Winemaker of the Year opens Stargazer Tasting Room in Tasmania

Experience a taste of Tassie terroir under the tutelage of acclaimed winemaker Samantha Connew.

It’s not everyday you can sip small-batch wines while overlooking the undulating hills of Tassie’s Coal River Valley. Rarer still is the chance to do it from a glass-walled, intimate space set on the very site where those wines were made. Rarer again to experience it all under the guidance of Australia’s official Winemaker of the Year.

Acclaimed small-batch winery Stargazer Wines – owned and run by pioneering wine professional Samantha Connew – has opened a new tasting room in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley. Located just 30 minutes’ drive from Hobart, the winery is known for its experimental drops that showcase the remarkable diversity of Tasmania’s cool-climate viticulture.

The tasting room frames the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines at the Palisander vineyard, celebrating the landscapes that shape this distinctive Tasmanian terroir. Inside the refined shed-like construction, up to 12 guests at a time can enjoy a selection of current release wines during guided sessions that, for the foreseeable future, will be guided by Samantha Connew herself.

Winemaker of the Year 2025

stargazer wines — Stargazer Winery is known for showcasing the diversity of Tasmania’s viticulture. (Image: Adam Gibson)

In November, Connew was named the 2025 Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Winemaker of the Year for 2025 at the ASVO Awards for Excellence. The award, judged by industry peers including winemakers, viticulturists and scientists, recognises Connew’s outstanding contribution to the culture and innovation of Australian wines.

Connew was the youngest judge and first woman to serve as Chair of Judges at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and is the current Chair of Judges at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show. She tutors and sits on the Board of the Len Evans Tutorial, and has previously served on the board of Wine Tasmania and the advisory board of the Australian Women in Wine Awards.

The evolution of Stargazer Wines

stargazer wine vineyards — Stargazer Wines was founded in 2012. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The Palisander site itself started modestly in 2004 as a single hectare planted by Norm and Jan Gangell. Since taking stewardship of the site in 2012, Connew has expanded and re-imagined the vineyard, coaxing it to its current 11 hectares and broadening its palette of varietals. She was driven by a strong conviction that Tasmania’s Coal River Valley had the potential to produce world-class wines, owing to its unique soils and cool climate.

Alongside the estate’s hallmark Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, plantings now include Gamay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer, which reflects Connew’s interest in testing the limits of what Tassie’s soils can produce. Now, the winemaker is iniviting visitors into the belly of the beast.

The Stargazer Tasting Room

Dreamt up by Maguire + Devine Architects and realised by J & M Construction of Hobart, the Stargazer Tasting Room is simple yet striking – all macrocarpa timber, stone and glass. It was designed to emulate the atmosphere of a friend’s home or refined shed embraced by a rural landscape.

“From the outset, I wanted to create a space that reflects what Stargazer is all about: considered, thoughtful and grounded in this place," Connew says.

The room centres around a large communal table with 12 seats, each offering sweeping views of the surrounding vines thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that replace three of the four walls. A wood fire provides warmth at the head of the table and, overhead, a sculptural light reminiscent of the valley’s rolling contours hangs from a stunning timber panelled ceiling.

The Stargazer Tasting experience

Stargazer Tasting Room tasmania — Stargazer Tasting Room is just 30 minutes from Hobart. (Image: Adam Gibson)

At the table, visitors share a bespoke guided tasting experience with just a handful of other guests. The 90-minute tasting costs $35 per person, while Wine Club members enjoy complimentary access.

For the foreseeable future, the tutored session will be hosted personally by Connew, allowing guests to engage meaningfully with her winemaking philosophy and expertise. Expect a curated selection of current-release wines, with occasional surprises drawn from the cellar.

“The Palisander vineyard has grown alongside my winemaking journey, and this tasting room brings everything together. It’s a place where guests can see where their wine was grown, feel the story of the landscape and taste the results in the glass," she says.

Stargazer Tasting Room session — Take a tutored sessing with Stargazer Wines. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The small-group format, limited to 12 per session, encourages discovery in a quiet and tranquil atmosphere. At the end of their tasting journey, guests have access to a generous porch overlooking the beautiful valley to complete the experience.

“What began as a dream back in 2020 has finally become reality," Samantha Connew explains. “I can’t wait to share the beauty and character of the Coal River Valley with everyone who visits. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just beginning your journey, we hope you’ll enjoy discovering the wines and the place that inspired them."

The details

Experience: Stargazer Tasting Room

Location: 37 Rosewood Lane, Tea Tree, Tasmania

Booking times: 10:00am, 12:30pm or 3:00pm, Friday through Monday

Length: roughly 90 minutes

Price: $35 per person, complimentary for Wine Club members

Guests: Up to 12

Accessible: Yes, but recommended to notify venue in advance

Book: Stargazer Wines (by advance only)

Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .

Winemaker of the Year opens tasting room in Tassie’s Coal River Valley