Craigow

One of the first vineyards established in southern Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, which is building an international reputation for producing outstanding cool-climate wines.

Tasmania lies in the path of the Roaring Forties, the most westerly winds that circle the Earth’s high southern latitudes. They bring clean air and pure rainwater to the island’s mountains, forests, farmlands and vineyards. Growing conditions in this valley are ideal for the classic cool-climate varieties of Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay – all these premium varietal wines are bottled under the Craigow label. Craigow’s wines are grown and crafted to reflect the characteristic terroir of the Coal River Valley, where the growing conditions are similar to the cool-climate wine regions of France. #History When newly-arrived Scottish doctor James Murdoch was granted land along the Coal River in 1822, he named the property after his Kinross-Shire home, Craigow-by-Milnathort. James was an enthusiastic and innovative farmer?—?he planted fruit trees and barley, grazed cattle and sheep and even experimented with poppies, preparing medical opium from his crop. Later generations of the Murdoch clan developed Craigow into a thriving country estate?—?the largest apricot orchards in Tasmania once grew here. In 1989, Craigow’s owner Dr Barry Edwards and his family planted vines on the sunny slopes overlooking Coal River, harvesting their first vintage in 1993.