SAMANTHA Connew, renowned for her winemaking skills in the Hunter and McLaren Vale and as the first female Sydney Wine Show chair of judges, has now won major awards for vineyard management.
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Her three-hectare Stargazer vineyard in the Tea Tree area of Coal River has been judged the 2019 Tasmania Vineyard of the Year and the Up and Coming Vineyard of the Year. The annual Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania competition aims to promote viticultural excellence and judging involves everything from soil management and pruning to canopy and spray programs.
A New Zealand bachelor of law and arts and winemaking degree holder, Sam made wine in Spain, Italy and the US and, during a 10-year term at McLaren Vale's Wirra Wirra, was 2007 London International Wine Challenge red winemaker of the year.
She came to the Hunter in 2010 to make Tower Estate wines and then spent two years as Australian Wine Research Institute Hunter Node manager and in 2015, 2016 and 2017 she was Sydney Wine Show chair of judges.
Her passion for Tasmanian wine began in 2012 when she made the inaugural Stargazer release from pinot noir grapes from Sharon and Michael Vishacki's Huon Valley Panorama vineyard. In early 2016 Sam committed herself to Tassie by buying the 11-hectare Palisandser property with its one-hectare vineyard, 20 minutes away from her new abode in Hobart. With her chocolate Labrador, Murphy Brown, tagging along, Sam has slaved away in her vineyard, planting new vines, tending existing ones and taking on pruning, trellising, disease control and soil, irrigation and canopy management.
"I have worked my butt off in the past three years. It's been a long slog, but I love it," Sam says, "and, it's been more rewarding and fulfilling than I ever thought it would be."
A self-styled "one-woman band", Sam has expanded her plantings of riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir to three hectares and next year plans to add a hectare of pinot gris and gewrztraminer vines.
I spoke to Sam recently as she was pruning her vines after completing her 2019 vintage. She was pleased with the harvest quality and quantity and, after making her wines at Moorilla winery, has processed her 2019 fruit at Panorama winery.
Last year Stargazer produced 1800 dozen bottles of riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir varietals and the Rada pinot meuniere and pinot noir and Tupelo pinot gris, gewrztraminer and riesling blends that have won critical praise. Available at stargazerwine.com.au
WINE REVIEWS
SCINTILLATING PINOT
THIS scintillating Stargazer 2017 Tasmania Pinot Noir has 13.5% alcohol, bright ruby hues and scents of berry pastille and violets. The front palate introduces vibrant raspberry flavour, the middle palate shows cherry, pomegranate, spice and restrained vanillin oak and the finish spearminty tannins. At stargazerwine.com.au.
PRICE: $55.
DRINK WITH: cherry-glazed roast duck.
AGEING: 12 years.
RATING: 5.5 stars
TUPELO TRIPLE BLEND
A BLEND of pinot gris, gewrztraminer and riesling, this Stargazer 2018 Tasmania Tupelo is named for the prized honey coming from Tupelo black gum blossom. It is light gold and grassy-scented and the front-palate shows zingy kiwifruit flavour.The middle palate has lychee, pear and mineral characters and slatey acid refreshes at the finish.
PRICE: $32.
DRINK WITH: paella.
AGEING: six years.
RATING: 4.5 stars
TASSIE WHITE DELIGHT
FROM Accolade group's Tasmanian arm, this delightful Bay of Fires 2018 Riesling is green-tinted straw and has scents of orange blossom and musk. The front palate displays lifted ruby grapefruit flavour, the middle palate has lime zest, mineral and honey characters and flinty acid shows at the finish It's at bayoffires.com.au and bottle shops.
PRICE: $39.
DRINK WITH: tapas.
AGEING: 10 years.
RATING: 4.5 stars
