OSSA Wines

04/13/2025

It's often said the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. So when Rod and Cecile Roberts won the 2021 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge with their 2020 OSSA entry, contract winemaker Liam McElhinney wasn't surprised. It wasn't a matter of first time lucky. 

He knew how much work the couple had put into their passion project in the Wye River Valley, northwest of Swansea. 

The Robertses purchased their 600ha Belbrook property in 2017. It was part of a parcel of land Webster Ltd once earmarked for walnut-growing. The agribusiness ended up selling it to a local farmer, who put it back on the market some 15 years later.

Rod Roberts knew the area well. He'd spent 20 years with Webster Ltd, including stints as managing director and company chairman. Potential development of Belbrook had been abandoned due to low rainfall and irrigation demands. 

But vines require only a third the volume of water needed for walnuts.

Completion of the Swan Valley Irrigation Scheme in 2017 provided the spark to ignite project planning. Site works began the following year. An off-grid power station was constructed to supply electricity to massive water pumps otherwise located 20km from the nearest power pole. Transmission also supported an electrified vermin fence, a workshop and family residence. Autonomic laser bird deterrent was installed in 2020.

Roberts liked the mix of ironstone and sandstone in the vineyard's shallow soils. The property's inland location also offered more protection from coastal weather than vineyards established around Swansea and Apslawn. Mild continentality meant growing seasons with relatively warm summers and very cool autumn nights.

Initial plantings of 18.5ha of cool climate varieties were expanded a further 10ha some four years later.

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris account for the majority of early selections. Shiraz, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Grüner Veltliner were also represented, with Sangiovese being added in late 2022.

In 2019, the Robertses bought a 50 percent stake in Tasmania's largest contract winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners. That brought Liam McElhinney into the picture. Three years later, they sold that stake to their partner in acquisition, Western Australia's Fogarty Wine Group. 

With retirement beckoning, Rod and Cecile Roberts closed the circle and successfully negotiated the sale of their entire East Coast project to the Fogarty and Hall families in 2024. The new entity is Tasmanian East Coast Vineyards Pty Ltd.

OSSA Wines takes its name from the craggy summit of Tasmania's highest mountain.  

The brand meant something else again to the Robertses. Its unerring focus was reaching the absolute pinnacle of Tasmanian wine quality - something made clear with the couple's win at the 2021 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge.

It was made even clearer just as they were exiting the industry. In mid-2024, the 2023 OSSA Syrah was awarded the Trophy for the Best Tasmanian Shiraz at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.

Key details:

  • Tasmanian East Coast Vineyards Pty Ltd: owner/operator
  • Jay Dillon: vineyard manager
  • Liam McElhinney: senior winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners

Vineyard/cellar door address:

Vineyard postal address: 100 Crossins Road, Swansea, TAS 7190

No tastings or vineyard visits

Telephone:

N/A

Email:

enquiries@ossa.wine

Website:

www.ossa.wine

Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.

Climate data* for sites on the East Coast highlight the wide range of growing conditions here. Consider: Saltwater River Wines (MJT 16.0°C; 859 GDD) and Sterling Heights (MJT 18.3°C; 1267 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 Crossins Road, 1995-2024:

  • Total annual average rainfall: 551mm
  • Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 339mm
  • Average autumn rainfall: 128mm
  • Mean January temperature: 18.0°C
  • Growing degree-days: 1141 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: 19

*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