Entally Estate

Few vineyard estates anywhere in the world are home to resident ghosts, the country's oldest garden conservatory and an 1850s chapel. Such is the rich history of Entally Estate, located at Hadspen, 10 minutes' drive from the Launceston CBD.

UNESCO World Heritage-listed Woolmers Estate and Brickendon Estate are just 20km away.

Nowadays part of a network of prestigious northern Tasmanian tourism properties that includes the Low Head Pilot Station (1805), Quamby Estate (1828) and The Red Feather Inn (1842), Entally was established in 1819 as the family home of colonial farmer and merchant Thomas Haydock Reibey II. 

Reibey's wife Mary – a former convict – is featured on the Australian $20 banknote.

In the 19th century, Entally was both a working farm estate and an important social hub. The elegant Georgian house reflected the early prosperity of life alongside the South Esk River. Through the 20th century, it became a cornerstone of Tasmanian heritage tourism. The carefully conserved colonial home was a much-loved and visited museum and remains an active hospitality destination in the 21st century.

Sometime in the 1850s, Thomas Haydock Reibey III – the son of Entally's founders – established grapevines in the property's conservatory. Photographs taken in the early 1900s show vines protruding through the walls. A well-to-do clergyman, Thomas III created his own wine on the property to serve to the multitude of neighbours and local dignitaries that came by. 

A significant travel guide of the day - published in 1854 - referred to Entally as a 'neat and snug village.'

Today's 2.2ha of Pinot Noir were planted to honour and reinstate the property's long history of grapegrowing and winemaking.

Until 1948, Entally had been in private hands. More than half a century of ownership and management by the Tasmanian Government and National Trust ended in 2005 when forestry giant Gunns Ltd negotiated leasehold arrangements.

The vineyard was planned and planted in 2005 under the direction of renowned viticulturist Dr Richard Smart. Living in Launceston at the time, Smart was engaged as a consultant to Gunns Ltd by its chairman, John Gay. The 'flying vine doctor' made sure the certified planting material he sourced was among the best available in the industry.

The vineyard's first crop - in 2008 - was picked and processed by Tamar Ridge Wines and incorporated into the company's expansive portfolio.

In 2014, 99-year leasehold arrangements on Entally Estate were finalised by the VDLE Group. Former co-founder of airline Virgin Blue - Robert Sherrard - is currently listed among the company's principals.

Key details:

VDLE Group Operations: leaseholder/operator

Vineyard/cellar door address:

782 Meander Valley Road, Hadspen TAS 7290

Telephone:

+61 (3) 6393 3200

Email:

entallyhouse@entally.com.au

Website:

www.entallyestate.com.au

Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.

Climate data* for sites within 20km of Entally Estate highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions in the State's north. Consider: Bell and Gong, Longford  (MJT 18.2°C; 1146 GDD) and Josef Chromy Wines, Relbia (MJT 18.3°C; 1187 GDD).

Vineyard sites on the Australian mainland are far warmer than those in Tasmania.

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 Victoria's Macedon Ranges* (MJT 19.9°C; 1365 GDD) are regarded as the coolest GIs in their respective states.

Climate data* for Meander Valley Road, Tasmania, 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 730mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 343mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 159mm
• Mean January temperature: 17.2°C
• Growing degree-days: 958 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: 41

*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