Craigow Vineyard

The historic Craigow property was first settled in 1822 by Scottish immigrant James Murdoch. A trained physician, he spent a quarter of a century demonstrating he was also one of colonial Tasmania's most innovative farmers. Murdoch introduced fruit trees, barley and livestock; medicinal poppy crops, and even conducted mineralogical soil surveys.

Craigow - just outside Cambridge - soon grew to become a small, prosperous rural community. It was famous for having one of the largest orchards in the Southern Hemisphere.

Murdoch family ownership ended in 1949.

In 1981, another doctor entered the scene. Hobart surgeon Barry Edwards and his wife Cathy set about transforming Craigow into a Coal River Valley showpiece. A trial plot of 700 Pinot Noir vines – planted in brown/black cracking clay on dolerite – began in 1987. Another 16,000 vines were added the following year, further down the hill. In sandy loam, on heavy clay over limestone.

The developments were impressive in scale, given their 1980s context. Vineyard harvests were soon contracted to Southcorp Wines for sparkling wine production. Later clients included Winemaking Tasmania and Bay of Fires Wines.

Craigow's first estate-grown and labelled wine came from the 1993 vintage. The cellar door – located in a converted farm shed – opened in 1999.

Subsequent new plantings in the Noughties expanded the vineyard to today's 11ha. The usual suspects Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir rub shoulders with smaller developments of Gewürztraminer and Merlot.

Craigow Riesling has been a prolific gold medal and trophy winner over the years, in both dry and late-harvest styles.

In 2008, the Edwardses added Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year to their list of achievements. It was a fitting tribute to Craigow's legacy of agricultural innovation and excellence.

"As a surgeon, I strive for excellence in every operation." Dr Barry Edwards

Footnote: Clemens Hill Vineyard nearby also occupies land that was once part of Craigow. See separate entry for Clemens Hill.

Key details:

• Dr Barry Edwards, owner/operator
• Cathy Edwards, owner
• Liam McElhinney: contract winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners

Vineyard/cellar door address:

528 Richmond Rd, Cambridge TAS 7170

Telephone:

+61 (0) 418 126 027

Email:

info@craigow.com.au

Website:

www.craigow.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 Richmond Road, 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 594mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 341mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 130mm
• Mean January temperature: 17.4°C
• Growing degree-days: 1075 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

*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