Mapleton Vineyard
Paul Laing waited 10 years before planting vines on his Mapleton property at Tea Tree in the Coal River Valley. In the next 10 years, the vineyard newbie went from managing one hectare of vines on one site to joint ownership of 4ha of vines across two sites, then 8ha of vines across three sites.
Laing's management regime now takes in 12ha of vines: mainly Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir, with a small number of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The three vineyards under his care are the adjoining family properties of Mapleton (planted 2014), Lynwood (planted 2003) and Woodlands (planted 1990).
The latter produced award winning wines in the late 1990s/early 2000s, including the 1998 Touchwood Coal River Cuvée that won top gold and Trophy for Best Sparkling at the 2003 Tasmanian Wine Show. Today, it's owned by Victorians Steve Flamsteed (winemaker) and Brad Rogers (former craft brewer) and operates as part of the pair's exciting Decades Wines venture.
It's been a wild ride for the bloke who once chased livestock and farming opportunities in Tasmania's southern Midlands. Laing's partners in wine are his wife Gemma Upton and his parents Denis and Kathryn Laing.
Vineyards at Tea Tree feature rich/heavy black soil over dolomitic limestone. That provides a good growing medium but the valley's low natural here can be a stumbling block to strong growth and reliable commercial wine volumes.
Mapleton's first growing season received just 172mm of rain. The next four seasons were each less than 320mm.
Low yields do offer the prospect of fruit with great intensity, however. Mapleton wines produced in 2018 followed a growing season that received 254mm of rainfall. They went on to win gold medals at the 2019 Tasmanian Wine Show. Mapleton's 2018 Riesling was also awarded the event's Trophy for Best 2018 Wine.
The same wine was named Best Museum Wine at the 2025 Tasmanian Wine Show. Laing subsequently re-released a small volume of the wine to celebrate the occasion.
Vintage Rosé and Pinot Noir to date have also been well received. Traditional method sparkling – a Vintage Cuvée and a Vintage Rosé – are destined for future release.
Good wine takes time.
Key details:
- Paul Laing: owner/director
- Gemma Upton: owner/director, marketing manager
- Denis Laing: owner/director
- Kathryn Laing: owner/director
- Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley: contract winemakers since 2024
Vineyard/cellar door address:
890 Middle Tea Tree Road, Tea Tree, TAS 7017
Refer to Facebook for events and cellar door operation
Telephone:
+61 (0) 4 27 950 409
Email:
paullaing.mapleton@gmail.com
Website:
www.mapletonvineyard.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 Middle Tea Tree Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 548mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 312mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 115mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.2°C
- Growing degree-days: 1009 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: 21
*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