Northern producers gear up for Taste of Tasmania festival

Josef Chromy Wine Club and marketing manager Amy Russell said the Relbia vineyard was expecting a big year at the event.

"I expect the most popular choices, given the weather, will be sparkling wines," Ms Russell said.

"Certainly we've got our cuvée and our sparking rosé we've brought extra stock down for because we think it will move very fast.

"We've got a lovely new label for our non-vintage cuvée so we are here to introduce that to the public and certainly make a show of it come New Year's Eve."

Related: Top picks for the Taste of Tasmania

Ms Russell said the festival was a good opportunity for the vineyard to bring it's cellar door South for a couple of days.

"What we are seeing is we have follow-up visitation from the Taste, with people coming into the cellar door in the North ... after they have seen us at the festival," she said.

For Cradle Coast vineyard Ghost Rock, the event is an opportunity to gain exposure for their business and brand.

"Hobart is also really important market for us as a Tasmanian winery so it's really good to get down here at this time of the year and talk to our customers down here," said winemaker Justin Arnold.

"It's a great time to be in Hobart. The place is abuzz."

Now attending the event for the sixth time, Mr Arnold said he was hoping for another big year.

"There is quite a good representation from the North-West this year," he said.

"I think that's quite important as a produce region, for food, wine or otherwise - it's really good for North-West producers to be down here showing how good their produce is.

"We are the produce heart of island so I'm always encouraged to see North-West producers."

Mr Arnold said Ghost Rock's pinot gris and rosé were "spot on" this year and he expected them lead the charge in terms of sales.

"Pinot noir is also strong with tourists. If they are into their wine they come to Tasmania quite specifically for pinot noir so that always does well," he said.

For more information visit www.thetasteoftasmania.com.au.