Craft&Estate

AUSTRALIA

Tolpuddle Vineyard

WINERY OVERVIEW

Tolpuddle Vineyard is an outstanding vineyard established in 1988 and takes its name from

the Tolpuddle Martyrs, a group of 19th century agricultural laborers, some of whom were

transported to Tasmania as convicts to work on a farm in the Coal River Valley, part of which is

now Tolpuddle Vineyard.

Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW purchased the vineyard in 2011 and now make two

wines – Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay and Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir. They believe

Tolpuddle is one of Australia’s great single vineyards, with plantings of 50% Chardonnay and

50% Pinot Noir.

LOCATION OF VINEYARD

Located about 20 minutes drive from Hobart, in Tasmania’s southeast, the Coal River Valley

has established a reputation for growing exceptional quality grapes. With a climate at the cool

extremes for viticulture in Australia, it is no surprise that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir perform

so splendidly.

An anomaly for such a cool climate, the rainfall is significantly lower than many of Australia’s

other cool climate regions, with an average of approximately 500mm of rain per year. This

cool but relatively dry climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly in autumn, without the disease

pressure that heavy rainfall can bring.

The vineyard is planted with mature Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, facing northeast and

sloping gently up from Back Tea Tree Road. The soil is light silica over sandstone and of

moderate vigor, ensuring well-balanced vines producing grapes of great flavor and intensity.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY

Tolpuddle Vineyard has a unique, strong, and expressive character. Commitment in the

vineyard, with an emphasis on working by hand, augments the site’s natural character at

its best, while also ensuring that the best from each set of vintage conditions are captured

in the wines. The wines are made in a respectful way, using traditional, low intervention

winemaking methods.

Owned by

Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW

Winemaker

Martin Shaw and Adam Wadewitz

Founded in

2011 (Vineyard founded in 1988)

Region

Coal River Valley, Tasmania

Country

Australia

Wines

Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay

Tolpuddle Vineyard, Pinot Noir