Domaine A
Domaine A is one of Tasmania's most celebrated wine estates. Its story began in 1973 with the planting of Campania's Stoney Vineyard by George and Priscilla Park. The warm, dry, north-facing site became the first commercial vineyard in the Coal River Valley.
With the benefit of hindsight, the Parks' success on their site on Tea Tree Road appears a foregone conclusion. Indeed, there was a previous iteration planted in 1971 on land several kilometres north-east. The site was located close to the old Campania school. It was flat, east-facing, and established on deep sandy soil. Marginal vineyard terroir.
The more George Park learned about its viticulture, the more he became convinced the couple needed a property far better suited to growing vines. In the winter of 1973, the couple upped sticks and moved to a new greenfield site they purchased for more rewarding endeavours. It adjoined well-established orchards.
"Where apricots can be grown, grapes will grow," they had been advised by two experienced horticulturists.
Early wine releases from Stoney Vineyard not only attracted a strong local following, their introduction to leading commentators and wine judges of the day brought widespread acclaim. At the 1979 Royal Hobart Wine Show, George Park's wines won three trophies: Best Tasmanian White, Best Tasmanian Red, and Best Tasmanian Wine in Show.
Stoney Vineyard went on to win five more trophies at their next six Royal Hobart Wine Show appearances.
Wines from 1982 and 1983 – including Shiraz and Zinfandel – caught the attention of renowned author and critic James Halliday. Years later, the wines also caught the eye of Swiss couple Peter and Ruth Althaus, who purchased the property after visiting in 1989.
From 1990 onwards, Althaus added two estate-grown Domaine A wines to the Stoney portfolio in his new life beyond IBM Switzerland. The first vintage was made while he and Ruth still held tourist visas. They had to return to Switzerland to make formal applications for residency in Australia.
A stylish Cabernet Sauvignon blend became the property's flagship alongside Domaine Pinot Noir, while the celebrated Lady A (barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc) first appeared in 1999.
Almost 20 years with Althaus at the helm saw the vineyard expand to 11ha. Along the way, Domaine A wines gained overseas recognition for their superb quality and international style.
Subsequent retirement saw the Althauses sell to Hobart entrepreneur David Walsh in 2018. In the following year, the new broom swept into the property and telegraphed his future intent with the planting of 2ha of additional vines.
Refurbishment and re-styling of the original Domaine A cellar door and tasting room met with rapturous industry and media acclamation when the facility opened for business in August 2022.
Clearly, the man from Moorilla and MONA remains committed to carrying on the Coal River Valley legacy created by the Park and Althaus families.
Vineyard manager Peter Mueller and Moorilla winemaker Conor van der Reest are certainly well-equipped to meet the challenge.
Key details:
- David Wash: owner/operator
- Peter Mueller: vineyard manager
- Conor van der Reest: winemaker
Vineyard/cellar door address:
105 Tea Tree Rd, Campania TAS 7026
Telephone:
+61 (0) 484 001 944
Email:
cellardoor@domaine-a.com.au
Website:
www.domaine-a.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. Six Friends (MJT 15.9°C; 786 GDD); Pooley Cooinda Vale (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD) and 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, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 501mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 289mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 107mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.8°C
- Growing degree-days: 1154 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: 12
*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