Uplands Vineyard
During its first two decades of European settlement, the Coal River Valley was known as the granary of New South Wales. By the early 20th century, it was home to one of the largest orchards in the Southern Hemisphere. By the 2020s, its vineyards made up Tasmania's second largest wine-growing area.
The historic Uplands property has witnessed 200 years of valley farming. More than that, its owners have always played an integral role during each of those periods of significant change.
The house was built around 1823 by Englishman John Petchey, who was sentenced to transportation for 14 years in 1810 for receiving stolen goods. Among his later achievements in the convict colony, Petchey became a hotel keeper and boat-builder, establishing a regular river ferry service across the Derwent in the 1830s. His years at Uplands were very productive. By 1825, he already farmed some 400 acres, owning around 1000 sheep and several dozen cattle.
When Michael and Debbie Ryan purchased Uplands in 1997, they were only the fourth family to take on ownership of the Cambridge property. Within a year, they'd planted 1700 Chardonnay rootlings.
Their vines soon settled into the landscape. The soils here are well-structured with reddish brown subsoils of light to medium clays. The vineyard's location – at the southern end of the valley – ensures that each vine receives its share of gentle afternoon sea breeze.
The cooling air reduces ambient temperatures, ventilates leaf canopies and helps mitigate disease pressures. Meanwhile, the property's sunny, elevated, east-facing slopes remain frost-free throughout the growing seasons.
The Ryans sold almost a decade of their vineyard harvests before plunging into estate-grown wine production. In October 2020, additional Chardonnay vines – and a smattering of Pinot Noir – saw the vineyard expand to 1.0ha.
The vineyard won its first gold medal at the 2009 Tasmanian Wine Show with the 2007 Uplands Chardonnay. But it would be traditional method sparkling wines that really captured judges' attention.
In 2024, the 2018 Uplands Blanc de Blancs won gold at January's Tasmanian Wine Show while the 2021 Blanc de Blancs won gold at the Royal Hobart Wine Show to end the year.
In late 2025, Uplands was awarded the Hobart event's prestigious Sparkling Wine of Provenance Trophy with three vintage releases: 2011 Pinot Noir Chardonnay, 2018 Blanc de Blancs and 2021 Blanc de Blancs.
The Ryans opened their 2026 account with participation in the Tasmanian Wine Show. Their 2018 Uplands Chardonnay won a gold medal in Class 23b for Museum White Wines.
Good things come to those who wait.
Key details:
- Michael Ryan: owner/director
- Debbie Ryan: owner/director
- Liam McElhinney: contract winemaker, Tasmanian Vintners
Vineyard/cellar door address:
174 Richmond Rd, Cambridge TAS 7170
Open by appointment only
Telephone:
- Michael Ryan: +61 (0) 419 390 015
- Debbie Ryan: +61 (0) 409 413 684
Email:
info@uplandsvineyard.com.au
Website:
www.uplandsvineyard.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 Richmond Road, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 564mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 328mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 126mm
- Mean January temperature: 17.1°C
- Growing degree-days: 1029 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: 13
*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