Tamar Ridge

John Charles Brown loved Tasmania. He and his young wife Patricia even began their honeymoon in Hobart in 1939. Brown loved Riesling. In Milawa (Victoria), he also grew Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and all the other cool climate varieties we associate with Tasmania today.

John Charles was not only proud of his Brown Brothers family heritage, stretching back to 1889. He was also forward-looking and innovative. A respected industry leader. A staunch ally of Frenchman Jean Miguet as well, who could not obtain a liquor licence to sell his La Provence wines back in 1960s Tasmania.

It seems almost pre-destined that a future generation of Browns would end up in the Tasmanian wine industry.

That happened when the company – now trading as the Brown Family Wine Group – took ownership of Tamar Ridge in 2010.

It was an astute purchase.

After seven years with Gunns Ltd, Tamar Ridge and its sibling brands Devil's Corner and PIRIE Tasmania were ripe for picking. The company had drawn heavily on the viticultural know-how of Dr Richard Smart and strategic leadership of Tamar Ridge CEO, Dr Andrew Pirie.

The pair had established an enviable reputation for terroir‑driven Tasmanian wines. They were also able to demonstrate the commercial viability and future potential of large‑scale, high‑quality developments in the State. State-of-the-art viticulture in the Tamar Valley and on the East Coast provided the proof.

Since taking ownership 15 years ago, the Brown Family Wine Group has successfully integrated its three key Tasmanian brands into a single national portfolio. Continued expansion and fine-tuning of its premium Pinot Noir and sparkling wine programs is classic Brown family methodology. 

Innovative. Forward-looking. Industry leading.

Tamar Ridge wines are released from within a carefully devised five-tiered structure. The Estate range includes single varietal Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Research wines facilitate vineyard and winery experimentation. Reserve and Single Block labels denote additional winery and terroir determinants. Grand Assemblage telegraphs something special. The current offering is a rarefied 'best of the best' Pinot Noir that in 2022 was sourced from just seven carefully selected barrels.

Many of the latter wines are only available at the cellar door – located at Rosevears, overlooking the river – or via the company's wine club.

In 2020, Tamar Ridge's 134ha Kayena Vineyard was shortlisted as a finalist in the Young Gun of Wine Top Vineyards awards. The site is home to 22 clones of Pinot Noir.

It should surprise no-one that in the same year, the 2018 Tamar Ridge Reserve (Kayena, Tamar Valley) and the 2018 Devil's Corner Resolution (Apslawn, East Coast) both won gold at the Global Pinot Noir Masters held in London.

In 2023, the Brown Family Wine Group was named Pinot Producer of the Year at the Tasmanian Wine Show.

PIRIE Tasmania sparkling wines have consistently excelled at major wine shows. That includes taking the top honour of Best Sparkling at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. Sorry, Ed Carr.

The 2020 PIRIE Vintage opened the company's current annual tally by winning Best Vintage Sparkling at the 2026 Tasmanian Wine Show.

PIRIE Tasmania wines are released as NV and Vintage styles. The latter appears in a three-tiered structure comprising Sparkling Vintage, Prestige (Blanc de Blancs and Rosé) and Late Disgorged.

NV offers extraordinary value. It may be the segment's market leader but its wine show record in Australia is unrivalled.

Sadly, John Charles and Patricia Brown both died in 2004. They would have loved to have been part of the Tasmanian chapter of the truly remarkable Brown Brothers story. 

Key details:

• Cameron MacFarlane: CEO, Brown Family Wine Group
• Cate Looney: senior winemaker, Brown Family Wine Group
• Brett McClen: head of viticulture & sustainability, Brown Family Wine Group
• Ben Pietsch: Kayena vineyard manager
• Tom Wallace: senior winemaker, Brown Family Wine Group (Tasmania)

Vineyard/cellar door address:

1A Waldhorn Drive, Rosevears TAS 7277

Telephone:

+61 (3) 6330 0300

Email:

cellardoor@tamarridge.com.au

Website:

www.tamarridge.com.au

Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.

Growing conditions in the Tamar Valley fall under the moderating influence of the river itself. Consider: Eversley Vines (MJT 17.7°C; 1065 GDD) and Evenfall (MJT 18.4°C; 1230 GDD). Coolest vs warmest sites.

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 Auburn Road, Kayena 1995-2024:

• Total annual average rainfall: 802mm
• Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 372mm
• Average autumn rainfall: 185mm
• Mean January temperature: 18.1°C
• Growing degree-days: 1226 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: 9

*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