Wineries north of Swansea

A trio of wineries awaits you north of Swansea in the vicinity of Cranbrook.

Craigie Knowe is the oldest vineyard on the East Coast that offers a unique wine and chocolate menu in addition to the more traditional wine and cheese pairing.

Gala Estate, acclaimed for their fruit-driven wines, offer tastings at their Halliday 5 Star Winery. Booking ahead is recommended.

Spring Vale is another family-owned winery and vineyard, welcoming visitors to enjoy cellar door tastings in their original, convict-built stable from the 1840s. As well as wine tastings, Spring Vale offers tastings and sales of Splendid Gin, a unique Tasmanian spirit made with pure spring water from the Spring Vale Estate.

A short drive further north at Apslawn, the iconic Devil’s Corner boasts some of the prettiest views on the East Coast from its position above Moulting Lagoon. Enjoy the contemporary feel of their architecture-designed lookout, relax on the deck with a woodfired pizza from onsite restaurant Tombolo, or indulge in some fresh local oysters from Fishers of Freycinet. Oh, and the wine isn’t bad either…

Mere moments from Devil’s Corner, on the opposite side of the Tasman Highway, is the Freycinet Vineyard Cellar Door. They’re open daily for tastings, and in addition to the excellent wine selection you can pick up a bottle of their olive oil, also grown and produced onsite.

If you’re only staying a night or two in Swansea and don’t have time to visit as many individual vineyards as you’d like, our top tip would be to visit the Farm Shed East Coast Wine Centre at Bicheno instead.

The knowledgeable owners have up to a dozen East Coast wines available for tasting at any time, including a few from wine producers who don’t have their own cellar door. It’s an ideal way to see what’s on offer and choose one or two special bottles to bring home.