Description

Stargazer pays tribute to Abel Tasman, who as an explorer and navigator, must have spent a fair amount of time gazing towards the heavens. Tasman, a Dutchman under the employ of the United East India Company was the first European to sight Tasmania (on 24 November 1642) and then the South Island of New Zealand, nineteen days later on 13 December.

Winemaker and Stargazer owner, Samantha Connew spent ten years as the Senior Winemaker at McLaren Vale’s Wirra Wirra Vineyards before purchasing an 11-hectare property in the Tea Tree sub-region at the northern end of the Coal River Valley.

Palisander Vineyard (as she has named it) is located on brown dermosol soil over Jurassic dolerite, the igneous rock which gives over half of Tasmania its distinctive geological formations.  The soil is particularly high in calcium which is a positive indicator for quality grapes, being associated with thicker skins and slower ripening.