Moores Hill Estate
Life is very adept at throwing curved balls. When Rod and Karen Thorpe bought land on Moores Hill at Sidmouth in the 1980s, they couldn't wait to put their plans into action. Planting a vineyard wasn't among them. Indeed, they pulled out vines that previous owners had established.
It took them almost 20 years, but the couple came to realise the sunlit slopes of their north-east facing property were ideally suited to cool-climate viticulture.
Working first with fellow Lions Club members Bob and Christine Harkness – then moving at warp speed on their own – the Thorpes began planting Moores Hill Estate in 1997.
By the time they were ready to move into semi-retirement in 2008, the couple had established more than 4ha of vines. Along the way, they felled trees on the property and constructed a timber-clad cellar door, eventually making it one of the Tamar Valley's most popular wine destinations.
The Thorpes' commitment to wine tourism earned them life membership of the Tamar Valley Wine Route. Moores Hill Estate itself collected a 5-star rating from the authoritative James Halliday.
New owners Fiona Weller and Julian Allport hit the ground running. Within two months of taking over, their 2008 Moores Hill Estate Riesling won three trophies at the 2008 Royal Hobart International Wine Show. Award-winning Riesling became a recurring theme on the property. Ditto Pinot Noir.
The couple soon set a steady course towards a more focused, single-vineyard business model. The wine range expanded to include traditional method sparkling (in vintage and NV formats), Pinot Gris and Rosé, alongside core varieties Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.
In 2016, Native Corner vineyard founders Tim and Sheena entered the partnership. Careful planning and investment added a state-of-the-art, solar-powered off-grid winery in 2017. The purpose-built 100-tonne facility allowed every drop of wine to be grown, processed, and bottled on-site.
Its cutting-edge design and inherent sustainability met with a raft of local and national awards.
In September 2017, the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) named Allport one of four finalists in its prestigious national award for ASVO Winemaker of the Year. The following month, the new winery facility won the 'Innovative Process' award at the 2017 Innovative Tasmania Awards.
It was Moores Hill's sustainability credentials that attracted the attention – and subsequent ownership – of Yarra Valley winemakers James Oliver and Constance Olivier. The couple took on the 25-year-old wine venture in July 2022.
Significant changes to pruning and vineyard management have since reduced yields and enhanced fruit quality. The introduction of new, improved clonal selections and labour-intensive cover-cropping should pay further dividends in the years ahead.
Oliver and Olivier also followed a Thorpe precedent. The estate's 26-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines were pulled out in July 2023.
The couple's inaugural harvest saw their 2023 Chardonnay win gold at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.
Moores Hill wine quality continues on its upward trajectory. Watch this space.
Key details:
James Oliver: owner/vigneron
Constance Olivier: owner/vigneron
Vineyard/cellar door address:
3343 West Tamar Highway, Sidmouth TAS 7270
Telephone:
+61 (3) 6394 7649
Email:
info@mooreshill.com.au
Website:
www.mooreshill.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 West Tamar Highway, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 852mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 387mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 194mm
- Mean January temperature: 18.0°C
- Growing degree-days: 1182 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: 13
*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