Owned by Gordon and Anna Ryan (hence the name), Ryanna is on the Tasman Highway at Waverley - just a 10-minute drive out of town - and specialises in pinot noir, chardonnay and gewurztraminer grown in a non- interventionist way with minimal use of chemicals.

There are just under two hectares of under vines on the 450-hectare working farm, with a total of around 4000 vines planted on a north-south slope in 2005. All are tended by hand and tastings are available on-site from 9am- 6pm Thursday-Sunday, although bookings are advised

The couple follows ecologically responsible vineyard practices - and all the grapes are hand- picked, while excess foliage is also plucked manually. The vineyards are treated with natural fertilisers..

Organic sprays are used when possible and contract winemaker Guy Wagner from Bass Fine Wine is under instruction to avoid the use of chemicals whenever possible. "The grapes are in his de- stemmer within an hour of picking, ensuring optimum conditions for fermentation," says Anna.

Gordon and Anna are also enthusiastic users of social media to spread their message, using Twitter and Facebook as well as having a blog - and they have wines from 2010 and 2011 for sale.

The property also boasts farm stay accommodation in the Glenayr Apartments. Visit www.ryanna.glenayr.com.au.

Opportunity to invest

WINE lovers who are keen readers of the real estate pages will have noticed that Iron Pot Bay, one of the Tamar's iconic vineyards, is on the market.

Founder Rod Cuthbert is now 81 and while still out on the tractor regularly, he is keen to hand over the reins to new blood.

"It's business as usual for now," says Mr Cuthbert, who established the now 5.25 hectares of vines at Rowella in 1988. The sale includes machinery and wine stock and inquiries should be directed to LandmarkHarcourts.

In the meantime, Iron Pot Bay has just released some terrific new wines, vinified by Jeremy Dineen at Josef Chromy, including the 2011 The Miller's Blend (see review) and a 2010 pinot noir and 2012 semillon, all available from the Iron Pot Bay tasting facility overlooking the Tamar at Devoit.

A drop to rev up with

Following hot on the heels of AC/ DC, veteran heavy rock band Motorhead has released its own wine - and it's now available in Australia.

While wine would not be the first beverage you would associate with the British headbangers, Motorhead has teamed up with Distorted Beverages to release the Motorhead 2009 Shiraz, which is made from fruit grown in Mount Benson in South Australia.

First launched in Sweden and then throughout Europe, it is not an over-the-top, in-your-face blockbuster, but rather a big, rich sweet red with plenty of plummy characters but quite soft and only 13.5 per cent alcohol. It retails for around $20 a bottle.