Nestled in the glorious hills of Gravelly Beach, just down Hendersons Lane, sits Stoney Rise Wine Company's striking yet understated new cellar door.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The cellar door is new to the vista but finds a way to establish itself among the vines without too much fanfare.
'We wanted to give people a better experience. We've lived here for 16 years with this view ... Why not share it?" owner of Stoney Rise Lou Holyman said.
The cellar door sits halfway up a hill and comprises of an inviting main room and internal court-yard with impressive views of the vines, Rose Bay and the Tamar river.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"We wanted to build something where people either can come for a drink and be here for 15 minutes or they can just hang out all day and just relax.
"There's no need to move on. You can sit and just enjoy this space," Lou said.
Lou and her husband Joe Holyman owned the vineyard for 16 years and Joe's affiliation with Tasmanian winemaking dates back to 1984.
While wines have been pouring out of the pair's labels - Stoney Rise, Holyman and No Clothes - for all that time, Joe said there are people in Gravelly Beach who do not know they are there, let alone Launceston.
"We wanted it to be friendly for locals who wanted to come once a month. They might come and do a tasting but next time they come back they might want to have a glass of wine or a bottle of wine and some food," he said.
And Joe said they wanted to make a cellar door that was worth the trip.
"We want it to be a different experience. You want it to be worth driving out of town," he said.
Sharing the idyllic lifestyle and setting that Lou and Joe live every day was something they wanted to be able to do, and the cellar door is almost an extension into their lives.
Lou and Joe said the wine list is a sample of what they drink at night in front of the fire - whether their own or not - and the ample food menu provides revellers with sustenance similar to what might find itself upon the Holyman family table.
The Holyman's exude assurity and knowledge in everything they do, and they take great pride in their work.
"You do everything for a reason," Joe said.
"If you need to do something, you do it. If you don't ... you don't," Lou said.
The Stoney Rise cellar door is home to one of the older vines in Launceston and is open from 10am to 5pm Friday to Monday.
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor:
