Sugarloaf Ridge

The site of the present vineyard had long been used for grazing sheep and was purchased in 1998 by Simon and Isobel Stanley who prepared the land for the first planting of vines in the winter of 1999.  As part of the initial development over 1500 trees were also planted to provide wind protection and a haven for birds.

Located on a small ridge overlooking Frederick Henry Bay and the southern ocean the vineyard has stunning panoramic views in all directions.  Stone ruins of an old house on a rock outcrop in the middle of the property may be an old semaphore station – the house is thought to have been built around 1854. From here there are clear line of site views of Mount Wellington and Green Head on the Tasman Peninsula which were part of the signal route from Port Arthur.

The soil is mainly a sandy loam overlying clay interspersed with volcanic outcrops which together with the cooling southerly winds give the vineyard its unique ‘terroir’.

The site is ideally suited for Pinot Noir and 2ha has now been planted with the first harvest 2003.  Other cool climate varieties have also been planted and these include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. A small block of a rare Italian variety, Lagrein from Alto Adige region of NE Italy, has also been planted.

What the media is saying about us:

”Sugarloaf Ridge 2004 Chardonnay (barrel sample): Lovely creamy and nutty lees characters, beautifully weighted, great fruit, balace and acids.

“Sugarloaf Ridge 2004 Pinot Noir (barrel sample): Stanley say poor flower set in spring resulted in straggly open bunches with small disease-free berries. Perhaps he’d like that to happen every year for the wine has fabulous depth of colour and fruit intensity, big and rich already showing some layered complexity and lovely firm tannins. Should be a knockout on release.” Hobart Mercury October 20 2004.

“Aspiring to greater things. Tasmanian vineyard owner Dr Simon Stanley is meeting viognier’s challenges.” Examiner Spetember 24 2003

Pinot Noir Class 17 – bronze award winner
January 2005

Sugarloaf Ridge wines are available at the following retailers and restaurants in Tasmania

• Sorrell Wine Cellars, 9 Gordon Street, Sorell. Tel: 03 6265 2444


• 9/11 Bottleshop, Gas works, Hobart. Tel: 03 6214 7525


• Barilla Bay, 1388 Tasman Highway, Cambridge Tel: 03 6248 5458


• Jam Packed, 27 Hunter Street, Hobart Tel: 03 6231 3454

From January 2006, you can visit our new Cellar Door, situated in the centre of the vineyard. 

Sit and sample our award winning wine whilst enjoying stunning 360 degree views of the vineyard, south east Tasmania and the southern ocean. 

In addition, our vineyard is home to the ruins of what may be an old signal station, now being considered as a Tasmanian heritage site.  The Cellar Door will offer all our wines as well as products grown on the property including:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil


• Cherries


• Fruit


• Home made jams


• Select local artists work

Viognier has a fascination for many vignerons.

James Haliday in his book “Varietal Wines” describes it as vividly coloured, highly aromatic and strongly flavoured with a mix of apricot, honey, orange blossom, orange peel and peach.

Others have described the wines as exotic, luscious, seductive, sexy, mysterious, alluring ...

A trial block of a quarter hectare, probably the only one in Tasmania, was planted in early 2003 and so far it has performed well, though the first harvest won’t be until 2006 with a commercial crop in 2007.

The challenge will be to bring the alcohol levels high enough to allow the grape to express all its exotic flavours. The vines have been planted 1.5m apart with a row width of 2.7m to allow maximum sunlight penetration.

1/2ha of Sauvignon Blanc was planted in October 2000. Two clones were used 2413 and 8110. It is hoped that the use of these clones which are known to perform well in Tasmania will result in a classic wine reminiscent of styles developed in the Malborough region of New Zealand.

The vines are planted 1.5m apart in rows 2.5m wide using a VSP trellising system and cane pruning. 

The low vigour soils and the cool southerly winds allow the development of an open canopy reducing disease pressures.

The first commercial harvest is expected in May 2006.

1/2ha of Pinot Gris was planted in February 2003. Two clones were used — E6V3 and D1V10 — with 75% of the planting being the latter clone.

Pinot Gris is a mutation of Pinot Noir and is widely planted in the cooler areas of Australia. The cool climate of Tasmania is ideally suited for growing this variety as it needs cool temperatures to develop its full flavours. 

The south facing slopes in this vineyard with their cooling winds should bring out the very best in this variety.

The first harvest is expected in 2007. 

The search for another cool climate red which would perform well in Tasmania has led us to plant a trial block of Lagrein. This rare variety originates from the Trentino-Alto Adige region of north eastern Italy.

There are only a few plantings in Australia, but the variety has been pioneered by Cobaw Ridge in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria. The wine is strongly coloured and is high in tannin.

A quarter of a hectare was planted in early 2003 and the early growth of the vines has gone well with vigorous and spreading growth reminiscent of wild vines.

It is expected that a small harvest will be obtained in 2006. 

A small block of around 1/4ha of Chardonnay was planted in 1999 using the Penfold’s clone. The southerly aspect of the vineyard and the influence of cooling winds results in small berries and small bunches which have intense flavour. The soil in this part of the vineyard is a light sandy loam overlying a clay base.

The chardonnay is grown on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis with the rows 2.5m apart and a vine spacing of 1.4m. The open bunches, open canopy and constant wind result in very low disease pressure as well as keeping the vineyard free from frost.

The first vintage which was harvested in 2004 will be released in January 2006. It has been lightly-oaked and barrel samples have been described as having “lovely creamy and nutty lees characters, beautifully weighted, great fruit, balance and acids.” Hobart Mercury October 20 2004.

The cool temperate climate of this part of Tasmania produces intensely flavoured and distinctive wines. The wines are characterised by their deep ruby colour and the flavours of cherry and dark plums.

The first planting of 1ha was in 1999 with the first harvest in 2003. This part of the vineyard is often subjected to cool southerly winds resulting in low flowering and fruit set and this gives rise to open bunches with small berries. The wine produced is always intensely coloured and flavoured. 

A further hectare was planted in January 2005 on the warmer north side of the ridge to complement the earlier planting and produce a higher yielding block. This block contains specific areas of clones 777, 114 and D5V12.

The 2003 vintage was released in March 2005 and won a bronze medal at the Tasmanian wine show.

The 2004 vintage will be released in January 2006. Barrel samples have already been described as a knockout of a wine with a “… fabulous depth of colour and fruit intensity, big and rich already showing some layered complexity and lovely firm tannins. Should be a knockout on release.” Hobart Mercury, October 20 2004.

We’re easy to find. Just follow the main road past the airport from Hobart and turn right at Sorell. See the map above for more detail.

A low intensity, hand picked Pinot Noir harvested at it’s maximum fruit potential in late April 2003. The wine is the first crop from vines planted in 1999. The unique soils and micro climate of the vineyard have lent themselves well to creating an award winning Pinot Noir (Bronze, Tasmanian wine show 2005).

This Pinot Noir has been carefully nurtured having spent over 18 months in the making. It’s perfectly balanced and blended producing a medium body wine of deep berry red colour. The wine exhibits spicy cherry fruit and plums on the palate. Soft tannins and a perfect acid intensity ensure a velvety texture to this wine. It has an elegance and delicacy and offers persistent flavour on the palate. Drink now or cellar for up to 3 years.

Colour Deep berry red
Aroma Nose displays spicy cherry and plum
Winemaker Julian Alcorso
Cellar Up to 3 years

Enjoying the 2004 harvest at Sugarloaf Ridge Wines.