McCormack Wines
When Bruce McCormack arrived in Tasmania on a working holiday in 1993, it wasn't long before he realised his time in the State was going to be more holiday than work without reliable employment. It was then that the 20-year-old decided to forego his Western Australian background in aquaculture and take his chances with Tasmanian viticulture.
It was a bold decision. Tasmania's fledgling wine industry amounted to several dozen vineyards and just 177ha of bearing vines.
But fortune favours the brave. Casual vineyard work in the Tamar Valley soon led to full-time vineyard management. McCormack went on to complete a degree in viticulture at Charles Sturt University in 2004 whilst spending 18 formative years overseeing major expansions at the iconic Pipers Brook Vineyard.
In 2011, 'Mr Tamar' struck out on his own, launching Bruce McCormack Grapevine Management Services. Business was brisk. In almost no time at all, the new start-up went from managing a single vineyard to overseeing ten different vineyards all along the West Tamar.
In 2015, McCormack contributed advice and expertise to the establishment of a 0.5ha vineyard at Government House Tasmania - the only vice regal vineyard in the entire Commonwealth.
Four years later, McCormack began establishment of his own Middle Arm Vineyard, north of Beaconsfield. The site is barely 20km south of Bass Strait. Middle Arm itself is a small but significant diversion in the tidal river estuary. It forms a shallow inlet or bay on the west bank of the Tamar and also gives its name to the surrounding farmland.
Middle Arm Vineyard is situated on shallow, gravelly quartz sands over silica. Quite unusual vine-growing conditions. These combine with Middle Arm's unique maritime microclimate - including protection from prevailing winds - to create long, warm, sun-drenched ripening seasons. Viticulture here requires very skilful management, but the highly-experienced McCormack and his team reap rich rewards. Premium quality, cool-climate fruit.
The 2.5ha vineyard's vine selections are eclectic. White varieties Chenin Blanc, Fiano and Pinot Blanc comprised stage 1 (2019) of the property's plantings. Barbera, Pinotage, Pinot Noir and Shiraz made up the red varieties. Stage 2 - added in spring 2024 - included Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Baco Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In 2018, Bruce and his wife Patsy created McCormack Wines as an adjunct to their existing vineyard management services.
The current portfolio of dry table wines is made under contract by renowned West Tamar winemakers Matthias Utzinger, Cynthea Semmens and Natalie Fryar. These are small batch wines, hand-crafted from Middle Arm Vineyard as well as from selected single vineyard parcels of fruit grown and managed exclusively by the McCormacks.
Production volumes are intentionally small.
Small is beautiful.
That was the catch-cry that lured this thoughtful, unassuming viticulturist to the State 33 years ago.
It proved a winning formula.
Key details:
- Bruce McCormack: owner/operator
- Patsy McCormack: owner/operator
- Matthias Utzinger: contract winemaker, Utzinger Wines
- Cynthea Semmens: contract winemaker, Beautiful Isle
- Natalie Fryar: contract winemaker, Bellebonne Wines
Vineyard/cellar door address:
Middle Arm Vineyard: 122 Bowens Jetty Rd, Beaconsfield TAS 7270
Tamar Gold: Vineyard cellar door, 104 Greens Beach Rd, Beaconsfield TAS 7270
Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am until 5pm. Visits and tastings welcomed
Telephone:
+ 61 (0) 487 858 450
Email:
- info@mccormackwines.com.au
- wines@middlearmvineyard.com.au
Website:
- www.middlearmvineyard.com.au
- www.mccormackwines.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 Bowens Jetty Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 802mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 368mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 185mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.1°C
- Growing degree-days: 1226GDD
- 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: 9
*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