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N O R T HER N TA S M A NI A
TA M A R VA L L E Y WI N E R O U T E [ ABOUT 170 KILOMETRES LONG ]
The Tamar Valley has plenty to tempt the palate for food and wine lovers, as Jo McKay finds out during a two-day escape in the region.
YOU HAD ME AT MERLOT > It’s a crisp Saturday morning in Tassie. While it’s around the time I’m usually ordering my second flat white, someone is refilling my wine glass instead. Between you and me, it’s already been re-filled four times. This is less shocking than it seems: I’m at the beginning of a wine-tasting weekend in the Tamar Valley and, trust me, the refilling has been in respectably small measures. This pocket of northern Tasmania is home to some of Australia’s best wine. The cool climate delivers modern chardonnay, elegant pinot gris, snappy riesling, arguably Australia’s best sparkling, and for red-lovers, earthy pinot noir. But for me, what makes this 50-kilometre route such a sensational proposition is its proximity to Launceston. Less than half an hour ago, I was in the heart of town, finishing a tasty bacon butty (complete with HP sauce and havarti) from Bryher Cafe (bryherfood. com). It took less than 15 minutes to get to the
