Once-a-year opportunity to visit some of Tasmania's tiniest wine producers

Many of Tasmania's wine producers are tiny. Some sell all they make within a few months, and many do not have a cellar door to offer tastings.

For one weekend each year - the Southern Open Vineyards weekend - these producers offer special pop-up experiences to enable wine lovers to get up close and personal with their vines and wines.

Some bigger producers pull out vintages from their cellars for tastings, or offer special deals for the three days of the event.

This year's Southern Open Vineyards event runs from March 3-5 - that's this weekend.

The wineries involved stretch right across the Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley and Huon Valley/Channel.

You can head over to the Southern Open Vineyards website to check out the 40 producers aiming to make this a special one, including Paul and Gilli Lispcombe from Sailor Seeks Horse (pictured top), who will be offering tastings in their vineyard.

If tastings are your thing, you can head to Derwent Estate for a rare opportunity to look at seven  vintages of their award-winning chardonnay.

Viridian Wines, meanwhile, will be opening back vintages of their chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir, offering the chance to taste wines from 2008-2020.

At Kate Hill Wines in the Huon Valley (below), there is the opportunity to taste - and buy - some of the final remaining cases of the 2014 Aged Riesling, along with a 10% discount for anyone buying a mixed dozen wines or more, and taking them with them on the day. 

 
At Roslyn 1823 in the Coal River Valley, they are celebrating the 200th anniversary of their farm with wines matched to French-inspired cuisine.

Laurel Bank in the Derwent Valley only opens once a year - and owner Kerry Carland will be doubling up with his daughter Greer's Quiet Mutiny wines for tastings. 

Invercarron is opening up its gates to the public for the very first time with chef Sabina Newton serving country-style food featuring Invercarron lamb, raised on the property. 

Other wine producers many wine lovers will never have visited include Trial Bay Estate, Altaness, Resolution Vineyard and Cross Rivulet, while tiny high-quality sparkling producer Henskens Rankin will be doing a pop up at Mewstone Vineyard. 

For full details of times and what is one offer see https://www.openvineyards.wine/