Glen Shian Vineyard
After European settlers first arrived in northern Tasmania in 1804, just months later their military commandant Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson led an exploration party south into the North Esk Valley. They found 'excellent pasture everywhere.'
Rich fertile soils, low rainfall and open, lightly-wooded terrain meant that by the 1820s, small prosperous farms there were engaged in crop-growing and animal-raising.
Vines entered the story when John Smith was granted 500 acres and planted a vineyard at Marchington, near Breadalbane, in 1828. Prior to his death in 1853, Smith's harvests were averaging 'five tons per year.'
Then came the Victorian gold rush, temperance movements, economic recession…
The trophy-and-medal-winning successes of Mike and Phillipa Sharman's Glenbothy Vineyard on Relbia's Glenwood Road during the early 1990s led a resurgence in North Esk Valley viticulture. Bill and Lee Hodgson began planting Glen Shian Vineyard in 1996.
The 4ha property had once been part of a much larger estate, owned by the Genders family who founded Launceston's renowned general merchant business of W & G Genders Pty Ltd.
Astute investment and the valley's rich, ironstone soils had seen Genders' Relbia Farm and Dairy Pty Ltd become the State's largest and best known Jersey stud during the 1920s and 1930s.
With advice from Scottsdale's Woodlea Nursery, the Hodgsons added 1ha of meticulously selected Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir clones between 1996 and 2000. A consultant agronomist advised them that their soil was somewhat degraded and marginal but was nevertheless still suitable for small-scale wine production.
Vines were carefully managed via a state-of-the-art Scott Henry trellis system.
Small volumes of fruit from the vineyard were initially sold to Andrew and Jenny Hood's Wellington Wines in the Coal River Valley. The first Glen Shian wines were made in 2004.
The 2003 purchase of nearby Old Stornoway brought Launceston property developer and JAC Group chairman Josef Chromy into the picture. Hood's assistant winemaker Jeremy Dineen became chief winemaker at Josef Chromy Wines.
Previous working relationships saw Glen Shian Wines come within Dineen's new orbit. Production then switched to the vast Josef Chromy Wines facility at Relbia.
As demand grew for Glen Shian's carefully crafted Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir, so too did requests for Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. These were subsequently added to the portfolio with the purchase of fruit from other quality growers in the State.
A sparkling wine made from Riesling shone briefly until its production demands exceeded fruit being grown on the Glen Shian Lane site.
The Hodgsons enjoyed great success from their vineyard exploits. However, by the mid-2010s, the couple found juggling both wine-growing and wine marketing was beyond their capacity to do well. That brought an end to Glen Shian Wines.
When Josef Chromy Wines was acquired by Paragon Wine Estates and became part of the Endeavour Group in 2022, Dineen's long tenure as the Hodgsons' mentor came to an abrupt end.
Select parcels of fruit were then sold to Ricky Evans (Two Tonne Tasmania).
A celebrated Tamar Valley local, Evans is widely respected for his viticultural and winemaking talents. He was a finalist in the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2018 Young Gun of Wine awards. Indeed, he also won the People's Choice Trophy in 2016.
In February 2025, financial services professional Joe Liu and maritime pilot Ronnie Jones bought the Relbia property. It was just in time to experience the trials and tribulations of hand-picking their 5000-odd vines, albeit aided and abetted by founder-now-mentor Bill Hodgson.
The cool and windy 2025-2026 season revealed the true value of Glen Shian's old vines and its vineyard pedigree. Liu and Jones's first vintage was among the earliest in the north of the State, according to their contract winemaker Andrew Gaman.
"The vineyard is completely secluded, surrounded by trees," he noted.
"They had a full leaf canopy and were virtually unaffected by the winds."
Glen Shian's latest wines are on their way. So, too, is a vineyard cellar door if current plans come to fruition. That's a job for 2027.
There's no rush. Nothing happens quickly in this remarkable little valley.
Key details:
- Joe Liu: owner/operator
- Ronnie Jones: owner/operator
Andrew Gaman: contract winemaker, Eastford Creek
Vineyard/cellar door address:
9 Glen Shian Lane, Relbia, TAS 7258
No vineyard cellar door
Telephone:
- Joe Liu: +61 415 431 797
- Ronnie Jones: TBA
Email:
joe@glenshianvineyard.com.au
Website:
Website launching soon at www.glenshianvineyard.com.au
Vineyard climate data
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Growing conditions in the Tamar Valley fall under the moderating influence of the river itself. Consider: Eversley Vines (MJT 17.7°C; 1065 GDD) and Evenfall (MJT 18.4°C; 1230 GDD). Coolest vs warmest sites.
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 Glen Shian Lane, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 626mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 303mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 137mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.3°C
- Growing degree-days: 1183 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: 27
*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.
Vineyard elevation: 91m above sea level
Last page update: 14 August 2026