The state, national and international wins by Tasmanian wine and its producers over 2022 were lauded at the event, held at Richmond’s Puddleduck Vineyard on Tuesday night.

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies congratulated the many wine producers receiving deserved recognition during the year.

“It’s been another brilliant year for Tasmanian wine and its talented producers,” Ms Davies said.

“There have been numerous international and national trophies, awards and media articles, with Tasmanian wine continuing to outperform the rest of the country.

“We’ve also seen significant growth in visitors motivated by our wine offering, with 27% of all visitors to Tasmania calling into a cellar door over the past year, spending 1.5 times more than all other visitors to the island and exceeding pre-Covid levels.”

Tassie producers’ sustainability and management report card for the year is also in, with the locals showing big performance gains in carbon emissions, biosecurity, water and soil health.

Wine Tasmania viticulture and winemaking officer Paul Smart commended all wine businesses in the VinØ (‘vin zero’) Program — designed to help them monitor, improve and benchmark their practices.

“Almost half Tasmania’s vineyard area was managed under this program in 2022, with 31 vineyards and wineries reporting on a wide range of business practices and sustainability

metrics,” Mr Smart said.

“In 2022, practices across biodiversity, carbon emissions, waste management, pest and disease management and biosecurity all saw improvements.

“Biodiversity will remain a key focus area for 2023, as well as winery practices and one-on-one support for program members.”

Pooley Wines in the Coal River Valley was awarded the 2022 VinØ Program Champion, while Barringwood Vineyard on the East Coast was announced as the Most Improved Producer.

The Wine Tasmania AGM was also held at Tuesday night’s event, where Martin Rees, Nick Haddow and David Milne were reappointed as directors, and Gilli Lipscombe was appointed as a new director following the resignation of Robert Remnant.

Highlights from 2022

Major recognition and awards for Tasmanian wine during the year:

• Tolpuddle was the first Tasmanian pinot noir to be awarded the Best pinot noir outside Burgundy at the recent Wine Pinnacle awards announced in Singapore. Tolpuddle is also celebrating its 10th vintage in 2022, also collecting three trophies at the International Wine Challenge (UK).
• House of Arras was awarded the library vintage trophy at the 2022 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (UK). Arras also collected The Australian Sparkling Trophy at the International Wine Challenge (UK).

• 2023 Halliday Wine Companion: Pooley Wines awarded Winery of the Year, Kreglinger Brut Rosé 2017 – Sparkling Rosé of the Year, Lowestoft La Maison pinot noir 2020 – Pinot Noir of the Year.
• Tassie swept the field at the Australian Sparkling Wine Show, with almost all trophies of the 150 wines entered being awarded to Tasmania — House of Arras, Kreglinger, Pirie and Moorilla.
• Freycinet collected a swag of trophies for its 2019 Chardonnay, including in the Halliday Chardonnay Challenge and the ANZ Boutique Wine Show.
• Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Winemaker of the Year finalists include Delamere’s Shane Holloway & Fran Austin and Tolpuddle Vineyard’s Adam Wadewitz.

• Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Star Cellar Doors of 2022 were Devil’s Corner, Stefano Lubiana and Clover Hill, with Boomer Creek, Freycinet, Priory Ridge, Craigie Knowe, Milton, Delamere, Stoney Rise, Josef Chromy, Timber at Velo, Moorilla, Pooley, Derwent Estate, Home Hill and Mewstone all recognised across award categories.

• Bangor Vineyard Shed won the Tourism Wineries, Distilleries & Breweries Award at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards.
• Riversdale Estate picked up the best Shiraz of Show Trophy at the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge.
• Gala Estate, Devil’s Corner and Spring Vale all collected trophies at the Hobart Wine Show.
• During the year, the late Peter & Ruth Althaus were recognised for their extraordinary contribution to the Tasmanian wine sector at an intimate event at Domaine A.