Every Man and His Dog Vineyard
Every Man and His Dog Vineyard – just outside Richmond – has its roots in Tasmania's emerging cool climate wine industry of the 1980s. The property was established as Palmara Vineyard by Alan Bird. Its first 500 vines were planted in 1984 to determine whether viticulture might be possible on the site.
Bird's eclectic selection of varieties was based upon what was then available in the industry. A handful of obscure vines like Ehrenfelser and Siegerrebe were chosen specifically for their late budburst and early ripening. Bird hopes that would allay his concerns regarding frost risk and cool growing seasons.
The two varieties remain on the site, possibly the only examples used anywhere today in Australian winemaking.
The green-fingered, self-trained vigneron uncovered a complex patchwork of soil types at his Palmara Vineyard. These are largely based upon dolerite and sandstone but include wind-blown sands, limestone, black cracking clay and various small crystalline rocks.
Current custodians Maurice and Helen Curtis arrived on the property in January 2022 following six years of vineyard ownership by Andrew and Loretta Thompson. The latter couple gave the business its whimsical name to draw visitors to their welcoming cellar door and the B&B accommodation business they added to the property.
The Curtises brought with them a passion for food, wine, and hosting visitors. There were no viticulture or winemaking skills. But that didn't deter the couple. They'd started a business from scratch once before without prior knowledge and skill.
Now 30 years since its establishment, their Federation Artisan Chocolate not only continues to thrive, its on-site production facility at Every Man and His Dog welcomes a vast number of visitors to the property. Sustainably grown and made wine now partner sustainably grown and made chocolate.
Forget wine media accolades and the glitter of competition gold medals. Maurice and Helen Curtis have more than enough accomplishments to keep their business going.
They've even got a dog.
Key details:
- Maurice Curtis: owner/vigneron
- Helen Curtis: owner/vigneron
Vineyard/cellar door address:
1314 Richmond Road, Richmond TAS 7025
Telephone:
+61 (3) 6250 3435
Email:
gday@everymanandhisdogvineyard.com
Website:
www.everymanandhisdogvineyard.com
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: 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