Josef Chromy Wines
In 1950, 19-year-old Josef Chromy fled war-torn Czechoslovakia, then under Soviet occupation. He arrived in northern Tasmania in 1951 with nothing but optimism and a master butcher's diploma. Six years' manual labour at Goliath Cement soon brought just rewards. Chromy had savings to fund a move to Burnie to establish Continental Butchers.
By 1993, his small butchery had grown to become Blue Ribbon Meats, Tasmania's largest private employer. Its sale through a public float on the Australian Stock Exchange the following year brought the cashed up Chromy into the State's embryonic, cool-climate wine industry.
He formed the JAC Group and purchased Heemskerk Vineyard, makers of Jansz sparkling wine. The sale also included Rochecombe (Pipers River) and Loira Vineyards (Tamar Valley). Their rationalisation into the Heemskerk Wine Group was as swift as it was shrewd. Almost overnight, Chromy became head of Tasmania's second largest wine company.
The wily entrepreneur soon began pulling further rabbits out of his butcher's hat. In 1998, he sold Rochecombe and Heemskerk to Pipers Brook Vineyard. But far from being out of the wine game, he planned further investments in a 100ha vineyard he'd established four years earlier at Kayena.
Tamar Ridge Wines' rapid emergence as a leading producer was marked by media acclaim and staggering show successes, thanks to the talents of former Moorilla Estate winemaker, Julian Alcorso. The hubbub eventually attracted the attention of Tasmanian timber giant, Gunns Limited.
In 2003, Chromy received an offer too good to refuse. The $19m transaction provided opportunity for a final wine industry foray. Chromy was 72 years old. Within a month, he was in hot pursuit of a new project,
A five-year-old vineyard at Relbia called Old Stornoway was purchased out of receivership. Chromy then spent four years transforming the 61ha site into Josef Chromy Wines, an industry showpiece with a state-of-the-art winery, attractive cellar door and bespoke vineyard restaurant and events centre.
When the venture was launched amid considerable fanfare in 2007, the migrant-made-good lampooned the choice of business name. Having suffered a severely debilitating stroke midway through the developments, Chromy joshed that he had been in no condition to offer argue or offer suggestions.
In fact, Chromy had avoided death by a whisker. He spent months getting his speech back.
The Josef Chromy site at Relbia occupies rolling slopes on Tertiary sediments. Acid duplex sandy clay loams over heavier clays offer moderate to imperfect drainage. Careful irrigation, however, brings balanced vine vigour with good yields of premium fruit.
The property is situated inland from Launceston, so the nights here are cool as the vineyard enters its ripening phase. They're followed by comparatively warm, dry days with low humidity. That's ideal for slow, even ripening of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and aromatic whites Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. The company's traditional method sparkling and table wines are invariably high quality.
Highly-skilled winemaking and site management by Hobart-born Jeremy Dineen brought a torrent of awards during his 15-year tenure alongside the company's figurehead. Foremost among them was the 2011 Josef Chromy Chardonnay being named Best International Chardonnay at the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards.
In 2022, Josef Chromy Wines was acquired by Paragon Wine Estates, part of the Endeavour Group.
The winery continues to operate as one of the country's premier cool climate destinations, with its high-quality sparkling and varietal table wines being appropriately showcased in a state-of-the-art restaurant and cellar door.
Guided tours and tutored tastings continue to be well-managed, ensuring Relbia's continuation as a northern Tasmanian tourism hotspot.
Key details:
- Paragon Wine Estates: owner/operator
Kellie Graham: viticulturist
- Yael Sandler: winemaker
Vineyard/cellar door address:
370 Relbia Road, Relbia, TAS 7258
Telephone:
+ 61 (3) 6335 8700
Email:
info@josefchromy.com.au
Website:
www.josefchromy.com.au
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 Relbia Road, 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: 1187 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.
Last page update: January 2026