Cave Wines

06/08/2025

Cave Wines is a small, quality-driven wine producer based in southern Tasmania. Justin Folloso and  Mexican-born Rosario Sanchez met on board ship in 2013 while working hospitality jobs for the Disney Cruise Line. Their many voyages together – and their shared curiosity for place, culture and wine – eventually led them both into winemaking.

Before settling in Justin's hometown of Hobart, they travelled widely for work, gaining experience in vineyards and wineries across Australia and overseas, including stints in California and Burgundy. Each helped shape their site-focused approach to winemaking.

As a native-Tasmanian, Justin Folloso has strong connections to the local wine community. Vintage work as a cellar hand brought him into the orbit of many of the State's most respected wine producers and mentors. These formative experiences – alongside the likes of Alain Rousseau (Frogmore Creek) and Steve Lubiana (Stefano Lubiana Wines) – cemented the fundamental belief that wine is made in the vineyard.

Folloso's day job is vineyard manager at Caledon Estate – Richmond – in the Coal River Valley. Caledon Estate nomination for 2025 Young Gun of Wine Vineyard of the Year reflects both his passion and commitment to excellence. Fruit from the Stewart family's property makes its way to Cave Wines each vintage.

Other vineyard sources are located at Pipers River (North East Tasmania) and the Meehan Ranges (Coal River Valley).

Folloso learned early on that minimal intervention in winemaking can unlock the expressive potential of Tasmania's cool-climate grape varieties, particularly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Since its creation in 2022, the Cave Wines' portfolio has quickly attracted industry attention. In 2023, Justin Folloso was nominated for the prestigious Young Gun of Wine awards in recognition of his emerging talent and distinctive style. He achieved a major milestone that year when Cave Wines was named Australia's Best New Act, a national accolade that firmly placed the embryonic family business on the Australian wine map.

Cave Wines remains a shared journey for Justin and Rosario. One that began with threads of curiosity, understanding, technical skill and global perspective. Now looking to continue to add to the patchwork quilt of Tasmanian wine, weaving into it their deep and enduring respect for the island's unique vineyard terroir.

Key details:

  • Justin Folloso, owner/operator

  • Rosario Folloso, owner/operator

Vineyard/cellar door address:

No vineyard cellar door

Telephone:

+61 (0) 429 038 130

Email:

info@cavewines.com.au

Website:

www.cavewines.com.au

Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied

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

Climate data* for sites in the Coal River Valley highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Six Friends (MJT 15.9°C; 786 GDD); Pooley Cooinda Vale (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD); SISU (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD) figure among the coolest sites.

Richmond Park Estate and Strelley Farm Estate (both MJT 18.0°C; 1189 GDD) are considered to be among the warmest, along with Coal Valley Vineyard and Cross Rivulet Winery (both MJT 17.9°C; 1185 GDD).

Climate data* for sites in the North East also reflect 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 Prossers Road, Richmond, 1995-2024:

  • Total annual average rainfall: 491mm
  • Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 286mm
  • Average autumn rainfall: 106mm
  • Mean January temperature: 17.9°C
  • Growing degree-days: 1158 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: 13

Climate data* for Centauri Drive, Mount Rumney, 1995-2024:

  • Total annual average rainfall: 594mm
  • Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 330mm
  • Average autumn rainfall: 131mm
  • Mean January temperature: 16.6°C
  • Growing degree-days: 929 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: 18

*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