Meander Valley Vineyard
Bronya Dance and Jade Nicholls left Melbourne's rat race and relocated to the Red Hills district of northern Tasmania in April 2021. The couple admit to purchasing the former 3 Willows Vineyard 'on the spur of the moment.'
Vines first sprang up there in 2003 with the planting of 0.5ha of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Baco Noir by winemaker Philip Parés and his partner Lyn Prove. Sometime later, Müller-Thurgau and Cabernet Franc were added, taking the total vineyard area close to 1.8ha.
The vineyard founders hastened slowly, managing the site according to low-impact, organic principles. Under-vine ground covers, mulching, composting and compost teas gave the vineyard great bones.
In June 2016, new owners entered the picture. Sydney couple Peter and Susan Stokes made welcome changes including the planting of 1.6ha of additional vines, most notably Chardonnay. Automated digital technology brought efficiency to drip irrigation, fertigation and frost protection. New dams and a 72m-deep bore were constructed.
Now into their fourth year on the site, Dance and Nicholls have made further progress in developing their small family business. Thanks in part is due to consultant advice from viticulturist and winemaker Andrew Gaman at Eastford Creek. Bottle-fermented vintage sparkling wines (3) and a vintage Rosé are complemented by table wines from Pinot Gris, Baco Noir and Pinot Noir.
The couple's casual, picturesque cellar door features local/regional artisan produce. Wood-fired pizzas made fresh on site are always popular. Little wonder Meander Valley Vineyard is rated 4.9 by visitors that contribute to Google Reviews... and confirmed by TripAdvisor, one of the world's most trusted sources for travel experiences.
Very stylish vineyard accommodation is offered in the form of two luxurious glamping tents and a self-contained vineyard cabin called Vintner's Nest. Needless to say, each one overlooks the vines and offers its guests all manner of creature comforts.
Bronya Dance has been a Superhost on Airbnb for the past four years. In May 2026, the Vintner's Nest enjoyed a near-perfect 4.99 rating on the popular online marketplace.
Periodic on-site events are a boon to the local community.
It's a growing local community, it seems. The annual Regional Movers Index - which analyses population movements between population centres in regional Australia - included the Meander Valley among the nation's top five 'hot spots' for inter-regional migration in 2025.
So much for 'spur of the moment.'
Key details:
Bronya Dance: co-owner/operator
Jade Nicholls: co-owner/operator
- Andrew Gaman: consultant viticulturist and winemaker
Vineyard/cellar door address:
46 Montana Rd Red Hills TAS 7304
Telephone:
+61 (0) 455 224 414
Email:
General: hello@meandervalleyvineyard.com.au
- Meander Valley Fan Club: accounts@meandervalleyvineyard.com.au
- Winemaking: wine@eastfordcreek.com.au
Website:
www.meandervalleyvineyard.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in North West Tasmania highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Consider: Leven Valley Vineyard (MJT 15.3°C; 701 GDD) and Scott's Mill Estate (MJT 17.5°C; 1149 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 Red Hills, Tasmania, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 978mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 433mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 208mm
- Mean January temperature: 16.7°C
- Growing degree-days: 871 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: 45
*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