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Celebrating Tassie wine in 2026!

At last night’s 2026 Tassie Wine Stars event, the significant recognition and many achievements of the Tasmanian wine community were highlighted.

Joe Chromy AO was inducted as a new Wine Tasmania Life Member, in recognition of his significant and long-term contribution to the Tasmanian wine sector. Joe’s incredible life story is well known and celebrated in the Tasmanian wine community, including his development of Rochecombe, Heemskerk, Jansz, Tamar Ridge and Josef Chromy Wines.

Terry Bennett of Home Hill Wines was announced as the 2026 Wine Tasmania Legend, for his significant and continuing contribution to Tasmanian wine, particularly pinot noir viticulture and as reflected in Home Hill being one of the island’s most awarded wine producers.

A wide range of achievements during the year were celebrated, including wine show trophies to Dalrymple Vineyards, Pooley Wines, Bream Creek Vineyard, Josef Chromy Wines, Decades, Freycinet Vineyard and House of Arras, with the latter’s winemaker, Ed Carr, being named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the 2026 International Wine Challenge for the second time, and the only non-European to receive this award.

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies reflected on a significant year for Tasmanian wine and its talented wine producers.

“It’s been another brilliant year for Tasmania’s wine community, reflected in numerous awards and achievements. We’ve also seen continued strong global recognition of Tassie’s wines, including sold-out wine trade events in Singapore, Seoul, Sydney and Melbourne during the year”, she said.

“The Tassie Wine Stars event celebrates both recent successes and the substantial contribution of the many people who have positively impacted our wine sector. We’re delighted to induct Joe Chromy AO as a new Wine Tasmania Life Member and to award Terry Bennett the Wine Tasmania Legend Award in 2026.”

The 2026 Tasmanian Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Report was also released, and the 2026 sustainability awards announced at the Tassie Wine Stars event.

Pooley Wines in the Coal River Valley was announced as the 2026 VinØ (‘vin zero’) Program Champion and Westella Vineyard in the Tamar Valley was awarded the 2026 VinØ Program’s Most Improved Producer. The VinØ Program was initiated in 2015, providing a tailored best practice management program to help the island’s growers and makers measure, improve and report on their sustainability.

Wine Tasmania’s 20th Annual General Meeting was held earlier in the day, with two new Directors appointed - Fran Austin (Delamere Vineyards) and Kathryn Bevan (Handpicked Wines), with Tim Lyne (Spring Vale Wines) reappointed for another term. Retiring Directors Nick Haddow (Haddow & Dineen Wines) and Alicia Peardon (Ghost Rock Wines), who served eight and three years respectively, were thanked for their Board service.

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