Tastings in Tasmania

Tasmania has quietly become a serious playground for anyone who loves tasting local flavours. Wander through vineyards in the Coal River Valley or Tamar Valley and you’ll find wines that surprise even the most sceptical drinkers. Not just the usual reds or whites either,there’s something about the crisp Tasmanian climate that really brings out the brightest fruit notes.

And don’t sleep on the whiskey scene. Places like the Lark Distillery in Hobart offer tastings where you can sip on liquid gold and learn a bit about the painstaking craft behind it. For cheese lovers, the farms around the Huon Valley are where you’ll score some seriously fresh and tangy handmade cheese,none of that supermarket stuff. Plus, cider is big here too. A visit to Apple Shed near Deloraine lets you taste that cold, fresh apple cider that’s basically a taste of Tasmania’s orchard country.

Pro tip: If you’re visiting in late spring, hit the vineyards just after flowering,there’s something magical about seeing the young grapes and then tasting the wines a bit later in the year. And pick up some local honey at the cellar doors if you can; it pairs amazingly with the cheese and offers a sweet snapshot of the island’s flora. Tasmania’s tastings are laid-back and honest, just like the people, so take your time, chat to the makers, and enjoy the flavours that really tell stories.