Apogee Tasmania
In addition to completing Australia's first PhD in viticulture, Sydney-born Andrew Pirie transformed Tasmania's modern-day winescape with the founding of the State's iconic Pipers Brook Vineyard in 1974. The company focused solely on table wine production before achieving instant success with a sparkling wine program developed some 20 years later.
The 1996 PIRIE was described by UK critic Matthew Jukes as 'the greatest sparkling wine made outside of Champagne.'
With more than 30 years of industry innovation and leadership to his credit, Pirie then resolved to establish his own 2ha Apogee Vineyard in 2007. It began on a small, relatively sheltered greenfield site at Lebrina, less than a kilometre from the renowned Clover Hill Vineyard.
Pirie's rigorous scientific approach and lifelong commitment to terroir provided a secure base from which to produce New World sparkling wines that could sit comfortably alongside their peers from northern Europe.
Apogee's ancient volcanic dolerite-derived soils are well-drained but have lower water-holding capacity than those more typically associated with the Pipers Brook district. Pirie believes vine vigour requires very careful management in such deep red soils. His Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir plantings are laid out on a north-facing, elevated slope of around 15 degrees.
Intensive, hands-on viticulture features a one-of-a-kind, carefully modified, unilateral Scott Henry trellising system. It was specially developed for the site by its owner. Sun exposure, vine aeration, and leaf area are all optimised to provide enhanced fruit quality with reduced disease risk.
Pirie says this unique management system supports something like 21,000 m² of leaf area per hectare of vineyard. Each plant captures an enormous amount of sunlight to drive photosynthesis.
Winemaking is similarly meticulous and artisanal. Small-batch, estate-grown fruit is hand-crafted into traditional-method sparkling vintage wines. They are released for sale after several years of lees-ageing.
Deluxe Vintage Brut is typically a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Deluxe Vintage Rosé is created from the same varieties, with Pinot Noir in the driver's seat.
Very attractive low-volume, high-quality Alto Pinot Gris and Alto Pinot Noir table wines complete an impressive and indeed very attractive Apogee portfolio.
Ongoing national and international acclaim for the brand and its creator reflect a fascinating patchwork quilt of scientific rigour and uniquely expressed vineyard terroir.
Apogee by name. Apogee by nature.
Key details:
Dr Andrew Pirie: owner/vigneron
Vineyard/cellar door address:
1083 Golconda Road, Lebrina, TAS 7254
Telephone:
+61 (0) 491 141 377
Email:
info@apogeetasmania.com
Website:
www.apogeetasmania.com
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the North East highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Consider: Apogee (MJT 17.2°C; 975 GDD) and Handpicked Baxters Road (MJT 18.3°C; 1247 GDD).
Vineyard sites on the Australian mainland are far warmer than those in Tasmania.
South Australia's Piccadilly Valley* (MJT 20.4°C; 1730 GDD) and Macedon Ranges* (MJT 19.9°C; 1365 GDD) in Victoria are regarded as the coolest GIs in their respective states.
Climate data* for Golconda Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 960mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 431mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 218mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.2°C
- Growing degree-days: 975 GDD
- Average no of hot days (35°C or more) per year: 0
- Average no of cold days (minimum 4°C or less) Sept 1-April 30: 25
*Source: My Climate View, utilising past data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Funded by the Australian Government.
Last page update: January 2026