Bay of Fires Wines

Let's face it. We all hate spoilers. But standby for a doozy. There is no vineyard at the iconic Bay of Fires on Tasmania's East Coast. Never has been. Probably never will be. Bay of Fires Wines was established in 2001 by BRL Hardy as its flagship brand for premium, cool-climate Tasmanian wines.

Its foundations were laid in the previous decade, when the country's second largest wine producer began sourcing Tasmanian wine grapes for traditional method sparkling and Eileen Hardy Chardonnay. The Hardys Arras program – developed under the direction of renowned winemaker Ed Carr – would later morph into the industry-leading House of Arras brand.

Central to the success of these emerging premium brands was the company's strategic creation of a strong and highly-skilled grower network in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Cool-climate viticulture was a new frontier in Australia. In 1994, for example, there were just 283ha of bearing vines in the entire Tasmanian wine industry.

In order to rapidly expand its production base and create a reliable supply of cool-climate fruit, Hardys offered long-term contracts to select growers in Tasmania. These agreements – typically for 10 years – gave farmers like Jack Cotton at Kelvedon Estate the confidence to plant vines in what was then a high-risk industry, knowing there was a guaranteed buyer for their fruit.

This ambitious model allowed Hardys to expand production without developing extensive vineyard plantings of their own. It also determined the style and quality of their fruit, right from the outset.

Company viticulturist Ray Guerin worked closely with growers to determine which varieties and clones were best suited to their sites – particularly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier needed for sparkling wine production. His influence even extended to detailed vineyard management.

Guerin encouraged growers to ensure dappled sunlight fell on their fruit, avoiding both excessive bunch shading and harsh, direct sunlight. The technique offered marked flavour enhancement while preserving natural acidity and preventing sunburnt fruit.

The resulting finely-structured, aromatic qualities became hallmarks of both Arras and Bay of Fires wines.

Within a decade, the State's total bearing vineyard increased to 1048ha. The carefully engineered state-wide network of high-quality vineyards originally fostered by Hardys continues to underpin much of today's premium Tasmanian wine sector.

Fast forwarding to 2026 sees Bay of Fires Wines now owned by Vinarchy's Accolade Wines. The brand remains firmly grounded in the premium wine sector, and is regarded as one of the State's most respected and consistent wine labels.

The portfolio comprises Tasmanian Cuvée NV alongside varietal Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The wines are renowned for their refined structure, subtle complexity and regional expression.

Second-string Eddystone Point focuses on fresh, vibrant, approachable styles from the same varieties. Carefully crafted, they are intended for immediate consumption and have broad consumer appeal.

Recent changes in company structure and ownership have had no apparent adverse effects on wine quality.

Consumers, critics and wine judges love these wines. The 2020 Bay of Fires Pinot Noir's dual trophy performance at the 2021 Royal Adelaide Wine Show was especially meritorious. The wine won the Max Schubert AM Trophy, a trophy usually dominated by Shiraz produced in the event's own home State.

The wine's successor picked up the Trophy for Best Pinot Noir at the 2023 National Wine Show of Australia, while the 2023 Bay of Fires Pinot Noir won a Platinum Medal at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards, highlighting the wine's exceptional quality among its international peers.

Fruit for Bay of Fires and Eddystone Point comes from across Tasmania's key wine-growing areas. They include Pipers River, the Coal River Valley and the Derwent Valley. These not only reflect a diversity of climates and vineyard terroir, they contribute to wine complexity and sheer enjoyment.

The company's historical reliance on grower contracts remains central to Bay of Fires' success. Following the sale of major vineyard assets in 2023, Accolade no longer maintains vineyard ownership in Tasmania.

No vineyard at Tasmania's iconic Bay of Fires. No vineyard at Tasmania's iconic Pipers River. None at all.

With Handpicked Wines now owning the former vineyard cellar door on Baxters Road (Pipers River), loyal fans of Bay of Fires Wines must head for the Hills for their guided tastings. 

The Adelaide Hills. Petaluma Cellar Door. 

Key details:

• Vinarchy Australia: owner/operator
• Stewart Byrne: winemaker, Bay of Fires Wines

Vineyard/cellar door address:

• Bay of Fires tastings and sales: 254 Pfeiffer Road, Woodside, SA 5244
• No Tasmanian vineyard cellar door

Telephone:

General enquiries: 1800 088 711

Email:

• Cellar door enquiries: cellardoor@petaluma.com.au
• General enquiries: feedback@vinarchy.com

Website:

www.bayoffireswines.com.au

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 Tasman Highway Swansea, 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 573mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 360mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 130mm
• Mean January temperature: 18.0°C
• Growing degree-days: 1192 GDD
• Average no of hot days (35°C or more) per year: 1
• Average no of cold days (minimum 4°C or less) Sept 1-April 30: 12

Climate data* for Meadowbank Road, Glenora 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 583mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 297mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 119mm
• Mean January temperature: 17.1°C
• Growing degree-days: 954 GDD
• Average no of hot days (35°C or more) per year: 1
• Average no of cold days (minimum 4°C or less) Sept 1-April 30: 43

*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