We chatted with Tom Wallace from Tamar Ridge about making wine in Tasmania:
Tell us about Pirie…
Pire was born from the desire to highlight Tasmania’s cool climate and outstanding conditions for making world-class sparkling wine.
What motivated you to go into winemaking?
The hands-on nature of the work and seeing the grapes evolve into wine really appealed to something in me and I quickly became passionate about the process. Also, finding and tasting different wines is something that I absolutely love to do.
What’s your most popular product at Tamar Ridge?
Tamar Ridge Estate Pinot Noir
What’s unique about your wine?
Our site at the Kayena Vineyard in the Tamar Valley is within sight of the Bass Strait and is adjacent to the Tamar River. It has many different aspects and soil profiles that give the wines our own unique flavour profiles.
Why is Tasmania starting to be known as the world’s new sparkling wine capital – rivalling Champagne?
There are some fantastic sparkling wines being produced in Tasmania and these are becoming the norm rather than the exception now. The consistency and quality of the sparkling wine is being recognized by journalists and having some success in international competitions.
Tell us about the current range of Pirie sparkling wine?
We have the Pirie Non-Vintage: we use a percentage of reserve material in this wine from multiple vintages to maintain a consistent style and quality.
Pirie Vintage 2013: 100% from the 2013 vintage and only made in exceptional years. Made from 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir.
Pirie Vintage Rosé 2016: Made from 100% Pinot Noir and the best of that vintage.
What’s your favourite beverage right now?
After making wine all day, I’m really appreciating a cold beer by the end of the day.
What’s your favourite food to pair with wine?
I pair wine with most food to be honest, but a good steak certainly works well with Pinot Noir.
Who would you like to have a wine with?
Other than my partner, who I am not seeing a lot of right now during vintage. The ‘Rock’ Dwayne Johnson seems like a pretty inspirational character and a genuinely nice guy. Although, I think he is a tequila-drinking man.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
Len Evan’s tutorial – tasting some of the great wines of the world and meeting some fantastic people, exchanging ideas and just having fun.
Do you have any plans for the future? If so, what are they?
About to start building a house… Does that count? But, also making our 2021 wines the best yet. ????
How can people contact you
Via Tamar Ridge’s social platforms: Instagram: @tamarridgewine. Facebook: @TamarRidgeWine
Pirie is available at Tamar Ridge Cellar Door and from select liquor stores, including Dan Murphy’s.
About Tamar Ridge
Pinot Noir makers first, winemakers second. At Tamar Ridge, they have a saying: it takes 50% Sidney Nolan and 50% Albert Einstein to craft the perfect Pinot Noir. That is to say, in 25-plus years of production, they’ve balanced the art of winemaking with the science of discovery, to master a nuanced and truly extraordinary grape variety.
Tamar Ridge website: https://www.tamarridge.com.au/
