Tasmanian Premium Wine Tour with Tasmanian Cheese Platter

Southern Tasmania’s wine country makes a fine escape from Hobart, and this tour gives you four cellar-door visits in one day without needing a designated driver. You’ll taste sparkling wines, cool-climate whites, local reds, and sometimes chocolate pairings, while guides such as Ben, Tim, Gino, and Patrick keep the day moving.

I like the small maximum group of 16 and the chance to meet winemakers in places such as barrel rooms and cellar doors. I also like the generous tastings: some days include a couple dozen wines, with Craigow, Derwent Estate, and Every Man & His Dog Vineyard among the memorable stops.

The main catch is lunch. It is not included, so you’ll need to buy it yourself during the day. The minibus can also feel cramped when full, and the exact wineries may change, so book this for the overall southern Tasmanian wine experience rather than one fixed set of four estates.

Key points to know before booking

• Four winery visits: Expect a full day of tastings across southern Tasmania, with sparkling, white, red, and sometimes rosé wines.
• A strong guide team: Ben, Tim, Gino, and Patrick are praised for clear wine knowledge, easy conversation, and local stories.
• Cheese is included: The Tasmanian Cheese Platter adds food to a day otherwise built around tastings.
• Lunch costs extra: Plan to purchase your own meal, and do not assume the cheese platter replaces lunch.
• Small-group format: The vehicle carries no more than 16 people, with some departures much smaller.
• Easy Hobart pickup: Meet at Brooke Street Pier at 10:30 am, then return to Hobart for an evening at the waterfront or a local bar.

Four southern wineries in one long day

This is a wine tour for people who want variety. Instead of spending most of the day at one large estate, you visit four southern Tasmanian wineries and get a taste of different cellar-door styles, grape varieties, and hosts.

The day lasts about seven and a half hours. That is long enough to leave Hobart, visit several producers, and still return in time to continue your evening. It is also a lot of wine, so pace yourself. Tastings can be generous, and one day has included around two dozen wines.

The exact route is not fixed in the information provided, and that matters. You may visit well-known stops such as Craigow or Derwent Estate, but the operator can substitute another winery if plans change. Think of the tour as a guided introduction to southern Tasmania’s wine producers, not a guaranteed checklist of named vineyards.

That flexible approach can work in your favor. One group lost its planned final tasting because of an unexpected issue, and guide Ben arranged another tasting so the day still included four winery visits. Still, if you have your heart set on one particular estate, ask before booking.

Starting at Brooke Street Pier at 10:30 am

Your day begins at Brooke Street Pier, 12 Franklin Wharf, at 10:30 am. The waterfront meeting point is central and near public transport, which is useful if you are staying in Hobart without a car.

Several guides begin with a relaxed introduction before the first tasting. Tim has been described as starting the morning with coffee and a run-through of the day, while Patrick made a point of getting to know the group before the first cellar door. Those small touches matter on a social tour, since you will spend hours sharing a vehicle and tasting tables with people you may not know.

The group size can vary. The official maximum is 16, but some departures have had only four or five people, while another had 11. A smaller group gives you more time to ask questions and can make the drive feel almost personal. A full minibus will have less elbow room, and one person found the vehicle cramped.

The drive is part of the appeal. You leave central Hobart for the southern wine-growing districts, with your guide talking about local wine, produce, and the countryside along the way. This is not simply a shuttle between tasting rooms. The better guides connect the bottles to Tasmania’s cool climate and regional farming culture.

What the winery visits are like

At each winery, you can expect a cellar-door tasting and some explanation of how the wines are made. The format changes from stop to stop, which helps prevent the day from feeling like four identical sales presentations.

Some visits include vineyard or property tours. You might hear about grape varieties, vintages, and the local growing conditions, then move into a barrel room or tasting room. Meeting winemakers is possible, and a few producers are especially generous with their time.

Craigow is one of the more distinctive possible stops. The estate is associated with Dr Barry, whose storytelling and understanding of grape varieties have made a strong impression. The appeal here is not just the wine. It is the chance to spend time with a producer who can explain the bottles in a personal, detailed way.

Derwent Estate can bring a large tasting flight. One visit included 12 wines, with Pinot Noir receiving particular praise. That kind of pour gives you a broad view of a producer’s range, but it also explains why you should eat, drink water when available, and avoid treating every sample as a full glass.

Every Man & His Dog Vineyard has offered wine and chocolate pairings. It is a lighter, more playful stop, and the pairing can be a highlight if you enjoy sweet food with wine. It may not feel like a traditional grand winery, though. One disappointed customer found the setting too informal and expected a more established cellar-door atmosphere.

That difference in taste is worth keeping in mind. This tour appears to favor friendly producers, varied experiences, and access to local makers. If your ideal wine day means polished architecture, formal tastings, and only well-known estates, the mix may feel uneven. If you enjoy meeting people and trying unusual combinations, it is more likely to suit you.

The wine selection: cool-climate character

Southern Tasmania is a good place to explore cooler-climate wines, and the tasting list reflects that. You can expect sparkling wine, crisp whites, local reds, rosé, and Pinot Noir among the styles offered.

The tour is useful for beginners because you do not need to arrive with a working knowledge of wine. Ben has been praised for making tastings interactive and answering questions about wine, beer, gin, liqueur, and cider. Tim and Patrick are also known for explaining the regional industry in a friendly, approachable way.

For more experienced wine drinkers, the value comes from comparison. Tasting several producers in one day lets you notice how different winemakers handle similar varieties. You may find a bottle you want to order later, and the tour makes that easier than trying to visit four estates independently.

The downside is sensory fatigue. Four wineries, sometimes with many pours at each, can blur together by late afternoon. I would focus on the wines that interest you, take notes if you are serious about buying, and remember that you do not need to finish every pour.

The Tasmanian cheese platter

The included Tasmanian Cheese Platter is more than a token extra. It gives the day a local food element and helps balance all those wine samples.

It is not a full lunch, however. The tour clearly leaves lunch to you, so plan accordingly. The cheese platter may keep hunger at bay for a while, but you should not assume it will replace a proper meal.

This is one of the biggest differences between this experience and a tour that includes a restaurant lunch. At $207.28 per person, you are paying for transport, a full day of guided tastings, alcoholic beverages, winery access, and the cheese platter. You will need to add the cost of lunch, and perhaps any bottles you buy.

For many people, the price is fair. Hiring a car, finding four wineries, arranging a safe driver, and paying for separate tastings would take planning and remove some of the social ease. The value is strongest if you want a guided day and plan to taste freely without driving.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a meal-inclusive excursion or only care about visiting premium, formal wineries. In that case, compare the inclusions carefully before booking.

Guides make the difference

The guide is central to this tour. The strongest experiences come from guides who do more than drive between stops.

Ben receives especially warm praise for his local produce knowledge, his ability to answer questions, and his calm handling of an unexpected winery change. He also appears comfortable with people who are new to wine, which makes him a good fit for mixed groups.

Tim brings energy and strong regional information. He has been described as engaging, personable, and well respected by the wineries visited. Gino offers a more relaxed style, with one small group finding that the day felt like being driven around by an old friend.

Patrick is praised for knowing the facts, figures, and dates of Tasmanian wine, while also making an effort to connect with each person in the group. The overall pattern is clear: guide quality is a major part of the experience, but the specific personality depends on who is working that day.

You should also expect a social atmosphere. You may share coffee before the first tasting, swap recommendations, and meet people from different parts of Australia and overseas. That can make the drive lively, but it is not ideal if you want a quiet private outing.

Returning to Hobart for the evening

The tour finishes back in Hobart after the winery visits. The end point information allows for a return to the waterfront, and the operator may also finish near a Hobart bar or Hobart Brewing Co, giving you the option to continue into the evening.

That flexible finish suits a day built around wine. You can have dinner, visit a bar, or take a walk along the waterfront rather than being dropped far from the center.

Check the final drop-off arrangement when you book or at the morning briefing, since the information gives more than one possible Hobart finish. The important point is that you are not left to arrange your own way back from the countryside.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this tour if you want:

• A full day outside Hobart without driving
• Four winery visits in one outing
• A social small-group experience
• Plenty of tastings across white, red, sparkling, and rosé styles
• A guide who can explain wine without making it intimidating
• A mix of formal cellar doors and more personal producer visits
• A cheese component alongside the wine

It is a particularly good match for couples, solo visitors, and friends who want to meet other people. Most adults can take part, but no one under 18 is permitted.

I would think twice if lunch included is important, if you dislike minibus travel, or if you need a guaranteed list of specific wineries. The tour can also feel too long if you are not comfortable with repeated tastings.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 137 reviews and is recommended by 98 percent of people who have rated it. Those figures fit the main strengths: guides, variety, generous tastings, and a relaxed social mood. They should not hide the practical limits around lunch, vehicle space, and changing winery stops.

Should you book the Tasmanian Premium Wine Tour?

Book it if you want a safe, well-organized way to sample southern Tasmania’s wine country in one day. The combination of four wineries, a maximum group of 16, knowledgeable guides such as Ben and Tim, and a Tasmanian cheese platter makes the $207.28 fare reasonable for an active tasting day.

Before you commit, accept two things: lunch is extra, and the winery lineup can change. If those points suit you, this is a strong Hobart day trip, especially for anyone who wants local wine, friendly conversation, and a broad taste of the region rather than a single polished estate.

FAQ

Where does the wine tour begin?

The tour begins at Brooke Street Pier, 12 Franklin Wharf, Hobart TAS 7000.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 10:30 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.

How many wineries will I visit?

The tour is designed to visit four southern Tasmanian wineries, though the specific wineries can change.

Is lunch included?

No. You must buy your own lunch during the tour. A Tasmanian Cheese Platter is included, but it is not presented as a substitute for lunch.

What types of wine can I taste?

The tour includes opportunities to taste sparkling wines, cool-climate whites, local reds, and rosé. The exact selection depends on the wineries visited.

Is the cheese platter included in the price?

Yes. A Tasmanian Cheese Platter is included, along with alcoholic beverages and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Are children allowed on the tour?

No. People under 18 are not permitted.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted for a refund.