Brown Family reaps rewards of making wine in Tasmania

Brown Family Wine Group's Pirie Vintage 2018 won Double Gold at the Global Fine Wine Challenge late last year, asserting the 130 year old winemakers commitment to making world-class Tasmanian wines suitable for domestic and export markets.

BFWG's Tasmanian brands include Pirie, Devil’s Corner and Tamar Ridge brands.

CEO Dean Carroll said, "The future is bright for Tasmanian wine. We are just as committed to the future of Tasmanian wine as we were 12 years ago when we first purchased our Tasmanian vineyards back in 2010.”

That was when the winery looked to Tasmania seeking cleared and cooler climate vineyards in response to global warming and its strategy to source grapes from cooler regions. Fortuitously BFWG's hunt coincided with Gunn's offloading its premium vineyards at Tamar Ridge Estates and its brands: Tamar Ridge, Pirie, Devil’s Corner.

Katherine Brown, Local Area Marketing Manager told Drinks Trade, “Ross, who was Managing Director then, made it very clear to the Board that we needed to look outside Victoria following the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 which affected the whole state.

“We went to Tasmania looking for clear land to grow grapes for Pinot Noir and Sparkling Wine production. It was absolutely by luck that Gunn’s was offloading their world class vineyards at Tamar Ridge. They had invested heavily in the vines, employing world class viticulturists and paying top dollar.”

Brown Brothers bought out all of Gunns' Tasmanian wine interests for $32.5 million in August 2010.

BFWG completed the redevelopment of their Devil’s Corner cellar door on the East coast of Tasmania as 2021 closed out and in recent years have undertaken great steps in reducing water and energy usage and waste across the company. The company is registered with Sustainable Winemaking Australia.

“Tasmania and quality are intrinsically linked" says Senior Winemaker, Tom Wallace (pictured above). “Our cool climate retains fantastic acidity which is the backbone of world class sparkling and has seen Tasmania recognised by many as one the great regions of the world for sparkling, but it is also the core ingredient in great pinot noir and chardonnay.”

Brown Family Wine Group was named Pinot Producer of the Year at the Tasmanian Wine Show and, as mentioned, the Pirie Vintage 2018 won Double Gold at the Global Fine Wine Challenge.

“I have seen the consistency and quality of pinot noir and chardonnay reaching new heights in the last few years across Tasmania and will soon deservedly reach the heights of our sparkling wines,” Wallace says.

Making wine in Tasmania is at the mercy of nature, Brown Family Wine Group winemakers have learnt never to fight against the elements, but rather knowing when to lean into them to create wine unlike anywhere else.

This year's vintage saw considerable rain in both the Tamar Valley and on the East Coast of Tasmania creating new challenges for the 2023 vintage and seeing costs rise in the vineyard, winery and logistics.

“We are facing significant cost pressures in all areas of the business and with demand currently greater than supply it's inevitable that this will have some impact on our per bottle price. We are absolutely committed to Tasmania and making sure it has a bright future and continues to be the jewel in our crown and a highly sought after and sustainable part of our company,” says Carroll.