Ouse River Wines
Bernard and Margaret Brain's Ouse River Wines is a substantial but remote cool climate vineyard on the couple's Home Hill near Ouse in the Central Highlands. Rotherwood Farming began with the Brain family in 1947. Agriculture here dates back to European settlement in the 1820s, adding heritage significance to the vineyard's distinctive terroir.
Located 90km northwest of Hobart – and around 200m above sea level – the Brains' site is Tasmania's most inland vineyard. Its continental climate and very significant diurnal day/night temperature shifts aid slow, flavour-packed ripening. Near textbook levels of natural acidity are maintained as harvest draws near.
The site's steep doleritic/gravelly hillsides and rocky soils have significant white silica sand composition that overlays sandstone and clay. Low in fertility and water-holding capacity, they nevertheless offer excellent drainage. The rugged terrain encourages deep root growth with moderate yields of small berries and bunches rich in concentrated fruit flavours.
Bernard Brain began experimenting with vines in the mid-1990s as an adjunct to breeding Angus cattle. He established a trial plot of 1ha in 2002 to assess how a selection of cool climate varieties would perform on the site. Carefully planned expansions have seen the north-easting facing vineyard grow to around 19ha today, with Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir being the key plantings.
Early harvests contributed to the House of Arras' celebrated sparkling wine program. Larger volumes in later years have been purchased by some very well-regarded producers of cool-climate Tasmanian wine. They include Bay of Fires Wines, Dalrymple Vineyards and Treasury Wine Estates.
The pioneering vineyard project - and its unqualified success - no doubt contributed to Bernard Brain being named Australian Diversification Farmer of the Year 2012 by the ABC and the Kondinin group. He was shortlisted as a finalist for the same award in 2011.
The first entirely estate-grown table wines were made by renowned Tasmanian winemaker Peter Caldwell and appeared under the Hill-Smith Family's Dalrymple Single Site label.
Production of Ouse River Wines – variously made under contract – began with the 2013 vintage.
Ouse River Wines produced its first traditional method sparkling from the 2020 vintage.
Key details:
- Bernard Brain: owner/director
- Margaret Brain: owner/director
Vineyard/cellar door address:
523 Victoria Valley Road , Ouse TAS 7140
No cellar door sales. See the Ouse River Wines website for sales options.
Telephone:
+61 3 6287 1309
Email:
bernard@rotherwood.net.au
Website:
www.ouseriverwines.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for Ouse River Wines highlight the marginal nature of growing conditions here. Consider also sites in the nearby upper Derwent Valley: Meadowbank Wines (MJT 17.1°C; 954 GDD) and Glenelg Estate (MJT 17.2°C; 972 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 Victoria Valley Road, Ouse 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 592mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 300mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 120mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.0°C
- Growing degree-days: 935 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: 49
*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