Sonnen Wines
Born and raised in Tasmania, Luke Andree moved to Melbourne in anticipation of a career in professional sport or physiotherapy but was bitten by the wine bug while working part-time in wine retailing. Formal study in wine science at Charles Sturt University then set Andree off on a new career path.
He worked vineyard and winery jobs in Tasmania and Victoria (Oakridge and Mac Forbes) before taking advantage of his German heritage and heading to the Mosel Valley for the 2019 vintage at Weingut Melsheimer. The 200-year-old family estate is a certified biodynamic producer renowned for its intensive hands-on approach to viticulture and hands-off, low-intervention winemaking.
Inspired by the Melsheimer family's carefully managed vineyard eco-systems and their respect for the environment, Andree returned to his home state and took on the twin tasks of bedding down vineyard and winery assets at the emerging Mewstone Wines, in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel region south of Hobart.
Highly respected author/critic James Halliday AO named Mewstone as Australia's Best New Winery in the 2019 edition of his annual Halliday Wine Companion.
Andree helped add to Mewstone's growing list of accolades when the Hughes family venture was named Australia's New Vineyard of the Year 2021 by Corteva Agriscience. His viticultural skills were recognised again in 2025 when Pressing Matters - then under Andree's care in the Coal River Valley - was named Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year by the Royal Agricultural Show Society.
Working alongside Mewstone winemaker Jonny Hughes provided Andree and life partner Yolanda Zarins with opportunity to launch their own Sonnen Wines label. Its pair of releases from the 2020 vintage – a Riesling from the Tamar Valley and Pinot Noir from the Derwent Valley – were eagerly snapped up by local wine buyers.
Technically well-grounded, Andree's winemaking takes a minimal intervention approach, with natural ferments and lo-fi practices allowing vineyard terroir to shine.
Sonnen takes its name from the German word for 'sun.' The choice is emblematic. When a vineyard journeys around the sun, wine is the ultimate destination. Andree's focus is on making that a joyous celebration of site and season, one that's less highbrow and more high-spirited than we've often come to expect from Tasmania.
Current Sonnen whites comprise barrel-fermented single vineyard Pinot Gris and barrel-fermented Chardonnay (single clone/single vineyard). Light Dry Red (Pinot Noir/Syrah) is complemented by skilfully crafted Pinot Noir from two small emerging vineyards located at opposite ends of the State (Relbia and Gretna).
Andree's work to date has already won him a legion of fans. Professionally, it earned him nomination as a finalist in the national 2023 Young Gun of Wine Awards.
Game on.
Key details:
- Luke Andree: owner/director; winemaker
- Yolanda Zarins: owner/director; wine marketer
Vineyard/cellar door address:
No cellar door. Wines sales available online via the Sonnen website
Telephone:
+61 (0) 448 024 500
Email:
luke@sonnenwine.com.au
Website:
www.sonnenwine.com.au
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for three sites that contribute fruit to Sonnen Wines highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions in Tasmania: Meadowbank Vineyard (MJT 17.1°C; 954 GDD); Glenelg Estate (MJT 17.2°C; 972 GDD); Glengarry Vineyard (MJT 17.3°C; 992 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 Meadowbank Road, Glenora 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 583mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 297mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 119mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.1°C
- Growing degree-days: 954 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: 43
*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