Viridian Wines

04/03/2025

Michael Rochford is a web guy. Sure, he's an IT professional with decades of experience. But if you ask him and his wife Lyn what matters most to them, it's the web of life. The Rochfords practise what they preach. Their 2ha Broadview Estate at Granton is driven by sustainable, earth-friendly viticulture, including some elements of biodynamics. 

Feeding the soil builds vine health and resilience. Grasses, clovers and pollen-producing plants bring beneficial bugs and microflora. That, too, helps vines with fighting disease. It's intensive, hands-on grape-growing. Almost obsessive.

Neither Rochford had a background in wine.

Lyn Rochford began her working life with a law degree. Now she holds a Master of Wine Technology and Viticulture from the University of Melbourne.

It's been 20 years since the couple first decided to leave life in the suburbs to take on a bigger garden with a countrified outlook. Their 3ha property on Rowbottoms Road had just what they wanted – with a well established vineyard to boot.

Broadview Estate founders David and Kaye O'Neill had been bitten by the garden bug some 10 years earlier. They even won awards. In 1996, the couple planted rows of Chardonnay alongside camellias and rhododendrons. A year later they added Riesling, completing a vineyard trifecta with Pinot Noir in 1999 – the same year renowned winemaker Andrew Hood created Broadview's first vintage of Riesling.

The classic white variety has been a stellar performer on the site above the river. Right from the outset. In 2002, the O'Neills' fourth vintage from six-year-old vines won gold and two trophies at the 2002 Royal Hobart Wine Show – Best Tasmanian White, and Best Tasmanian Wine (out-doing Moorilla Estate's 2001 Pinot Noir in the process).

A little bit of limestone magic. Much the same can be said of the Rieslings from near-neighbours Laurel Bank, Stefano Lubiana and Derwent Estate.

Fast forward to 2026, and there's a little bit of magic in the traditional method sparkling as well. The 2011 Iola Blanc-de-Blancs (Late Disgorged) sprang to life under Andrew Hood's direction. (Iola – rhymes with 'viola' – was Lyn Rochford's mother.)

The Frogmore Creek baton passed to Alain Rousseau when Hood retired in the following year. All subsequent wines bear witness to his French fingerprints and steady hand on the winemaking tiller.

The Rochfords market all their wines under the Viridian brand. Its inspiration is derived from the viridian green colour associated with the Environmentally Sustainable Design movement.

Late-disgorged sparkling keeps company with select bottle-aged vintages of Riesling and Pinot Noir. Vertical tastings at Broadview Estate are among the highlights of Wine South's annual Open Vineyards and Spring in the Vines events.

Broadview by name. Broadview in practice.

Key details:

  • Lyn Rochford: owner/operator

  • Michael Rochford: owner/operator

  • Alain Rousseau: contract winemaker, Frogmore Creek Wines

Vineyard/cellar door address:

87 Rowbottoms Road, Granton, TAS 7030

Cellar door sales by appointment

Telephone:

+61 (0) 419 338 131

Email:

hello@viridianwines.com

Website:

www.viridianwines.com.au

Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied

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

Climate data* for sites in the Derwent Valley highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. e.g. Mount Direction Estate (MJT 16.9°C; 967 GDD) and Invercarron (MJT 16.9°C; 934 GDD) figure among the coolest sites.

Those considered to be the warmest include Government House Tasmania (MJT 17.8°C; 1165 GDD), Lowestoft (MJT 17.8°C; 1148 GDD) and Moorilla (MJT 17.8°C; 1148 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 Rowbottoms Road, Granton 1995-2024:

  • Total annual average rainfall: 593mm
  • Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 314mm
  • Average autumn rainfall: 121mm
  • Mean January temperature: 17.3°C
  • Growing degree-days: 1035 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: 22

*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