the far reaches of our great southern land lies the Distant South, a treasure trove of sprawling valleys and luscious vineyards that deliver wines of unparalleled elegance.
Otherwise known as Tasmania. The wild, untamed, pristine, natural island state to the south of the Australian mainland, and a precious gem amongst the treasure that is the Australian wine industry.
Locals and tourists know better than anyone what an exquisitely beautiful place this island state is. From the famous dense and largely unexplored forests, the snow-capped mountain ranges, the sparkling river systems, the amazing lakes and the often rugged coastline, this is one of the most pristine and scenic places on earth.
Tasmania may seem like the Distant South to most mainlanders, but it felt even further for Dr James Murdoch, a Scotsman who first planted vines in the Coal Valley of the former Van Dieman’s Land, some 200 years ago. The Pinot grapes he planted showed great promise and were even exhibited in Paris in the 1840s. With the Tasmanian wine industry experiencing hardship during the Victorian goldrush of the 1850s, the industry was resurrected again in the 1950s and forged ahead over the coming decades.
Tasmania is a precious resource, contributing to only one per cent of the total wine made in Australia – but is renowned for its quality fruit, particularly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The total amount of Pinot Noir produced in Tasmania though is slightly higher at 13%, with much of it being made into the scintillating sparkling wines. And with the threat of climate change hovering over vineyards everywhere, the fact that Tasmania is predicted to suffer far less than some its mainland compatriots means that we can expect it to play more and more of a role as one of the leading sources of grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Distant South it might be, but those unique characteristics which cannot be replicated elsewhere, help deliver wines of sophistication and refinement.
