European settlement along the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and into the Huon Valley began in the early 1800s as whalers, fishers and small-scale farming operations moved out of Hobart Town in search of sheltered waterways and productive landholding. The Huon provided river access deep into the southern interior, and by the mid-19th century the region was alive with boatbuilding, timber milling and fruit growing.
The geology is dominated by Permian mudstone and sandstone overlain in places by Jurassic dolerite and fertile river alluvium. The variety of soils found here – from loamy river flats to stony slopes – is well-suited to mixed farming, orcharding and viticulture.
The Huon Valley and D'Entrecasteaux Channel made major contributions to Tasmania's international renown as The Apple Isle. But when export markets collapsed in the 1960s, many businesses foundered. Surviving orchards often embraced organic methods and other specialty crops. Innovation and diversification have seen the emergence of artisan craft and food producers, aquaculture, viticulture and a wide range of eco-focused tourism ventures.
The very cool maritime climate in these parts offers excellent growing conditions for finely-crafted Chardonnay, aromatic Pinot Noir and expressive white grape varieties including Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling.
Vineyards dotted here and there are invariably small-scale and privately owned. In total, they accounted for just 1.2 percent of Tasmania's total wine grape harvest in 2024.
But small is beautiful.
The Huon Valley was named one of the 'Best Places to Go in 2024', according to global travel brand Conde Nast Traveler.
In May 2026, National Geographic named southern Tasmania one of the 15 best places in the world for food right now:
'In Hobart, Tasmania's capital, that deep relationship to terra and tide surfaces in everyday food.'
Two Bud Spur – then labelled 2 Bud Spur – burst onto the wine scene with great gusto in 2002 when the first vintage of Pinot Noir grown on the Gardners Bay property (in 2020) was awarded a top gold medal and the James Halliday Chairman's Trophy at the Tasmanian Wine Show.
Yellow Point Pinot Noir hit the market with a bang in 2011. The 2008 vintage won a gold medal and three trophies at the Tasmanian Wine Show judged by luminaries Halliday and Hooke. The win surprised even its vineyard founder. Kingston dental surgeon Martin Bastick joshed he was only the gardener on the Birchs Bay site.
