We established our family vineyard in 1995 on half a hectare on the Tinderbox Peninsula, about 20 km south of Hobart on the western shore of the River Derwent.
Six hundred vines, about half each of
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir rootlings from Elsewhere Vineyard in the Huon Valley, were planted in deep, black dolerite soil. The hillside faces north, is sheltered from most winds, and receives only occasional light frosts and snow. The modified Lyre trellising in double rows allow maximum sun penetration into the vines. The average rainfall of 562 mm per year is supplemented when necessary with drip irrigation from dam water.The name '
Bellendena' comes from the scientific name of an endemic Tasmanian plant, the Mountain Rocket, Bellendena montana, from the Proteaceae plant family. The label depicts the spiral spike of red seed capsules of the plant as they appear looking down onto the plant. In the background is the view from the vineyard across the River Derwent and Storm Bay to the Tasman peninsular and the Iron Pot lighthouse at the mouth of the River Derwent.
Bellendena wine label
featuring the seed capsules of the native Tasmanian plant, Bellendena montana
