Coal River Valley Cellar Doors

The Coal River Valley around Richmond is one of Tasmania's established cool-climate wine regions, with a cluster of small producers operating cellar doors within easy reach of the village. Pinot noir and sparkling wine are the strengths — the region's combination of dry summers and cool nights produces grapes with good acid retention. Several producers have won national and international awards.

The cellar doors are generally open daily for tastings and sales. Pooley Wines, Coal Valley Vineyard, and Craigow are among the most visited. Most are small-scale family operations where you are likely to be poured by someone who actually makes the wine. The drive from Richmond along the valley road passes vineyards, orchards, and grazing land — a pleasant half-hour even without stopping.

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The Coal River Valley sits at the northern end of Tasmania's wine country, producing cool-climate grapes in a relatively dry microclimate compared to the Tamar Valley and Huon. The first modern vines were planted here in the 1990s and the region has quickly established a reputation for sparkling wine and pinot noir. Being close to Hobart, its cellar doors get day-trippers from the city rather than the specialist wine tourists who venture further into southern Tasmania.