There could be few wine lovers who've not ever dreamt of planting vines in their own patch of dirt. The entice of staring at the solar go down with a pitcher of your own vino in hand can also be tough to resist. but it surely wasn't anticipation of producing world-category glowing wine that brought Susan Denny and Harry Rigney returned domestic from Queensland 13 years ago. It become the chance of residing beneath the spell of picturesque Mount Arthur, north-east of Launceston. "I grew up below the mountain, and rode horses all around the mountain," Denny says, with a glint in her eyes. "i'm a mountain woman." these days an achieved viticulturist as well as a painter, Denny is co-owner of The Ridge North Lilydale. The couple planted their two hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in 2013-2014. starting to be issues is part of her genetic make-up, Denny adds. It turned into her grandparents Keith and Nellie Denny that emigrated from England in 1923 to pioneer lavende r growing on Tasmania's famous Bridestowe estate. essentially a century later, The Ridge's north-facing slopes fail to notice a wide expanse of river residences that were once home to the Denny family's lavender plantations. Denny's father Tim moved the enterprise to its present-day website at Nabowla, 20km north-west of Scottsdale, on returning domestic from military provider in World warfare II. The couple consider The Ridge is the state's highest winery. or not it's close to 360 metres above sea degree. On a clear day, the steep web site offers dramatic vistas of north-east Tasmania's native forests, with unpredictable Bass Strait extra beyond. also within view, more than one hundred kilometres inland, lie the pristine peaks and periodic snow-capped tiers of Cradle Mountain. "We purchased the property while we have been living and dealing in Queensland," Rigney explains. "Sue grew up within the household domestic on Browns highway, which was only four hundred metres far from mode rn-day vicinity of our home and vineyard cellar door. back when Sue changed into young, this region was the website of a small dairy. She remembers coming here, getting the milk. "We have been very lucky being in a position to purchase the property. It become under no circumstances in reality advertised for sale. We simply took place to make a couple of enquiries and finally found ourselves with 20 hectares of land and numerous options about what to do with it. "we might been searching for somewhat a long time, trying to locate a little bit of Tasmania to call our personal. Sue's all the time been decent at turning out to be issues and we regarded beginning all types of ventures on the site. ultimately we settled on the conception of planting a small winery to produce glowing wine grapes. North-east Tasmania has a world-classification recognition for sparkling wines produced the use of natural methods. "This site's interesting elevation offers our vines with the lengthy, cool transf orming into season it is crucial to produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for antique and non-old glowing wines." The couple spent three years getting ready their vineyard slopes for planting. It was time neatly spent. In 2016, barely two years and two months after their vines had been dependent, The Ridge produced its first harvest. Rigney says the resulting Pinot Noir table wine become dropped at life after a little coaxing from contract winemaker, Fran Austin. "We weren't expecting to be in a position to produce a wine, let alone a table wine, so we have now always noted it as our unexpected child," he explains. "We had been very happy to have it but failed to see it coming." Success breeds success. In 2017, the couple's meticulous administration of their difficult website earned them the mantle of most suitable Small vineyard in the annual Tasmanian vineyard of the yr awards, carried out by using the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania. The 2018 harvest yielded a p erfectly aromatic Pinot Noir that won a gold medal at the 2020 Royal Hobart Wine exhibit. Then came an extra gold at January's 2021 Tasmanian Wine show. Cool climate viticulture has its challenges, Rigney admits, but says it has given the taxation legal professional, and half-time songwriter and musician a new rent of life. "one of the jobs I had decades ago was on a tomato farm up in Toowoomba," he recalls. "I just adored it. There changed into whatever about practicing flora and starting to be them beneath an difficult system of management that I truly enjoyed. "This vineyard has a whole lot in typical. it be no longer handiest brought us lower back home once again. in many methods, it's allowed life right here to turn full circle - for each of us." which you could style The Ridge wines on the cellar door every Sunday. Bookings welcome. www.theridgenorthlilydale.com Craigie Knowe at Cranbrook on Tasmania's East Coast is a tricky, regularly-parched website for Riesling. The upside for buyers is that the winery produces small yields of shy, commonly very intensely-flavoured fruit each and every vintage. Wines can be cellared with self assurance if aged Riesling is the preferred fashion for consumption. Very faded within the glass, the 2019 is fresh and lemony with attractive spicy/gingery undertones on a meals-friendly dry finish. just the issue for freshly shucked oysters, the wine also has first rate conserving knowledge for up to 10 years if you like your whites mid-weight and somewhat toasty. www.craigieknowe.com.au The cool, damp 2020 old changed into a tricky one in north-east Tasmania. This smart Rosé from Linda Morice suggests that pleasing wines can still be wrought from adversity. Crafted from property-grown Gamay, the wine is a clean, well-rounded early drinker that could suit a number Asian dishes. gentle urgent and the use of ancient okayand time on lees have helped be sure its purple apple, pink currant and crabapple jelly characters are deliver ed on a dry, properly weighted palate. there is respectable acidity too, with a welcome savoury/minerally dimension. treat yourself and your family unit this Easter. prevent over-chilling. www.sinapius.com.au Pinot Noir is a fusspot grape, seldom happy beyond its ancestral Burgundy wine place. however in cool, favourable circumstances, it is wonderfully expressive with impressive complexity of aroma, flavour and texture. obviously youthful, this release from The Ridge is already heading alongside any such path. it be beautifully aromatic now - redolent of juicy red fruits, kitchen spices and wild Tasmanian sassafras. The flavours that follow are deliciously pleasurable and smartly sustained. crimson cherry and raspberry nuances reveal exceptional carry and vibrancy, whereas the ordinary effect is one among class and finesse. gorgeous wine. www.theridgenorthlilydale.com
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HOMECOMING: The Ridge's Sue Denny and Harry Rigney at their cellar door. graphic: supplied.
There can be few wine enthusiasts who've never dreamt of planting vines in their own patch of filth.
The entice of looking at the sun go down with a glass of your own vino in hand can be difficult to resist.
however it wasn't anticipation of producing world-class gleaming wine that introduced Susan Denny and Harry Rigney again home from Queensland 13 years ago.
It became the prospect of living under the spell of picturesque Mount Arthur, north-east of Launceston.
"I grew up below the mountain, and rode horses throughout the mountain," Denny says, with a glint in her eyes.
at the moment an achieved viticulturist in addition to a painter, Denny is co-owner of The Ridge North Lilydale. The couple planted their two hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in 2013-2014.
transforming into issues is a component of her genetic make-up, Denny provides.
It become her grandparents Keith and Nellie Denny that emigrated from England in 1923 to pioneer lavender growing to be on Tasmania's famous Bridestowe property.
practically a century later, The Ridge's north-dealing with slopes fail to notice a vast expanse of river flats that have been as soon as home to the Denny family unit's lavender plantations.
Denny's father Tim moved the company to its latest-day website at Nabowla, 20km north-west of Scottsdale, on returning domestic from armed forces provider in World battle II.
The couple believe The Ridge is the state's highest vineyard. or not it's near 360 metres above sea degree.
On a transparent day, the steep web site offers dramatic vistas of north-east Tasmania's native forests, with unpredictable Bass Strait further beyond. also within view, more than 100 kilometres inland, lie the pristine peaks and periodic snow-capped tiers of Cradle Mountain.
"We purchased the property while we had been residing and working in Queensland," Rigney explains.
"Sue grew up within the family domestic on Browns street, which became best four hundred metres away from brand new location of our domestic and vineyard cellar door. again when Sue become young, this region used to be the website of a small dairy. She remembers coming here, getting the milk.
"We had been very lucky being able to purchase the property. It turned into not ever actually advertised on the market. We simply happened to make a few enquiries and at last found ourselves with 20 hectares of land and a whole lot of recommendations about what to do with it.
"we'd been looking for rather ages, attempting to discover a little bit of Tasmania to name our own. Sue's all the time been first rate at growing things and we considered starting all kinds of ventures on the web page. ultimately we settled on the thought of planting a small vineyard to provide glowing wine grapes. North-east Tasmania has an international-class popularity for gleaming wines produced the usage of usual methods.
"This site's interesting elevation gives our vines with the lengthy, cool growing season this is needed to produce Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for antique and non-old glowing wines."
The couple spent three years making ready their vineyard slopes for planting. It turned into time well spent.
In 2016, barely two years and two months after their vines had been established, The Ridge produced its first harvest. Rigney says the resulting Pinot Noir table wine became dropped at existence after a bit coaxing from contract winemaker, Fran Austin.
"We weren't expecting to be able to produce a wine, not to mention a table wine, so we have now at all times referred to it as our surprising child," he explains.
"We had been very satisfied to have it however failed to see it coming."
Success breeds success. In 2017, the couple's meticulous management of their difficult web page earned them the mantle of ideal Small vineyard within the annual Tasmanian winery of the 12 months awards, performed by means of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania.
The 2018 harvest yielded a superbly fragrant Pinot Noir that gained a gold medal at the 2020 Royal Hobart Wine demonstrate. Then came an extra gold at January's 2021 Tasmanian Wine demonstrate.
Cool climate viticulture has its challenges, Rigney admits, but says it has given the taxation lawyer, and part-time songwriter and musician a brand new lease of existence.
"one of the crucial jobs I had a long time in the past was on a tomato farm up in Toowoomba," he recalls.
"I simply loved it. There was whatever thing about practicing flowers and starting to be them beneath an complicated equipment of management that I really loved.
"This vineyard has plenty in usual. it be now not only brought us returned home once again. in lots of ways, it be allowed life here to show full circle - for each of us."
that you would be able to style The Ridge wines at the cellar door each Sunday. Bookings welcome.
pick OF THE CROP
2019 Craigie Knowe Riesling $32
Craigie Knowe at Cranbrook on Tasmania's East Coast is a tough, commonly-parched web page for Riesling. The upside for buyers is that the winery produces small yields of shy, commonly very intensely-flavoured fruit each and every vintage.
Wines may also be cellared with self assurance if aged Riesling is the favored fashion for consumption.
Very faded in the glass, the 2019 is fresh and lemony with engaging spicy/gingery undertones on a meals-friendly dry finish.
just the component for freshly shucked oysters, the wine also has respectable maintaining advantage for up to 10 years if you like your whites mid-weight and a little toasty.
2020 Sinapius Jean Morice Rosé $32
The cool, damp 2020 old became a tough one in north-east Tasmania. This smart Rosé from Linda Morice suggests that appealing wines can still be wrought from adversity.
Crafted from estate-grown Gamay, the wine is a smooth, neatly-rounded early drinker that would swimsuit a variety of Asian dishes.
mild pressing and using historic o.k.and time on lees have helped make certain its red apple, crimson currant and crabapple jelly characters are delivered on a dry, properly weighted palate. there's respectable acidity too, with a welcome savoury/minerally dimension.
deal with yourself and your family unit this Easter. keep away from over-chilling.
2018 The Ridge North Lilydale Pinot Noir $47
Pinot Noir is a fusspot grape, seldom satisfied beyond its ancestral Burgundy wine region. but in cool, beneficial circumstances, it is wonderfully expressive with miraculous complexity of aroma, flavour and texture.
certainly youthful, this release from The Ridge is already heading alongside the sort of path. it be beautifully aromatic now - redolent of juicy purple fruits, kitchen spices and wild Tasmanian sassafras.
The flavours that follow are deliciously pleasant and well sustained. pink cherry and raspberry nuances reveal incredible carry and vibrancy, whereas the typical effect is one among class and finesse. amazing wine.
www.theridgenorthlilydale.com
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