Australia in pictures: Tasmania

The next leg of our jam-packed Aussie wine adventure took us to Tasmania, which is fast becoming a region to watch for top notch traditional method fizz.

Leading the charge is sparkling wine pioneer Ed Carr of House of Arras, who was early to spot Australia’s potential to make wines that could rival Champagne in quality if sourced from the right spots and left to age on their lees for long enough. Many have since followed, but Ed remains at the forefront of quality sparkling production.

We were treated to a tasting of his wines, which ended with the sublime EJ Carr Late disgorged 2002, which spends a decade on its lees. Elegant and rich, the wine was pretty and poised with notes of freshly baked bread, brioche, biscuit and citrus with a long honeycomb and toffee finish.

The lovely Camilla Coste of Wine Australia takes in the view during a boat trip through Cataract Gorge in Launceston.

Our trusty guide was captain Chris Carney, who regaled us during the journey with tales of tyrannical tribesmen in Papua New Guinea.

Wine writers Richard Hemming MW and Julie Sheppard lap up the sunshine

During the boat trip was passed this disused trawler, now home to a flock of seagulls.

We could almost have been in Holland…

Brave mountain climbers contemplate their ascent

Tasmania is a land of stunning rugged beauty

Van Gogh would have appreciated this view

yellow on blue

During the drive through the heart of Tasmania from Launceston to Hobart, the views from the window of our minibus reminded me of home.

Before heading out to dinner in Hobart, we visited to a local wildlife sanctuary full of the most laid-back kangaroos you could hope to meet.

… the koalas were even more chilled out

Tribal art at MONA, energetic entrepreneur and gambling whizz Dave Walsh’s impressive modern art gallery that has done much to transform Hobart into an international tourist destination. In addition to the gallery, Walsh owns Moorilla Estate in Berriedale, which produces Pinot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, many of which boast erotic labels.

Moorilla Estate’s chief winemaker Conor van der Reest gamely posed for a portrait at Domaine A, having just stepped off a long-haul flight.