Canadian winemaker applies his trade in Tasmania: Moorilla

Tasmania’s oldest commercial wine producer, Moorilla, sits next to the Derwent River about 20 minutes north of Hobart. The winery started up in 1958, and now boasts the talents of Canadian winemaker Conor van der Reest. Moorilla’s premium Muse Series labels are hard to forget – each bottle features nude forms posed to evoke Greek imagery.

Conor’s pursuits in winemaking started in the Niagara region of Canada, then picked up momentum in several other countries before hitting the Australian scene. Tasmania drew the winemaker’s attention due to the region’s high quality fruit, and a cool climate that Conor compares to Northern France, Ontario and parts of British Columbia, Oregon and Washington. He speaks well of Moorilla owner David Walsh, who Conor describes as having great vision for the company, and offers the freedom to create wines toward that vision.

Hard pressed to pick a favourite, Moorilla’s winemaker finds his best challenge in traditional method sparkling wine, pinot noir and gewurztraminer. He describes Moorilla’s pinot as, “a balance of fruit aromas with floral, earthy, forest floor and oak derived aromas. It’s a wine made from blending and is based on balance and subtlety.”

As for the winery itself, Moorilla is awesomely picturesque. One step into the main visitor building shows this place is seriously into art and design. Guests ascend a flight of stairs amidst contemporary art, and can head into The Source restaurant or the cellar door tasting room.

It gets even better. A full microbrewery also operates on-site under the label Moo Brew, though Conor has no hand in this side of the business. Visitors to the cellar door tasting room can also choose to sample the beer.

For those whose interest is peaked by Moorilla you may need to do a bit of looking around. Right now, Australians and Americans can pick up the wines in their home countries. The rest of us will have to plan our trips to Tasmanian wine country.