Our story

 

Dirk left Tasmania for England in September 1970 at the start of what turned out to be a thirty-year career as an academic lawyer. Sampling old vintages in the halls of Cambridge and the like led Dirk to consider the pleasures of an agricultural retirement and he returned in August 2000 to start as a winegrower on a tiny vineyard planted in 1991 at Flowerpot on the shores of D’Entrecasteaux Channel. This was part of the coastal region first explored in detail by Bruny D’Entrecasteaux , a century after the island was discovered by the Dutchman Abel Tasman. It was also that part of Tasmania where Dirk's parents settled on their arrival from The Netherlands in 1950, and where he spent his childhood in what was then a predominantly small fruit and apple-growing region. Reflecting upon his past, this represented a sort of “homecoming” or “le demeurer de la demeure” which while untranslatable from French is very suggestive and prompted the playful name for the vineyard and wines “ d’meure”.

It was during this time that Rory Duggan set down in Tasmania with little idea that grape growing would be his future also. University, studies and travel all preceded the urge to join his uncle in nurturing vines and guiding the wines through the seasons. After 15 years of reinvigorating the land and converting the practices to organic principles Dirk "re-retired" to the south coast of NSW whilst Rory stayed on and went to work for Stefano Lubiana.

Several years passed as Dirk enjoyed the fruits of his time in the vines, while Rory forged his own path — deepening his understanding of vineyard work and the rhythms of the seasons, all the while quietly dreaming of the day he might cultivate a site of his own. That opportunity came when Antipodes was in need of a caretaker, and Rory was ready to embark on his own journey into wine. Guided by many of the same principles as Dirk, and blending them with his own evolving philosophy, Rory’s wines showed complexity and character from the very first vintage.

Over long lunches and industry gatherings, Dirk and Rory came to admire each other’s wines — and to many, it felt inevitable that they would one day collaborate. In early 2020, that opportunity arrived when Dirk was offered the chance to buy back the vineyard at Fleurty’s Lane. And so began a partnership grounded in experience and tradition, infused with youth, curiosity, and a shared freedom to honour the craft — and the way of wine. The journey is only just beginning.

Our vineyard and winery are situated on the shores of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, overlooking Bruny island, and is approximately 40 kilometers south of Hobart. It is one of Australia's most southerly planted vineyards.

The vines were planted in 1991 on a gentle North/south-facing slope, with good protection from the prevailing westerly winds provided by the surrounding hills. The soils are brown and yellow duplex soils formed on basalt and Jurassic dolerite, consisting of sandy loam topsoil over a heavy clay subsoil. The vines benefit from good rainfall (approx 850mm annually), eliminating the need for irrigation. Its cool-climate location ensures gradual, balanced fruit ripening, while its proximity to the shoreline provides protection from frost.

The plantings total 1ha and consist primarily of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with some Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot. The vines are closely planted at a density of 8000 vines per Ha and are single-guyot pruned.

The approach in the vineyards and winery are best described as holistic, and the wines as artisan or hand-crafted. They are wild fermented and made without any additions, fining or filtration, only a small dose of sulphur at bottling is added if required.

No systemic sprays or herbicides are used in the vineyard and this has been the philosophy since 2004.