Six Friends
The historic Burnside property at Orielton had been a home to grazing and cropping for more than 150 years before six friends sat around a dinner table and decided it was time for a change. Time for Pinot Noir. Sticking closely to the notion that 'friends don't let friends do silly things alone,' all six prepared a north-facing site.
They erected trellises and decided on their mix of planting material. They settled on Pinot Noir of unknown origins from Moorilla Estate and Craigow Vineyard. Certified clonal selections of 8048, 777, 115, D5V12 and MV6 as well.
It took six years – from 2003 to 2008 – for the friends to plant their one-hectare vineyard. Sixteen years for Six Friends to win their first Tasmanian Wine Show Trophy. One year more to win their next in 2020.
The vineyard's first Tasmanian Wine Show trophy – in 2019 – was for Pinot Noir Producer of the Year. The winning wines exhibited for the judges came from the 2015, 2016 and 2017 vintages.
In January 2026, the latter two wines were available for purchase at Burnside. What a treat!
The 'house style' is a rich, ripe affair, with plenty of body and structure. Surprising really. Independently gathered climate data shows the Burnside site at Orielton is likely to be the coolest in the Coal River Valley. Much, much cooler than Tea Tree, for example, roughly 25km further west and inland, as the crow flies.
Visitors needing further encouragement to purchase might bear this in mind. The 2016 and 2017 Pinot Noirs both won top golds at their next event, the 2020 Tasmanian Wine Show. The 2017 Six Friends was named Best 3 Year Old Pinot Noir, winning the Tasmanian Vintners Trophy.
The current release of the excellent Six Friends traditional method sparkling comes from the 2016 vintage.
Time, patience, commitment. They're the essential ingredients for top quality Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, says Burnside owner Tim Dunbabin.
Perhaps he knew that all along? Six generations of Dunbabins have farmed in the region since John Dunbabin first arrived there as a convict in 1830.
Then – as now – Jurassic dolerite and sandy clay loams provided foundations for farming success. Generation upon generation of Dunbabins laboured through challenging, low-rainfall growing seasons.
But it took six close friends to give cool-climate viticulture a go on the edge of the Coal River Valley.
Rich history has its rewards. You just have to wait a while.
Key details:
- Penny Dunbabin (deceased): co-founder
- Tim and Hannah Dunbabin: owner/director
- Ian and Brigid Ritchie: owner/director
- David and Michele Dunbabin: owner/director
- Hamish and Angus Dunbabin: owner/director
- Alain Rousseau: senior (contract) winemaker, Frogmore Creek Wines
Vineyard/cellar door address:
Burnside, 3620 Tasman Highway, Orielton TAS 7172
Tastings and visits by appointment only.
Telephone:
Tim Dunbabin: +61 (0) 458 555 325
Email:
info@sixfriends.com.au
Website:
www.sixfriends.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in the Coal River Valley highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Six Friends (MJT 15.9°C; 786 GDD); Pooley Cooinda Vale (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD); SISU (MJT 16.8°C; 929 GDD) figure among the coolest sites.
Richmond Park Estate and Strelley Farm Estate (both MJT 18.0°C; 1189 GDD) are considered to be among the warmest, along with Coal Valley Vineyard and Cross Rivulet Winery (both MJT 17.9°C; 1185 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 Tasman Highway, Orielton 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 635mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 353mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 143mm
- Mean January temperature: 15.9°C
- Growing degree-days: 786 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: 29
*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