TASTING TRAIL TASMANIA

Welcome to the tasting trail

The list of treats on the gourmet Tasting Trail reads like a luxe, well-stocked minibar.

This flavoursome expedition includes moreish morsels like truffles, gelati and hazelnuts; olives, wine and whisky; honey, oysters and craft beer; salmon, cider and berries; and pickled onions, kimchi and chocolate.

Stretching across north west Tasmania from Launceston to Smithton, Tasting Trail Tasmania is dotted with almost 50 stops at artisanal producers. This unique region, though relatively small, packs in a whole lot of variety.

This is no ordinary road trip. Tasmania’s north west has some of the most fertile and productive soil in Australia. Volcanic in origin, it’s so red in places it almost glows with richness.

On average, there’s a stop at a producer about every six kilometres along the trail, and the scenery is as delicious as the produce. Bass Strait frames one side of the journey, with the mountains of the Great Western Tiers along the other.

Producers are typically located off the highway, giving travellers a reason to immerse themselves in the hidden gems and the backroads and rural scenes that sustain the journey.

Most of the producers on this trail are small businesses, so the hands that picked the produce are often the hands that serve it. It’s a chance to taste, chat and learn about the climate, conditions and people who craft the flavours of Tasmania.

Here’s a sampler of the Tasting Trail.

The Truffledore

Hunt for earthy French black winter truffles alongside adorable truffle dogs, explore the idyllic farm and taste the richness of this rare delicacy at the Truffledore.

Arrive at this boutique truffle farm in the sweeping farming land of Lower Barrington. Meet the charismatic truffle-hunting dogs and friendly farm owners Ina Ansmann and Timothy Noonan.

Neat rows of black truffle trees line this farm, which features traditional self-contained cottage accommodation, vast green pastures, curious animals and the dramatic backdrop of rugged Mount Roland.

Choose from a range of immersive tours and experiences. The Farm Tour offers a stroll through the property and the chance to feed the animals. Encounter exotic chickens and the sweet Jersey cows Bobby, Buttercup and Berta. Or book in to Meet the Truffle Dogs and learn how these clever pooches sniff out truffles. The Farm to Table Cooking workshop gets you into the kitchen garden and offers a three-course feast. These experiences are each available on select days from November to April.

Plenty more fun awaits in winter – also known as truffle season. Take a tour with the dogs and their owners as they work together to scavenge for the dark fungus. An earthy scent sweeps over you as each fresh truffle is unearthed.

The Truffle Hunt and Harvest Lunch tour is the ultimate winter experience. Hunt for truffles and enjoy a four-course lunch by the fire in the cosy farmhouse restaurant – a light-filled space featuring warm timber and muted green tones, cosy couches and an open kitchen. Fill up on delicious helpings: think roasted vegetables and tender meats with truffle purée, or creamy truffled crème brûlée.

Book ahead and pop in for a tour, a tasting or to purchase some unique products at the Truffledore from 10am to 4pm, Friday to Sunday.

Spreyton Cider Co.

Stop in at Spreyton Cider Co. for a pure taste of the Apple Isle’s fresh, fruity drinks. This is as Tasmanian as it gets.

Grab some sunshine and cider at this idyllic spot in Spreyton.

Step into a warehouse-style building with timber floors and a relaxed atmosphere. Local artists often perform here, crooning and strumming their guitars as tables fill with happy cider lovers. To gain a real sense of the tree-to-bottle experience here, sit outside in the company of apple trees, with their juicy red and green fruit glinting in the sun.

Sip a chilled European-style drink on a balmy day, or seek out a mulled cider to warm the soul in the depths of winter. Meet the makers of these Australian Cider Award-winning brews and learn about the fruit’s journey from orchard to bottle. Grab a tasting paddle to try a variety of flavours: the tart, but sweet Sour Cherry Cider incorporates fruit grown in nearby Kentish; the Pear Cider is crisp, subtle and perfect for summer; and the Apple Cider captures the classic sweet taste of Tasmania’s world-famous apples. Don’t forget to try some of the limited-edition seasonal drinks, hard ginger beer, naturally-brewed soft drinks and healthy vinegars. Grab a tasty meal from the food van and dine to the sound of live music and children laughing and playing in the on-site playground.

Spreyton Cider Co has a rich history dating back to the mid-1800s. The owners of the land began apple growing in 1908 – a tradition still going strong five generations later.

Kick back with some crisp drinks from the bar, then grab some cans to take with you on the next leg of your Tasting Trail journey.

La Villa Wines

Step into splendour at La Villa Wines, offering a touch of Italy at a vineyard in Spreyton.

The vines here are gated by a regal, ornate entrance with high stone walls. What lies beyond is a luxurious scene seemingly straight out of Europe. Head along the dusty gravel driveway past manicured vines and palm trees to arrive at the cellar door: an impressive stone building with grand archways. Inside, the space features elegant Renaissance-style carvings and paintings.

This grand estate is the handiwork of Gail and Marcus Burns, who have drawn on their experience learning about grape-picking and vinos in Italy, to create unique wines fusing Italian techniques with Tasmanian cool-climate grapes.

This seven-hectare estate is a relaxing setting for wine tastings, savouring wines by the glass and purchasing bottles to take with you. Grapes kissed by the warm sun and ripened by the cool nights are hand-pruned and picked on-site. Sip pinot noir, pinot grigio, sparkling pink lady cider, and non-vintage Nebbiolo sparkling rosé: a zesty drop with notes of strawberry, made in the traditional method. Take your time learning about the dedicated process behind each unique drink here in this relaxed and exotic space – you can’t rush the process when acquainting yourself with fine Tasmanian wines.

La Villa is open 11am to 4pm some weekends, with updates on opening dates added regularly to the venue’s social media pages.

Accessibility

Tasting Trail Tasmania offers a far more extensive range of venues to visit than those described here, so head to tastingtrail.com.au for a detailed list, a range of itineraries and an interactive operator map. Dog guides are welcome at venues. Call ahead for additional assistance.

La Villa Wines is located a mere 15-minute drive from the Spirit of Tasmania Terminal and 20 minutes from Devonport Airport. If you're keen to visit the three sites we’ve highlighted, the drive between La Villa Wines south-west via Spreyton Cider Co to the Truffledore in Lower Barrington takes 12 minutes. The entire Tasting Trail, however, covers a far more extensive region stretching for roughly 200 kilometres from just outside Launceston in northern Tasmania to Smithton in the north-west corner of the state.

Travelling by car is a great way to hop between Tasting Trail destinations. Alternatively, sit back, relax and be guided through the north west by local transport companies like Coastline Tours Tasmania and Unearthed Tours. Coastline Tours is based in Burnie and offers tour pick-up and drop-off in Wynyard, Burnie and surrounding accommodation within a 5 kilometre radius by arrangement. Unearthed Tours is based in Devonport and offers tour collections by prior arrangement from accommodation between Launceston and Burnie. For public transport, north west region bus timetables are available via transport.tas.gov.au.

There are plenty of diverse accommodation options in north west Tasmania, including two self-contained cottages offering traditional farm stay bed and breakfast at The Truffledore.