Craigie Knowe Vineyard
Craigie Knowe – at Cranbrook – is steeped in history. Long before it became known for the coast's oldest vineyard, the property was home to the pioneering Amos family, who arrived in Hobart in 1821. Its centrepiece today is a quaint colonial homestead, built around 1842 by James Amos.
Located on a rocky/craggy knoll – or 'craigie knowe' (Gaelic) – the homestead gives the vineyard its distinctive name.
Vines became part of the Cranbrook landscape when Hobart dentist John Austwick planted Cabernet Sauvignon there in 1979. Later additions of Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir brought Craigie Knowe plantings to 5ha.
The vineyard's first vintage – 1983 – produced just 11 bottles of red. The next vintage received lavish praise from renowned Australian wine author/critic, Robin Bradley.
Austwick was off to the races. Indeed, he devoted 30 good years to Craigie Knowe before two rapid changes in ownership brought the Travers family to the lean and hungry site in 2013.
Their ambitious restoration and re-development program soon struck pay-dirt. At the 2017 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge, Craigie Knowe's 2015 vintage won gold. In the following year, the 2016 Riesling earned a coveted Elite Gold (96+points) at the 2016 Canberra International Riesling Challenge.
The Travers family's desire to add Chardonnay and Pinot Gris to their portfolio prompted further expansion and new (in 2017) leasehold arrangements at a neighbouring vineyard, Glen Heriot.
Now less than four years from celebrating its five decades of cool-climate viticulture, Craigie Knowe is set for a bright future. With rigorous vineyard management driving traditional method sparkling and dry table wines, Glenn and son Alex Travers have devoted plenty of thought and effort into developing an innovative, family-friendly approach to marketing and cellar door tourism.
Regular food and wine and live music events on the property draw an army of followers to Craigie Knowe. So too the vineyard's commitment to significant events in the region, including the annual East Coast Wine Week.
The family won a major award for customer service at the 2024 Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards.
That's Craigie Knowe-how.
Key details:
- Glenn Travers: owner/operator
- Alex Travers: owner/operator
- Matt Wood: contract winemaker, Spring Vale
Vineyard/cellar door address:
80 Glen Gala Rd, Cranbrook TAS 7190
Telephone:
+61 (0) 499 901 109
Email:
enquiries@craigieknowe.com.au
Website:
www.craigieknowe.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 Glen Gala Road, Cranbrook, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 623mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 388mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 145mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.5°C
- Growing degree-days: 1090 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: 8
*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