Ferrying a boatload of visitors around Freycinet Peninsula, Sunday’s Wine in Wineglass was one of two feature events at the second annual Great Eastern Wine Weekend, which saw nine East Coast vineyards offer special events and discounts across the weekend.

Freycinet Lodge general manager Fiona Gordon said the cruise, which featured in the program for the first time, would definitely return for next year’s instalment.

“We had Tim Goddard there going through seven different wines from the East Coast and so we did a tasting of those, interspersed with looking at seals on the bay and white-bellied sea eagles and the incredible scenery of Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay so it was sensational,” Ms Gordon said. 

The cruise was preceded by a six-course degustation dinner at Freycinet Lodge on Saturday, which attracted 60 diners - nearly twice the turnout from the previous year. 

“The food and wine was so well matched, everyone was saying how lovely they both went together.”

Wine Tasmania chief executive Sheralee Davies said events such as the wine weekend would only strengthen the state’s wine tourism industry. 

“One of the key things that we want to do is to encourage more and more people to visit Tasmania and our cellar doors,” Ms Davies said. 

“When we've got events like the Great Eastern Wine Weekend, that gives us a really strong catalyst for encouraging people to visit Tasmania and plan their trip around an event like this.”

Ms Davies said the East Coast was fast making a name for itself as a wine hotspot, with nearly 20 vineyards in operation across the region.

“The East Coast is certainly one of the fastest growing areas in the wine sector statewide, so more and more attention is being given to producers on the East Coast that's for sure.

“It's a great opportunity for us to highlight the spectacular part of Tasmania that the East Coast represents as well as to give wine producers on the East Coast some recognition for the outstanding wines they're crafting.”