Proving cynics wrong

When Rob and Anthea Patterson took up residence in the picturesque Channel region of southern Tasmania 20 years ago, the hey-days of the district's famous apple industry had become the bygone days of another era. Doomsayers reckoned the best thing coming out of the region was the road to Hobart.

The Pattersons thought differently.

Convinced that the fertile soils and cool-climate growing conditions still held the promise of rich rewards, they set upon establishing a small fruits business. Soon, plantings of gooseberries, blackberries and raspberries dotted the slopes of their Gardners Bay property.

Successful to a degree – the income derived from harvests supplemented salaries earned in the city 45 minutes away – their enterprise was not without its problems.

"We were totally reliant on a processor," recalls Rob Patterson.

"A processor who wanted to grade the fruit, deduct amounts for wastage, and, at times, not even accept it at all. It was a big lesson.

"We found that you've just got to maintain control of your business right the way through, otherwise you can become vulnerable to market fluctuations and cash-flow problems."

Following the lead of neighbouring sites, they turned to viticulture in 1988. Their plantings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Schönburger varieties came with an unspoken pledge – to benefit from their previous experiences as primary producers.

Anthea enrolled in a wine marketing course at Roseworthy College, while husband Rob took on formal studies in viticulture at Charles Sturt University.

Eight years later, they both have tertiary qualifications, and a thriving wine business on the up-and-up. 

Now 3 ha, their Hartzview Vineyard not only produces its own high quality wines – from both fruit and grape – but it successfully markets the wines of other producers via an attractive and entirely functional cellar door wine centre.

One of the State's best, the tasting facility is well worth seeking out on a visit South.

And weary travellers needn't be worried about a tedious journey homewards, either. A superb family homestead – a stone's throw away from the cellar door – offers 4½ star (RACT) accommodation for $120 per double per night.

Up to four other adults can also be bedded down for the night.

The Pattersons see the joint development of the State's tourism and wine industries as being of critical importance.

"The Barossa Valley and the Hunter Valley have found this out already. The wine industry's there, and tourism's flourished because of it. One helps the other."

A recent overseas trip to Burgundy has reinforced their beliefs.

"The parallels there are just striking. Apart from the climate – which is similar – a lot of the vineyards we visited were family businesses with Pinot and Chardonnay and fruit wines. They also offered family accommodation. You needed to have it in combination with something else, like an attraction."

Having won for themselves a Tasmanian Tourism Award for best significant local attraction in 1995, the Pattersons speak with the authority of experience behind them.

For more details, contact Hartzview Vineyard on (002) 95 1623.

First published 1 February 1996: The Advocate

Latest page update: 31 August 2026