Are you of legal drinking age in your country?
By clicking YES, you confirm that you are of legal drinking age in your country of residence.
You must be of legal drinking age to enter this website.
 
Skip to main content Skip to footer content
Smiths Wine Store
Jansz Tasmania
Oxford Landing
Pewsey Vale Vineyard
Heggies Vineyard
Dalrymple Vineyards
Winesmiths
ROW
Rest of World (ROW) Australia (AU) United Kingdom (UK)
Account
  • Wine Store
    • Shop All Wines

    • Sparkling
      • Sparkling White
      • Sparkling Rosé
      • Prosecco
      • All Sparkling
    • White Wine
      • Sauvignon Blanc
      • Riesling
      • Pinot Grigio
      • Moscato
      • Chardonnay
      • All White Wines
    • Rosé
      • Rosé
      • Sparkling Rosé
    • Red Wine
      • Grenache
      • Tempranillo
      • Pinot Noir
      • Cabernet Sauvignon
      • Shiraz
      • Red Blends
      • Shiraz Cabernet
      • Merlot
      • All Red Wines
    • Spirits
      • Whisky
    • Merchandise
    • Curated Wine Packs
    • E-Gift Cards
    • Special Release
    • Gifting
    • Lighter in Alcohol Wines

    • Newest Release

  • Wine Store
    • Shop All Wines
    • Sparkling
      • Sparkling White
      • Sparkling Rosé
      • Prosecco
      • All Sparkling
    • White Wine
      • Sauvignon Blanc
      • Riesling
      • Pinot Grigio
      • Moscato
      • Chardonnay
      • All White Wines
    • Rosé
      • Rosé
      • Sparkling Rosé
    • Red Wine
      • Grenache
      • Tempranillo
      • Pinot Noir
      • Cabernet Sauvignon
      • Shiraz
      • Red Blends
      • Shiraz Cabernet
      • Merlot
      • All Red Wines
    • Spirits
      • Whisky
    • Merchandise
    • Curated Wine Packs
    • E-Gift Cards
    • Special Release
    • Gifting
    • Lighter in Alcohol Wines
    • Newest Release
  • Brands
    Discover all brands Discover all brands
    Smith & Hooper Smith & Hooper
    Earthworks Earthworks
    Running With Bulls Running With Bulls
    Smith's Angaston Whisky Smith's Angaston Whisky
    Y Series Y Series
    Winesmiths Winesmiths
    La Maschera La Maschera
    Rogers & Rufus Rogers & Rufus
    Mesh Mesh
    Ringbolt Ringbolt
    Jansz Jansz
  • About
  • Regions
    Tasmania Tasmania
    Barossa Barossa
    Eden Valley Eden Valley
    Riverland Riverland
    Wrattonbully Wrattonbully
    Marlborough Marlborough
    Margaret River Margaret River
    South Australia South Australia
    Limestone Coast Limestone Coast
    Barossa Valley Barossa Valley
  • Blog
  • Account
  • Wishlist
  • ROW
    • Rest of World (ROW)
    • Australia (AU)
    • United Kingdom (UK)
A Short History of Tasmanian Pinot Noir
  1. Home
  2. blog
  3. Blog
  4. A Short History of Tasmanian Pinot Noir

A Short History of Tasmanian Pinot Noir

When an opium-farming Scotsman, Dr James Murdoch, was granted land in Coal River in 1822, no one could have predicted that almost 200 years later Tasmania would have gained an international reputation for producing premium cool climate wines, and grasp the title as Australia’s “Pinot Isle”. It’s obvious we have a lot to thank James for – but how did this eccentric doctor’s passion for Pinot Noir lead to Tassie’s thriving wine industry? We’ve condensed 200 years of determination, hard work and highs and lows into this (very) short history of Tasmanian Pinot Noir.

October 20, 2021

From poppies to grapes

Five years after arriving in Tasmania – at the time called Van Diemen’s Land – James planted and sold crops of ‘Black Cluster Vine’ plants, an English clone of Pinot Noir, first grown in NSW in 1813. Early viticulturists had found this variety of grape best suited to Tasmania’s climate and conditions. The grape was so well suited in fact, that Tasmania’s first experiment with grapevines resulted in a top Tassie drop being shown at a Paris exhibition in 1848.

But, just two years later, Tasmania’s wine industry was crushed. The gold rush in the 1850s drove large numbers of Tasmanians over to the mainland in search of riches, and Tasmania was left as the only state in Australia without a commercial wine industry.

From a Scotsman, to a Frenchman and an Italian

It took the attitude and know-how of a Frenchman and an Italian in the 1950s to see the value in Tasmania’s wine industry.

Coming from communities where wine production was an integral part of their culture, Jean Miguet and Claudio Alcorso recognised the similarities of the soils and climate in Tasmania with the grape growing regions of their homelands. Jean established La Provence in 1956 in the Pipers River area, Claudio established Moorilla Estate in 1958 at Berriedale, and with passion and a lot of hard work, they began to grow Tasmania’s reputation as a premium Pinot Noir producing region. But it was winemaker Andrew Pirie who put the Pipers River region on the map for Pinot Noir after establishing Pipers Brook Vineyard in 1974.

He brought Tasmanian wine to the palates of wine-lovers in Australia and around the world. Pipers River remains an important viticultural region and is responsible for around 17 per cent of Tasmania’s wine production. Around the same time, Andrew was putting Pipers River on the map, Geoff and Susan Bull cleared a site in Freycinet on the East Coast of Tasmania, planting the first vines in the coastal sub-region in 1979. Over time, Freycinet has revealed its potential as an impressive Pinot Noir, Sparkling and Chardonnay wine producing region.

In the 1980s, not long after the establishment of Freycinet, Pinotphiles Bertel and Anne Sundstrup founded Dalrymple Vineyards in Pipers River. As Pinot Noir visionaries, they travelled to France for inspiration and guidance and planted a number of French clones on their stunning properties in Tasmania’s north.

Tasmania: the Pinot isle?

Throughout the 1990s, and with the rise in popularity for new world wines, particularly Pinot Noir, winemakers continued to flood into Tasmania, leading to a dramatic expansion of the wine industry over the next decade.

In 2010, viticulturist Dr Richard Smart released a report called The potential for growth of the Tasmanian wine sector – might it become the Pinot isle? He made comparisons between New Zealand and Tasmania in terms of climate, environment and water resources, and predicted Tasmania had the capacity to increase to 4,000 hectares within the next 10 years.

 

This led to significant investment in Tasmanian vineyards by many established mainland wine producers, and a new crop of leading Australian viticulturists and winemakers wanting to make their own mark on the Tasmanian wine industry. Dalrymple Vineyards is now operated by Tasmanian-bred vigneron Peter Caldwell, who makes his award-winning Pinot Noir wines from a number of single sites throughout Tasmania.

In 2018, Pinot Noir comprised nearly 44 per cent of Tasmania’s grape production, and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. This ongoing investment in Pinot Noir production by Tassie’s true believers is why Tasmania is now known as one of the world’s finest Pinot Noir and sparkling wine producing regions.

Dalrymple Vineyards (11) History (3) Pinot Noir (13) Tasmanian wines (8) Vineyard (15)

Shop our Pinot Noir collection

Read more about Pinot Noir

Fall in Love with the New World’s Finest Pinot Noirs

Fall in Love with the New World’s Finest Pinot Noirs

France tops the list when it comes to many things that are close to our heart at Pinosity, and of course, we adore their Pinot Noir.
July 22, 2021
Drink Your Pinot and Keep It, Too

Drink Your Pinot and Keep It, Too

You know the feeling. You fancy a glass of the good stuff but don’t want to polish off the bottle or see any go to waste.
October 1, 2021
Six of the Best Pinot Food Matches

Six of the Best Pinot Food Matches

A lot of people ask us, what are the best food matches for Pinot? Well, it's not really as simple as a one word answer, so here are six of the best.
October 26, 2021

Join our mailing list

Keep up to date with the latest wines, stories and offers
Preferences
Please check at least one box if you want to proceed.

Hear from all of our family brands
Your Details
  • My Account
  • My Orders
  • Newsletter Preferences
  • Wish List
Helpful Things
  • Contact
  • Shipping
  • E-Gift Card FAQ's
Find out More
  • What is Smith's Wine Store?
  • Privacy
  • Sustainability
  • T's & C's

South Australia Liquor License no. 57601051
Tracking Consent