Cascades Bay Wines

Having worked in construction for 40-odd years, project manager Clinton Mead knew establishing a topnotch vineyard would take time. He and partner Tanya Dalton waited more than a decade to find the site that met their exacting requirements. It's at Koonya, 15km and 200 years from the rugged landscape of former penal colony Port Arthur.

The first vines to be grown there in the 20th century were experimental selections established in the 1960s by plant physiologist Dr Don Martin. Then officer-in-charge of the CSIRO in Tasmania, Martin played a key role in helping Claudio Alcorso realise his vineyard aspirations at Moorilla Estate.

Mead and Dalton purchased their Shelly Beach Road site in 2014, planting 1ha of Pinot Noir two years later. The former apple and pear orchard had its own proud history. Its new owners soon discovered earthenware drains had been laid across the property to prevent water-logging over winter. 

Luck's a fortune.

Vines quickly settled into their clay and sandy loams, responding well to painstaking natural farming practices that avoided harsh chemicals and included the use of organically approved sprays. Today, Babydoll Southdown sheep, free-range chickens, and guinea fowl all help with weeding and pest control, while making their own unique contributions to soil health and biodiversity.

Recent vine additions include a smattering of Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Meunier and Shiraz.

Cascades Bay struck pay-dirt with its second vintage of wine. The 2022 Pinot Noir won gold at the 2023 Tasmanian Wine Show, top gold at the 2024 National Cool Climate Wine Show, and another top gold and trophy at the 2025 Tasmanian Wine Show.

Some project.

Key details:

• Clinton Mead: owner/operator
• Tanya D'alton: owner/operator

Vineyard/cellar door address:

35 Shelly Beach Road, Koonya TAS 7187

Telephone:

+61 (0) 417 382 680

Email:

cascadesbaywines@gmail.com

Website:

www.cascadesbaywines.com.au

Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.

Climate data* for sites on the East Coast highlight the wide range of growing conditions here. Consider: Saltwater River Wines (MJT 16.0°C; 859 GDD) and Sterling Heights (MJT 18.3°C; 1267 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 Shelley Beach Road 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 895mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 432mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 195mm
• Mean January temperature: 16.4°C
• Growing degree-days: 959 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: 5

*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