Home Hill
Born into a family of apple orchardists, Terry Bennett became a grower himself. But it wasn't long before restricted access to the 1960s Common Market caused him to re-think his future. The Tasmanian Government helped him remove his trees at Ranelagh to graze cattle. Third time lucky, Bennett and his wife Rosemary planted grape vines in 1992.
The couple's gently sloping Huon Valley site with its cool, maritime-influenced growing seasons seemed ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Alluvial soils and duplex sandy loams over clay – derived from sandstone/mudstone – offered prospects of good drainage with moderate vine vigour.
The Bennetts started slowly with just six rows of Pinot Noir. By the end of the decade, there were 4ha of vines, including Sylvaner (initially described as 'shonky Chardonnay' by some pundits because of the planting material's mistaken identity).
Early wines were made by self-trained Michael Vishacki (Panorama Vineyards) and Peter Dunbavan (Home Hill). The latter appointment proved a stroke of genius. Dunbavan was a mechanic by trade. After gaining work with the Bennetts, somehow he moved seamlessly into the role of winemaker. Despite a lack of formal qualifications and experience, Dunbavan's skills produced a string of extraordinary Tasmanian and national wine show trophy winners during the early-mid 2000s.
The Bennetts then discussed the tourism potential of a new winery which would incorporate a restaurant, a function centre, and a tasting and wine sales area. Next came plans to develop their landmark facility.
September 2001 saw the opening of the valley showpiece by then-Premier Jim Bacon. Built of rammed earth and glass, with massive Tasmanian oak beams, Home Hill remains a tourism hotspot a quarter of century later.
Home Home achieved international wine success in 2007, winning the Tri Nations Challenge Pinot Noir Trophy for wines produced in Australia, New Zealand and Africa.
In the watershed year of 2015, an extraordinary sequence of Home Hill wines produced by Gilli and Paul Lipscombe (Sailor Seeks Horse) won trophy after trophy. The year began with the 2013 Home Hill Kelly's Reserve Pinot Noir winning trophies for Best Red Wine of Show and Best Pinot Noir at the Tasmanian Wine Show. The 2008 Home Hill Estate Pinot Noir won Best Museum Wine.
It was the fourth Tasmanian Wine Show in a row the family had won the trophy for Best Tasmanian Pinot Noir, and the third in a row they were named Tasmanian Pinot Noir Producer of the Year.
Esteemed author and critic James Halliday noted 'all that pales into insignificance in the wake of winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne Wine Awards 2015.'
Home Hill's giant-killer was the first Tasmanian wine to be awarded Australia's most coveted red wine trophy.
The event also saw the 2014 Home Hill Kelly's Reserve Pinot Noir win the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir.
Within weeks, the Royal Agricultural Show Society of Tasmania added its imprimatur to proceedings. It named Home Hill the 2015 winner of the Richard Langdon Trophy for the Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year.
Today, the Ranelagh family property and its wines continue to reap rich rewards for their sustained 30-year investments in cool-climate viticulture in the Huon Valley. The current release 2023 Kelly's Reserve Pinot Noir went within a whisker of winning the Best Pinot Noir trophy at the 2025 Tasmanian Wine Show.
Show judge Dave Brookes noted:
'...this particular wine put in a stellar showing at the pointy end of the trophy judging.'
2026 Halliday Wine Companion
Four years earlier, the 2020 Kelly's Reserve Pinot Noir won trophies for Best Pinot Noir, Best Red Wine and Best Wine of Show at the 2021 Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show.
Strong cellar door visitation makes Home Hill a key anchor point for Huon Valley tourism. Tasmanians are especially keen supporters of its wedding venue, its vibrant local events and stylish dining experiences. The latter received an Australian Good Food Guide Chef's Hat in 2023.
And Home Hill's future?
She'll be apples, reckons Terry Bennett.
Key details:
Terry Bennett: owner/operator
Rosemary Bennett: owner/operator
Sean Bennett: vineyard manager
Simon Nankivell: winemaker
Kelly Bennett: marketing/cellar door manager
Vineyard/cellar door address:
38 Nairn Rd, Ranelagh TAS 7109
Telephone:
+61 (3) 6264 1200
Email:
info@homehillwines.com.au
Website:
www.homehillwines.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the Huon Valley/D'Entrecasteaux Channel highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Nandroya, Two Bud Spur (both MJT 14.8°C; 622 GDD) and Bruny Island Premium Wines (MJT 15.4°C; 747 GDD) appear to be the coolest sites south of Hobart.
Tinderbox Vineyard (MJT 17.3°C; 1088 GDD) and Trial Bay Estate (MJT 17.1°C; 1044 GDD) are the warmest.
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 Ranelagh 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 774mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 396mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 168mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.1°C
- Growing degree-days: 976 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: 26
*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