Coal River is a relatively recent addition to Australia's wine industry, with the first commercial vineyards appearing in the 1970s. Now, there are a handful of small-scale wineries operating in the area, taking advantage of the cool, dry conditions to make focused, taut examples of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling, all Tasmania specialties.
The region follows the course of the Coal River from the hills north of Hobart to the coast, taking in the wide, north-south oriented river valley. This is a lush, fertile area of rivers and farmland, where viticulture is becoming increasingly important to the local economy, in terms of production but also in terms of tourism. The area's natural beauty and close proximity to Tasmania's main centre, Hobart, has made it an obvious choice for wine tourists. Derwent Valley, on the western side of the hills, is providing a similar function.
Tasmania's cool climate serves the Coal River Valley well. Here, the hills offer protection from the prevailing westerly weather systems as well as giving the vineyards a sunny aspect. Most vines are planted on the slopes facing northeast, where they benefit from the region's long sunlight hours. This is coupled with low rainfall in the growing season, meaning that grapes have an extended time on the vine and can utilize the ripening effects of the sun well into autumn. Cooling influences from the Tasman Sea a little way to the south ensure that this ripeness is balanced out by the natural acidity of the grape.
The vineyards on the hillside are underpinned by alluvial, sandy soils with a high proportion of clay sandstone. This friable soil is generally helped along by the slope to provide the vineyards with enough drainage to limit canopy growth, but the clay helps store enough water so that irrigation is not often necessary.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have been long established here, and have proved well suited to the maritime climate. Several producers are also experimenting with Cabernet Sauvignon – originally from the maritime region of Bordeaux – to great success, making fresh, restrained examples of the variety.
