Premaydena Hill

Daniel Kelleher admits he never set out to grow grapes and make wine. The small-scale cattle farmer from Premaydena was 10 years into a successful career in Melbourne when he decided he'd had enough of corporate life. Time to pursue something more inspiring, to do greater good, achieve longer-term goals.

Aged 34, Kelleher left his life in the city and took ownership of a century-old grazing property on the beautiful Tasman Peninsula. He didn't know the first thing about pure-bred Black Angus. But sure as hell, he was willing to learn. Ten years on, he's sharing the dream with a couple of young kids and his wife and soul-mate, Ella.

The former medical researcher was none the wiser about raising cattle. But like her partner, she had aspirations. They met within six months of Daniel's move to the district. Praise be to a well-known dating app. Within 18 months, they were practically inseparable.

Premaydena Hill runs 100 head of cattle. Another 100 or so are born and sold each year under a value-adding program of paddock-to-packaged meat. 

Vines entered the landscape in 2018. Neither owner had a background in wine but their science-based university degrees gave them the confidence to learn. The Peninsula's annual influx of around 350,000 tourists offered good prospects for a much more diversified farming operation. Too good to overlook.

The property's 3ha vineyard is perched on top of a hill. It enjoys superb sunlight exposure and even better views across the broad expanse of Norfolk Bay. Beyond the Forestier Peninsula and the township of Dunalley lies Marion Bay, with Maria Island in the far distance. Turn 180 degrees and Bruny Island comes into view.

Premaydena terroir is defined by weathered dolerite intrusions and well-structured sandy loams. Equally well-suited to healthy pasture and cool climate viticulture.

Dry-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Shiraz contribute to an extensive portfolio of wines that are exclusively small batch and single vineyard. A bottle-fermented blend of all three Champagne varieties is aged on lees for 30 months before release as vintage Estate Sparkling.

Premaydena Hill winemaking was initially undertaken with guidance and mentoring from industry stalwart, Di Aldous.

Aldous has been producing her own Hurly Burly wines from East Coast vineyards since 2016. Like the Kellehers, she trained and worked in an entirely different business sector. She, too, caught the wine bug and followed her passion into small-scale winemaking.

Since 2022, the Kellehers have taken on that critical role as well, having built the Tasman Peninsula's only on-site winemaking facility.

Ella specialises in fermenting the whites and sparkling, as well as blending and finessing wines where required, prior to running the winery's busy bottling program.

Daniel's focus is primarily on receival and initial processing. Red ferments are then followed through barrel maturation with periodic racking and wine adjustments.

December 2023 saw the Premaydena couple welcome visitors for the first time to their attractive vineyard cellar door. The facility is located in a faithfully restored farm cottage that has been on the property since 1910.

Vineyard visitors can enjoy tastings and food platters while soaking up the spectacular panoramic views. Local and regional events – like the Koonya Garlic Festival and Wine South's Spring in the Vines – provide opportunities for the vignerons to share thoughts and aspirations along with home-grown, home-made wines.

The Kellehers are not just on top of their hill. They're also on top of their game.

Key details:

• Daniel Kelleher: owner/vigneron
• Ella Hoban-Kelleher: owner/operator

Vineyard/cellar door address:

1235 Nubeena Road, Premaydena TAS 7185

Telephone:

• Daniel Kelleher: +61 (0) 447 111 109
• Ella Hoban-Kelleher: +61 (0) 408 474 798

Email:

farm@premaydenahill.com.au

Website:

www.premaydenahill.com.au

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 Nubeena Road, 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 757mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 401mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 184mm
• Mean January temperature: 16.9°C
• Growing degree-days: 1038 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: 4

*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