Charles Reuben Estate
Louise and Jens Volkmann purchased Charles Reuben Estate in 2013 after spending years looking across the road at their neighbour, thinking they'd much prefer an established vineyard with room to grow than their small orchard set on seven hectares.
Vineyard founders Tim and Leonie Krushka had decided to move on. They'd started their 4ha venture in 1989 as one of the earliest small family vineyards in the valley. It's located 8km north of Richmond and is part of the Coal River Valley's Tea Tree sub-district.
The Krushkas planted their ancient Jurassic dolerite and Triassic sandstone soils with a patchwork quilt of 10 varieties. Tim was a wine science graduate from Charles Sturt University, keen to minimise viticultural risks.
The Volkmanns were well and truly ready to live their vineyard dream. Louise had grown up around vines and wines in Tasmania's North East. Jens was bitten by the wine bug in his home country, Germany. Beyond university, he'd even looked at buying land in Switzerland to start a vineyard.
The couple hit the ground running at Charles Reuben Estate. Ignoring the best advice of industry insiders, they pursued an ambitious program of re-development rather than re-planting. It took three years for their vineyard repay them with a harvest that could be turned into premium wine.
Core products today are dry table wines – Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and vintage Rosé.
The Volkmanns also channelled their energies into creating very successful vineyard accommodation. Pinot Cottage is rated 9.6 Outstanding by Expedia guests (2025).
Louise has been a 'superhost' on Airbnb (4.93 rated) since 2012.
In 2019, a purpose-built distillery was established on the property. Jens – a formally trained and qualified master distiller – began production of very high quality, small-batch brandies and eau de vie, along with other well-crafted spirits.
Today, the facility operates as Australia's only solar-powered, carbon-neutral distillery. Budding distillers can enrol in masterclasses to design and handcraft their own unique gin.
Yes. DIY. That's the Charles Reuben spirit.
Key details:
- Louise Volkmann: owner/director
- Jens Volkmann: owner/master distiller
- Nick Glaetzer: contract winemaker, Glaetzer-Dixon Family Winemakers
Vineyard/cellar door address:
777 Middle Tea Tree Rd, Tea Tree TAS 7017
Telephone:
+61 (0) 434 955 777
Email:
sales@charlesreuben.com.au
Website:
www.charlesreuben.com.au
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).
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 Middle Tea Tree Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 548mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 312mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 115mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.2°C
- Growing degree-days: 1009 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: 21
*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