Wattle Grove
It goes without saying that Kim and Geoff Jones have a shared passion for fine food and wine. Take a look at the past 25 years of their working lives and it soon becomes clear the couple also share a passion for niche business creation.
IntoStyle Homes, InSPArations Day Spa and Roscrea Speckle Park Stud – each one began with the spark of a good idea, fanned by sound financial investments.
The Joneses transitioned from vegetable growing to wine grape production after major processors made it increasingly difficult for small growers to obtain contracts. That prompted them to turn to a new form of agricultural endeavour.
The couple's 52ha Lower Barrington property is barely 1 kilometre from the Gillams Road site established in the early 1990s by Ian and Judy Robinson. Then known as Barringwood Park, the vineyard became synonymous with gold and trophy-winning Pinot Noirs during the early 2000s.
Wattle Grove Vineyard is no toe-in-the-water business diversification. The Joneses first began planting their cool-climate varieties in January 2024. Subsequent additions have expanded Wattle Grove to four hectares.
The property's gently undulating vineyard terrain is the product of ancient volcanic activity. Its deep, well-drained soils are derived from Tertiary basalt, providing a nutrient-rich growing medium for the vineyard's close-planted vines. The usual suspects Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir share the site with late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
The growing conditions here are mild and sunny, with warmer summer temperatures moderated by coastal breezes. Slow, even ripening allows the fruit to develop flavour profiles that are marked by vibrant natural acidity and intense varietal characters.
Wattle Grove has a rich and enduring history in the heart of Lower Barrington on Tasmania's North West Coast.
The story began in 1873, when Harry French settled on the property and built the earliest stages of a weatherboard homestead.
In 1972, Wattle Grove was purchased by Kevin and Sue Emery, who lovingly cared for the property for almost 50 years. Their stewardship preserved the character and history of the homestead for future guardians.
An attractive ornamental garden spanning more than a hectare remains an abiding legacy.
In August 2020, Geoff and Kim Jones became the new custodians of Wattle Grove. Since then, they have carefully renovated the historic homestead while creating a new vision for the future. In 2027, the couple's new cellar door and vineyard dining experience will begin, celebrating Tasmania's cool-climate wines and outstanding local produce.
Their Roscrea Speckle Park Stud is a renowned producer of beautifully marbled, ultra-tender Tasmanian beef. Indeed, the couple's ambitious breeding program on their Lower Barrington property produced a young calf that subsequently gained national and international recognition when it was judged the Speckle Park Champion of Asia and Africa in 2019.
The Joneses were one of the State's first stud producers of the Canadian-bred animals.
Wattle Grove now blends heritage, hospitality, and the beauty of Tasmania's North West Coast, honouring the past while welcoming a new chapter for generations to come.
Watch this space.
Key details:
Kim Jones: owner/operator
Geoff Jones: owner/operator
Bruce McCormack, Grapevine Management Services: consultant viticulturist
Andrew Gaman: contract winemaker
Vineyard/cellar door address:
964 Sheffield Road, Lower Barrington TAS 7306
No cellar door or vineyard visits. Online wine sales.
Vineyard cellar door and restaurant scheduled opening late 2027
Telephone:
Kim Jones: +61 (0) 417 396 066
wattlegroveretreat@gmail.com
Website:
www.wattlegrovevineyard.com.au
Vineyard climate data
Tasmanian viticulture takes place within a diverse mix of soil types and microclimates.
Climate data* for sites in North West Tasmania highlight the wide diversity of growing conditions here. Consider: Leven Valley Vineyard (MJT 15.3°C; 701 GDD) and Scott's Mill Estate (MJT 17.5°C; 1149 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 Lower Barrington, 1995-2024:
- Total annual average rainfall: 1032mm
- Growing season average rainfall (Oct 1-Apr 30): 443mm
- Average autumn rainfall: 217mm
- Mean January temperature: 16.2°C
- Growing degree-days: 858 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: 25
*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.
Vineyard elevation: 220m above sea level
Last page update: 27 July 2026