Tamar Valley wineries: Alex Russell Wines applies for cellar door

A winemaker and viticulturist who set up roots in a premier wine region with his Tasmanian-born wife six years ago says he has big plans for his neck of the woods. Here’s what’s happening.

A winemaker and viticulturist who initially purchased a run-down Tamar Valley vineyard six years ago, expanding the size of the land under vine by eightfold, is ready to take the next step in its development by opening a cellar door.

Alex Russell Wines boss Alex Russell told the Mercury that when he purchased the Karoola vineyard in 2016, after moving from Melbourne with Smithon-born wife Lara Suitor to be closer to Ms Suitor’s family, it had just two hectares under vine.

Now it has 15ha, with varieties including pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc flourishing.

Mr Russell, who studied winemaking at Charles Sturt University and wine business at the University of Adelaide, hopes to further grow the operation at 1866 Pipers River Rd, in the East Tamar, by installing a cellar door open to the public.

It’s a family affair: left to right, Christine Suitor, Logan Suitor, Alex Russell, Audrey Suitor, Lara Suitor, John Suitor and kelpie Bucca. Picture: Luca Photography

His development application, lodged with the City of Launceston last month and currently being publicly advertised, also seeks retrospective approval for a wine processing shed and a residential dwelling.

Mr Russell, who leases a further three Tamar Valley vineyards, taking the total weight of fruit directly available to him to 300 tonnes, sells his wine under the banner Lara & Suitor, with labels including Son of a Bull, Alejandro, Cazadora and Franca’s Vineyard.

2022 pinot noir ferments at the Karoola winery. Picture: Contributed

He also sources additional fruit from across Australia, including the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Mildura, Swan Hill and the Riverina, with his Alejandro label especially focused on alternative varietals.

The Spanish-themed names of his labels were inspired by the six-month South American honeymoon Mr Russell’s in-laws, Christine and John, took together, Mr Russell said.

Cazadora (translating to ‘huntress’ in Spanish) is especially meaningful to the family: it is the name of Mr Suitor’s beloved yacht, moored in the Tamar River.

Mr Russell said he hoped to help make the Pipers River area – currently home to vineyards including Jansz, Pipers River and Bay of Fires, inter alia – wine country as renowned as the West Tamar.

Russell & Suitor Wines' Son of a Bull sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. Picture: Luca Photography

“It will bring more people to the northeast of Tasmania, it’s not a massive wine route compared to the Tamar or Coal River valleys,” Mr Russell said.

“No competition means there’s no reason for anyone to go there, but if we had a dozen wineries, people would say, ‘Great, we can make a day of this’.”

But it’s not just East Tamar Mr Russell has his sights set on, with his Karoola vineyard representing only a fraction of his massive, integrated wine business, which does the majority of its trade on the mainland.

In addition to producing his own wines, Mr Russell is also a wine wholesaler on the mainland and has a vineyard development business.

“The good thing about what we’re doing up there is we are selling wine to the big players, so they ask us because you are in Tasmania, can you get us this grape or this grape,” he said.

“So we are able to source locally and supply mainland companies with Tasmanian fruit, which helps me to develop wineries and vineyards over here and employ people locally.”