GlenAyr

Richmond's GlenAyr Vineyard was first planted in 1975 by the late Bill Casimaty AM, just six years after the visionary farmer and entrepreneur founded his innovative StrathAyr Instant Lawn business. It was only the second vineyard to be established in the valley. 

Along with George and Priscilla Park's Stoney Vineyard, the Casimaty venture helped pioneer cool-climate viticulture in what has become one of Tasmania's pre-eminent wine-growing areas.

GlenAyr's 1.0ha trial plot of Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Shiraz was planted with advice from John Purbrick, of Victoria's renowned Chateau Tahbilk. Many of those 50-year-old vines remain productive and form the basis of today's GlenAyr wines.

The vineyard occupies part of the historic StrathAyr property. It was here that former convict George Loveless lived briefly after completing his sentence as one of the England's Tolpuddle Martyrs. The old cottage was subsequently renovated by Casimaty and remains in use as the family's company office. A former 1850s oast house located next door is believed to be the oldest hop kiln in Australia and features on the GlenAyr label.

The vineyard's duplex soils are typical of the valley. They range from heavy black cracking clay to lighter sandy loam overlaying sandstone and other ancient sediments.

In 1988, Coal River Valley residents looked on in awe as a new vineyard sprang to life on hillside slopes overlooking GlenAyr. Jointly owned by Casimaty and Victorian wine luminaries Gary Crittenden (Dromana Estate) and Dr Tony Jordan (Domaine Chandon), the appropriately named Tolpuddle Vineyard was established to supply Yarra Valley-based Domaine Chandon with cool-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for its bottle-fermented sparkling wine program. 

The company was – and remains – an Australian offshoot of the prestigious Champagne House of Moët and Chandon. 

By the mid-1990s, the Coal River Valley joint venture comprised some 14ha of productive vines. In 2006, it was named Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year by the Royal Agricultural Society.

In 2012, Tolpuddle Vineyard passed into the hands of Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith and their Shaw + Smith company, based in the Adelaide Hills. GlenAyr, meanwhile, continued on under its Casimaty family ownership.

The vineyard reached a half-century milestone in 2025. Over that time, GlenAyr has evolved from a pioneering experiment into an award-winning wine producer, enhancing founder Bill Casimaty's proud history of farming innovation and sustainable land use. 

Wine show successes encompass a range of styles, from a multi-trophy 2017 Vintage Sparkling to trophy Shiraz (2017) and trophy Cabernet Sauvignon (1989). Gold medal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have also wowed plenty of judging panels.

Casimaty may have made Instant Lawn, but clearly his GlenAyr Vineyard legacy remains for future generations to celebrate.

Key details:

• Frank Casimaty: owner/director
• Alain Rousseau: contract winemaker, Frogmore Creek Wines

Vineyard/cellar door address:

No tastings. Wine sales only at 70 Back Tea Tree Rd, Richmond TAS 7025

Telephone:

(03) 6260 2388

Email:

info@glenayrwines.com.au

Website:

www.glenayrwines.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 Back 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