Who'd be a James Halliday or a Huon Hooke? As two of the country's foremost wine writers and show judges, theirs is a gypsy existence of endless comings and goings, punctuated by protracted periods of sipping and spitting.
Never judge a book by its cover... and pretty much the same can be said of people and wines too. If ever you need a little convincing, a short trip to the Tamar Valley vineyard of Marion's will soon put you to rights.
Young Einstein might well have been the first Tasmanian to put bubbles into beer – should you believe Hollywood folklore – but there's no doubting who was the first in the in the current era to put bubbles into Tasmanian wine. That honour clearly rests with Heemskerk Wines founder, Graham Wiltshire.
Formerly a wing commander with the RAAF'S VIP Squadron and nowadays joint-owner of La Provence, Stuart Bryce's career change during the mid-70s came as no mere flight of fancy.
Buying a good bottle in today's market can be a daunting task and with so many labels and styles from which to choose, a little advice can be worth its weight in gold.
Born and raised the son of a local priest in southern Tasmania's Huon Valley, Elsewhere Vineyard's Eric Phillips is a complex character, endowed with a sharp mind, and the happy knack of being able to turn his hands to practically anything that comes his way.
By his own admission a rabid Buddhist, ardent greenie and maverick tourist operator, Hawley Vineyards' Simon Houghton is hardly your average Tasmanian vigneron.
