Frogmore Creek
Frogmore Creek Wines was founded in 1997 when Californian friends and business partners Tony Scherer and Jack Kidwiler began exploring the wine potential of southern Tasmania's pristine environment and long, cool growing seasons. Scherer – a former vegetable grower – had moved into organic viticulture on arriving in Australia in the late 1980s.
His relocation from WA's Margaret River to Frogmore Creek began with 300ha of land purchased at Penna in the Coal River Valley. It become home to one of the State's first and best known organic vineyards. The property and its 26ha vineyard was sold to South Australia's Hill-Smith Family Vineyards in 2012.
The Jansz sparkling wine producers subsequently continued planting out the site, later renaming their Penna venture as Pontos Hills Winery and Vineyard.
The vineyard sale gave Scherer and Kidwiler opportunity to pursue ambitious plans of their own. By 2010, they had acquired the business assets of former contract winemaker Andrew Hood (Hood Wines). Further acquisitions followed, including Roslyn Vineyard – near Campania – and Frogmore Creek's winery neighbours at Meadowbank Estate (Cambridge).
The latter's striking, barn-like structure is now the Frogmore Creek Cellar Door and Restaurant.
The facility celebrated five years of company ownership by being named Best Stand Alone Restaurant and Restaurant of the Year in the 2015 Tasmanian Hospitality Awards. It was also recognised as Best Restaurant (Regional) in the 2015 Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence.
Its success continues apace. In October 2025, Frogmore Creek was named Regional Restaurant of the Year at the annual Hospitality Tasmania Awards for Excellence. It was also named Best Stand-Alone Restaurant.
Fifth-generation Coal River Valley farmer Danny Belbin tends Frogmore Creek's 75ha of vines on its Cambridge and Campania sites. The usual suspects Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are supported by lesser plantings of another 10 wine grape varieties. Many of them are distinguished by the company's exclusive, small-batch Single Block Series.
Traditional method sparkling and table wines – marketed under Frogmore Creek and 42 Degrees South brands – are brought to life by highly respected and talented senior winemaker, Alain Rousseau.
French-born and trained, Rousseau began his 34-year career in the Tasmanian wine industry at Domaine A and Moorilla Estate before taking up his current position in 2005.
Under Rousseau stewardship, Frogmore Creek has gained a strong reputation for quality and value across a range of styles and price points.
In October 2024, the 2023 Frogmore Creek Iced Riesling was named Best Sweet Riesling, Best Australian Riesling and Best Wine at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge. Almost 330 Rieslings from 140 wineries across five countries were assessed by the judging panel.
At the 2026 Tasmanian Wine Show, the 2022 Frogmore Creek FGR was judged top gold and won the event's Trophy for Best Sweet Wine.
The 2024 vintage of the company's entry-level 42 Degrees South Pinot Noir won the Tasmania Trophy at the 2025 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge.
Frogmore Creek is an iconic cellar door and restaurant destination. One that always inspires visitors with its cool-climate wine expressions and panoramic vineyard setting.
Key details:
- James Skabo: general manager
- Danny Belbin: vineyard manager
- Alain Rousseau: senior winemaker
Vineyard/cellar door address:
699 Richmond Rd, Cambridge TAS 7170
Telephone:
+61 (3) 6274 5844
Email:
admin@frogmorecreek.com.au
Website:
www.frogmorecreek.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, Cambridge, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 481mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 282mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 105mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.9°C
- Growing degree-days: 1174 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: 9
Climate data* for White Kangaroo Road, Campania, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 491mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 278mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 106mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.8°C
- Growing degree-days: 1131 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: 16
*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