New owners look to the future for Tamar vineyard
BY JULIAN BURGESS


FIONA Weller and Julian Allport are excited by the potential of their newly acquired Tamar Valley vineyard and the future of the Tasmanian wine industry.

The couple took over the 5ha Moores Hill winery at Sidmouth two weeks ago after moving from South Australia.

Mr Allport, a graduate winemaker, was with the Boars Rock vineyard in McLaren Vale and Ms Weller worked in Adelaide in corporate marketing.

Frequent visits to Tasmania, including their honeymoon and Mr Allport's recent four months stint at the Bay of Fires vineyard at Pipers River, whetted their appetite for the Tasmanian wine industry.

"Fiona and I were looking around for a going concern somewhere," Mr Allport said.

"We looked in South Australia and the like and this came up."

Moores Hill was established by Rod and Karen Thorpe about a decade ago.

"And it came with such a good reputation and Rod and Karen had made this fantastic place.

"We just jumped at the opportunity. You could look around the mainland forever and not find anything like it."

The vineyard produces about 40 tonnes of fruit a year and makes 2000 cases of riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet merlot.

"We'll keep upping the quality because it's been going up as the vines age. The 2008 vintage, which is being made, is the best they've had," Mr Allport said.

There is room to expand the vineyard, plant some experimental varieties and work on Mr Allport's special interest of sparkling wines.

Ms Weller believes there is an opportunity to increase the cellar door business and expand sales on the mainland.