Our whisky is world’s best again

A Tasmanian whisky has been named best in the world again – even beating the Scots at their own game.

11 April 2018

Brewers descend on Bushy Park

The world’s boutique brewers descended on the small village of Bushy Park for the annual hop harvest as the thirst for craft beer continues to explode.

11 April 2018

Historic harvest at Government House

Tasmania’s grape harvest is in full swing, and this year the state’s thriving wine industry has a new player on the block – Government House. In a historic event, the first grapes grown in the stately gardens of Hobart’s Government House have been plucked off the vines. The grapes were planted with much fanfare three years ago: a total of 1500 merlot, riesling and cabernet vines added to the rolling lawns. Head gardener at Government House, Ben Essex, told ABC Rural he is excited about overseeing the historic harvest: “I have only been here just over a month and I can’t believe the first big job is to make sure the grape harvest goes smoothly.” He added the wines would be made off-site pointing to the bumper crop: “We are expecting to pick around five bins of riesling grapes today which then will be processed by Winemaking Tasmania at Cambridge.” While the finished product is still a few years in the making, Governor Kate Warner has already planned to serve her own wine with pride to the thousands of people who visit Government House each year. Although what will be on the label is still a matter of conjecture.

Image courtesy of ABC News

Here's a sneak peak as Brand Tasmania tests the early reaction to Tasmania's 2018 vintage at three southern Tasmania vineyards:

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11 April 2018

State battles fruit fly threat

Tasmania’s biosecurity status, described as globally unique, faced its gravest challenge in decades after an incursion by Queensland fruit fly.

8 March 2018

Ashgrove to build dairy Mecca

Ashgrove Cheese plans to create a major food-tourism drawcard at Elizabeth Town after securing a Regional Jobs and Investment Packages grant from Canberra.

8 March 2018

Lawrenny infuses spirits with place

The Mace family at Ouse has given new scale to the concept of using colonial built heritage to market Tasmanian single-malt whisky.

8 February 2018

Sparklers reach 'champagne level'

When sparkling wine expert Tyson Stelzer lined up Tasmanian offerings with champagne at an Effervescence dinner in November, he had an heroic tale to tell.

5 December 2017

Food story has been a Tassie epic

Brand Tasmania's long-serving Food and Wine Writer, Graeme Phillips, taps out his final story for our newsletter: serving up a 37-year Tasmanian gastronomic saga.

5 December 2017

'Tazzy' pies a hit in Bonn

When Australian visitors to Bonn, Germany, feel a craving for a hot meat pie, help is at hand: Tasmanian Gareth Patterson's Tazzy Food Truck is doing a roaring trade in meat pies and other treats from Down Under. "We offer the best out of Australia," Mr Patterson, formerly of Hobart, said. "Try our handmade gourmet pies and be delighted. Fresh baked, delicious and hot ... smash one down! Fair Dinkum good!" Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer, took up the invitation in November. “It was uplifting and energising to enjoy great Tazzy Food on the left bank of the Rhine in Bonn,” Mr Fischer said. The van is one of several offering locals and visitors lunch, dinner, drinks and coffee options on the former West German capital's busy Kennedyallee. There was a queue at the Tazzy Food Truck at the time of Mr Fischer's visit. “As a former Trade Minister, I was delighted to indulge and to spread the word about Tasmania and Australia — something I have been doing since 1996 when I had to eat a Tasmanian oyster in Tokyo at 6am at a key fish market.” Mr Fischer was in Bonn in his new role as Chairman of Crop Trust, an international organisation dedicated to safeguarding the world's crop biodiversity.

Image courtesy of Weekly Times Now

5 December 2017

Agrarian Eatery tops nation

The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery and Store at New Norfolk is Australia’s Regional Restaurant of the Year.

5 November 2017