Launching Tasmania’s First Sensory Wine Garden

Our Winemaker Bec and Viticulturist Tim Duffy have poured their wine knowledge into Holm Oak’s new sensory garden experience, specifically designed for wine-lovers. Located at our Tamar Valley Cellar Door, the garden is now in full bloom, ready to be unveiled after years of planning, and patience waiting for our plants to grow.

Combining Bec and Tim’s love of gardening and winemaking, this unique Tassie wine-tasting is a must-do for visitors to the region.

Read on to discover exactly what you can expect from the experience.

What is a Sensory Wine Garden?

Our sensory garden has been developed with a diverse selection of plants to embody the aroma, taste and texture of the distinctive wine varietals we produce. After being inspired by world-class sensory garden experiences in the Napa Valley in the USA, work began to create something that was unique to Tasmania, brimming with the all the elements found in our Tasmanian wines.

There are six varietal areas of the sensory garden, and each area has been planted with edibles, plants and flowers to bring the flavour and textures of the wines alive: pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris, moscato, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, riesling, arneis and sauvignon blanc. In addition, there is an Insectarium, planted to attract insects and encourage biodiversity.

This diverse environment positively affects the entire garden, adding to the sustainable footprint of the vineyards and to the quality of the wines. Finally, there is a Texture Garden, which cleverly represents the feeling of wine on the palate.

Naturally, a guided walking tour of the sensory garden is the perfect accompaniment to a premium wine-tasting to better understand the flavours and textures of what’s in the glass.

Take a Guided Tour for the Full Experience

You are welcome to take a self-guided tour of the garden as your own pace, however for maximum enjoyment, we suggest booking a tour. Join our Cellar Door Manager on a walk around the garden to forage for fruits, flowers and herbs to pair with wines from our range. Enjoy the taste and aroma of raspberries, strawberries and cherries, take in the heady scent of the rose garden, herbs and citrus leaves, as well as the more savoury spice of pepper berries, while enjoying the matching wines in tranquil surroundings.

Our Sensory Garden experience is available at 10am Wednesday – Friday only, please allow up to 90 minutes. We’d love it if you can book in advance, so we can welcome you.

The tour and tasting is available for $50 per person, for up to 6 guests

This experience is seasonal and weather dependent.

During our Summer months, you can book your tour by clicking here.