APSLEY GORGE VINEYARD

Apsley Gorge Vineyard is a boutique winery located near Bicheno on Tasmania’s rugged east coast, tucked into the Apsley Valley just at the entrance to the Apsley Gorge. The vineyard was first planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the early 1990s by Brian Franklin, a former abalone diver and lobster fisherman, and the first vintage was made in 1993.

The property is small — about 7 hectares — and is farmed without irrigation, with low yields, hand pruning, and hand harvesting to preserve concentration and site integrity. The cool, breezy microclimate created by its north-east–facing site helps to elongate the growing season, resulting in wines with a balance of ripeness, texture, and natural acidity.

Apsley Gorge produces a very limited range, focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their Pinot Noir is rich and textural, often described as powerful yet precise, with dark cherry fruit, earthiness, and a structural backbone that lends itself to both youthful enjoyment and longer cellaring. Their Chardonnay is similarly refined, made with only a small proportion of French oak, and shows tight acidity, minerality, and elegant oak influence.