Decades Wines

05/15/2025

Winemakers will tell you it takes a lot of good beer to make great wine. If that's the case, the rise and rise of Decades should surprise no-one. Decades is the brainchild of long-time mates Steve Flamsteed (winemaker) and Brad Rogers (craft brewer and co-founder of Stone & Wood Brewing Company).

They both grew up in Queensland, listening to many local and UK bands, especially Joy Division. Their friendship began spontaneous fermentation back in 1991 when the two first studied winemaking together at South Australia's Roseworthy Agricultural College.

Decades sprang to life in 2022 when the pair purchased the 30ha Woodlands property on Tea Tree Road from the Laing family. Located less than 5km from 10 neighbouring vineyards, this part of the Coal River Valley is effectively its 'dress circle.'

The Decades acquisition included 3ha of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, first planted in 1990 by Woodlands Vineyard founder Maurice Barwick. Wines produced under its Sexton family ownership in the late 1990s and early 2000s were marketed under the Touchwood label. They included a trophy-winning traditional method sparkling wine.

Flamsteed is a dyed-in-the-wool fan of cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He became renowned for his artisan winemaking with the varieties during his 18-year stint (2003-2021) at Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley. In 2016, Flamsteed was named Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine Winemaker of the Year. In 2019, he was celebrated as the Wine Communicators of Australia 'Victorian Legend of the Vine.'

Decade's Tea Tree site is distinguished by the Coal River Valley's characteristic black cracking clay soils over limestone. Conditions that typically support modest vineyard yields, with concentrated fruit flavours framed by fine natural acidity. The district's long, cool growing season and dry maritime climate favours slow ripening and intensely structured Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

All vines are cane pruned to a Guyot system of soft pruning. The vineyard aspect is north-east facing and set on a gentle slope that assists with frost mitigation. Sustainable viticultural practices include soil regeneration and incorporate the use of systemic sprays in seasons when there is a requirement for that.

Flamsteed and Rogers added 3ha of Pinot Noir to the Decades site in 2023. A further 4ha of vines were planted in the following year. Fruit is hand-picked and processed with the help of nearby contract winemakers.

Decades made its debut in 2024 with the release of a pigeon pair of stylish Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, created from hand-picked harvests in May 2023. It was the pair's first vintage together. 

Releases from the acclaimed 2024 vintage in Tasmania received rapturous support from media and wine critics. Decades Chardonnay is included among the top three 2024 Tasmanian Chardonnays by the Real Review, with renowned Sydney author and wine judge Huon Hooke attributing 97 points to this 'stunning Chardonnay.'  

The Halliday Wine Companion concurred, with its 96-points assessment. The World of Fine Wine's Ken Gargett went one better when it concluded: 'Beautifully crafted and very long.... 97 points.'

Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion) and Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot) stuck their flags in the sand with glowing praise and 96-points for the 2024 Decades Pinot Noir. Wale noted: 'The is clearly the Coal River Valley but with utter sophistication and its giving Tassie a whole new groove.'

Decades may well be a commemoration of past decades of friendship, but the smart money is on the present decade providing even more cause for celebration.

Key details:

  • Steve Flamsteed: owner/operator

  • Brad Rogers: owner/operator

  • Paul Laing: vineyard manager

Vineyard/cellar door address:

812 Tea Tree Rd, Tea Tree TAS 7017

No vineyard visits or cellar door. Refer to website for details on wine sales

Telephone:

N/A

Email:

brad@decadeswine.com.au

Website:

www.decadeswine.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).

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 Tea Tree Road, Tea Tree, 1995-2024:

  • Total annual average rainfall: 542mm
  • Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 301mm
  • Average autumn rainfall: 115mm
  • Mean January temperature: 17.2°C
  • Growing degree-days: 1020 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: 20

*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