TOLPUDDLE

Tolpuddle Vineyard is a highly regarded cool-climate winery located in the Coal River Valley, about 20 minutes’ drive north of Hobart, Tasmania, near the historic township of Richmond. The vineyard was planted in 1988, and in 2011 it was acquired by veteran Australian vintners Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith MW (of Shaw + Smith fame), who have invested in realising its potential as one of Australia’s great single-vineyard sites.

The site is dedicated to just two grape varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vineyard is planted on a gentle north-east facing slope, with light silica over sandstone soils, moderate vine vigour, and a climate that is cool (often at the extremes for viticulture in Australia) yet relatively dry in the autumn, allowing slow, even ripening without too much disease pressure.

Viticulture and winemaking emphasize site expression and restraint. Fruit is often hand-picked; winemaking is low-intervention. The wines are consistently praised for purity, intensity, minerality, and elegance. Recent vintages (e.g. the 2022 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) have earned high scores and strong reviews, showing both flavor intensity and structural finesse.