Wine, Gin & Whisky Tour – Hobart & SE Tasmania

Tasmania in one generous tasting day. This small-group outing links two wineries, two spirit makers, and a cheese stop around Hobart, with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a maximum of six people. I like the family-owned vineyard visit at Derwent Estate and the distillery tour and whisky tasting at Old Kempton. The main catch is that lunch costs extra, and the order of stops can change.

The tour runs about seven hours, from roughly 9:30am to 4:30pm, so you get a full day without needing to drive. Ross, the guide, is described as friendly and attentive, arranging details ahead of time and making sure people feel comfortable. That personal touch matters in a small group, though the day can feel full if you prefer long, quiet visits at one or two places.

Six useful things to know before booking

• Six-person maximum: This is a compact group rather than a large coach outing.
• Five tasting stops: You visit Derwent Estate, 7K Distillery, Old Kempton Distillery, Pooley Wines, and The Wicked Cheese Co.
• Lunch is extra: A lunch stop is included, but you should allow about $20 for the meal.
• Hotel pickup included: Pickup and return are offered within 5km of Hobart CBD.
• The route can change: Venue order depends on availability, weather, and other conditions, and a similar venue may replace one stop.
• A careful drinking plan helps: Wine, gin, whisky, and cheese are all part of one seven-hour day, with bottled water supplied.

Why this Hobart tasting day works well

Tasmania is a fine place to compare drinks made in different settings. This tour moves from the Derwent Valley to the Coal River Valley, adding gin, whisky, and cheese along the way. You are not spending the whole day in one tasting room, but you are also not rushing through a dozen unrelated places.

I like the range. Derwent Estate gives you a first look at local wine, 7K Distillery introduces spirits, Old Kempton adds a formal whisky visit and lunch stop, and Pooley Wines brings you back to wine in another part of southeastern Tasmania. The Wicked Cheese Co. closes the food side of the day with a cheese tasting.

The small vehicle is important. With no more than six people, the guide can keep the day more personal and make arrangements ahead of time. Ross is singled out for being friendly and making sure people feel looked after. That is especially useful on a tasting tour, where timing, food, transport, and changing venue plans all need to work together.

You should still set your expectations properly. This is a sampler day, not a long educational course in Tasmanian wine or whisky. The listed stop times range from 30 minutes to two hours, and travel between venues takes part of the day. You will see several producers, but some visits will be brief.

Starting at Derwent Estate in the Derwent Valley

The day begins with a drive to Derwent Estate, a local family-owned vineyard. The visit lasts about one hour and includes wine tasting and a cheese platter.

This is a sensible first stop. Wine with cheese gives you something to eat early in the day, and the family-owned setting offers a more direct introduction to the area than starting with a large commercial venue. You can expect the focus to be on tasting the local wines and getting an initial feel for the region.

I like that the first stop is not only a glass of wine. The cheese platter makes the tasting more comfortable and gives you a small food base before the gin and whisky stops. Still, it is not a full breakfast or lunch, so eat beforehand if you usually need a substantial morning meal.

The Derwent Valley is also a good opening setting because the tour begins with wine before shifting to spirits. That gives the day a clear rhythm. You start with grape varieties and vineyard production, then move into distillation later.

Gin tasting at 7K Distillery

The next scheduled stop is 7K Distillery, where you receive a gin tasting over about an hour. This is the tour’s introduction to spirits, and it breaks up the wine visits nicely.

A gin tasting lets you compare a different style of production without committing the whole day to whisky. You can expect the visit to focus on the distillery’s gin and the regional spirits scene. The supplied details do not specify the exact number of samples or the tasting format, so it is best to treat this as an introduction rather than a full spirits class.

This stop is particularly useful if your group has mixed interests. One person may be keen on wine, another on whisky, and another on gin. The tour gives each drink its own place instead of treating wine as the only reason to visit the countryside.

By this point, you will already have had wine and gin, so pacing matters. Taste slowly, use the bottled water, and remember that the day continues with whisky. You do not need to treat every sample as a full drink.

Old Kempton Distillery brings whisky, a tour, and lunch

Old Kempton is the longest stop, with about two hours set aside for a whisky tasting, a distillery tour, and lunch. It is also the most substantial part of the day.

The tour adds value here because you are not simply handed a whisky glass and sent on your way. You get a look at the distillery itself, followed by tasting. The experience is better suited to someone who wants to understand how the drink is made, not just sample it.

Lunch is served at Old Kempton, but the cost is not included. Allow about $20, and remember that the exact meal choices are not specified. A lunch stop is welcome after the morning tastings, yet you should budget for it separately when comparing the $251.04 tour price.

This is also where the time allocation makes sense. Two hours gives the distillery visit room to include both the tour and lunch without forcing everything into a quick stop. If whisky is your main interest, this will probably be the part you value most.

The limitation is simple: alcohol tastings and lunch occupy a large part of the middle of the day. If you do not drink whisky, you may find the stop less useful, though the distillery visit and meal still provide a break from the vehicle.

Pooley Wines and Tasmania’s old bridge

After lunch, the route moves toward the Coal River Valley and Pooley Wines. The stop lasts about 45 minutes and includes wine tasting and an introduction to local grape varieties and the area’s past.

The tour also includes a stop at Australia’s old bridge. The information provided does not name the bridge, so you should think of this as a short sightseeing addition rather than a dedicated historic-site visit. It adds a visual pause between the tasting rooms and gives the day some variety.

Pooley Wines serves a different purpose from the opening vineyard. The first winery starts your wine education in the Derwent Valley. Pooley lets you compare another wine area and learn more about local grape varieties. Forty-five minutes is enough for a focused tasting, but not enough for an unhurried visit with extensive browsing.

I like this contrast. You are not tasting the same drink in the same type of setting all day. The two winery stops help you notice differences between producers and areas, even if the schedule does not allow a long stay at either one.

A final stop at The Wicked Cheese Co.

The last listed stop is The Wicked Cheese Co., with about 30 minutes for cheese tasting. It is a short visit, but it gives the day a food-focused finish.

Cheese is a useful match for the tour’s drinks, and this stop adds something beyond another glass. After wine, gin, and whisky, a compact cheese tasting can be a pleasant change of pace. It also gives you another chance to eat something before the return drive.

Do not expect a full meal here. Thirty minutes is a quick tasting stop, and lunch remains your responsibility at Old Kempton. Still, the cheese visit helps tie the day together. The tour begins with a cheese platter at Derwent Estate and returns to cheese near the end, so food is not treated as an afterthought.

The order may not always follow this sequence. Availability, weather, and other conditions can change the route, and a similar venue may replace one of the listed stops. That flexibility is practical, but it means you should not plan around a specific stop happening at a precise hour.

What the $251.04 price really covers

At $251.04 per person, this is not a bargain transport service. It is priced as a guided, small-group day with several included tastings and return transport from central Hobart.

Your price includes wine tastings, gin and whisky tastings, cheese tasting, the Old Kempton distillery tour, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Hotel pickup and return are also offered for accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD.

The maximum of six changes the value calculation. A larger coach may cost less per person, but it cannot offer the same level of personal attention. Ross’s habit of arranging details ahead of time and checking that people are comfortable is especially useful in a group this small.

Add about $20 for lunch. The tour therefore costs closer to $271 per person before any extra purchases, depending on your meal choice. If you want a guided day with several tasting categories and do not want to drive, that can be fair value. If you only want one winery and a quiet meal, you may find it expensive for your needs.

The average booking lead time is about 56 days. That suggests you should reserve ahead, especially if your Hobart dates are fixed and you want the small-group format. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Pickup, timing, and the practical side of the day

Pickup is offered from your hotel or accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD, at about 9:30am. Return is expected around 4:30pm. If you are staying outside that pickup zone, you will need to confirm how to reach the meeting point before booking.

The air-conditioned vehicle is a welcome feature for a full day of driving between venues. Bottled water is included, which is useful when you are tasting several drinks and moving between stops.

The tour is open to most people, and service animals are allowed. It is also near public transportation. Confirmation is received at booking, and the experience requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you may be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

Because the route can change, keep the afternoon free rather than arranging a tight appointment immediately after 4:30pm. The stated return time is approximate, and venue availability or weather may affect the order.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would choose this tour if you want a broad taste of southeastern Tasmania without renting a car. It suits people who like variety, especially those interested in wine, gin, whisky, regional food, and small producers.

It is also a good fit for couples or friends who prefer a small group. The six-person limit makes it easier to ask questions and get help with the day’s arrangements. Ross’s friendly style is another reason to choose it if you value a guide who pays attention to comfort and timing.

You may want something else if you dislike alcohol tastings, need a full meal included, or prefer a slow visit at only one or two venues. The schedule covers plenty of ground, and five stops mean you will spend some time getting in and out of the vehicle.

Keep your footwear and clothing practical for a full day out, though no special dress requirements are provided. Most of all, pace yourself. The value comes from comparing the drinks, not from trying to consume every sample.

Should you book this Hobart wine and spirits tour?

Book it if you want a polished day of Tasmanian tastings with no driving, a small group, and several different stops. The mix of Derwent Estate, 7K Distillery, Old Kempton, Pooley Wines, and The Wicked Cheese Co. gives you more range than a single winery outing.

I would be most inclined to book if whisky and gin matter as much to you as wine. The Old Kempton tour, included tastings, lunch stop, and personal service from Ross make the price easier to justify.

Think twice if you want a low-cost tour or need a fixed route. Lunch is extra, the order can change, and a replacement venue is possible. For a seven-hour introduction to Hobart’s surrounding wine and spirits areas, though, this is a well-shaped choice with a useful small-group advantage.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The tour begins in Hobart and visits venues in the Derwent Valley and Coal River Valley areas of southeastern Tasmania.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup starts at approximately 9:30am.

What time does the tour finish?

Drop-off is expected at approximately 4:30pm, making the total duration about seven hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return are offered from hotels or accommodation within 5km of Hobart CBD.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of six travelers.

Is lunch included in the price?

The lunch stop is included, but the cost of lunch is not. The approximate lunch cost is $20.

What tastings are included?

Wine, gin, whisky, and cheese tastings are included. The Old Kempton distillery tour is also included.

Can the order of the stops change?

Yes. The order depends on venue availability, weather, and other conditions. A similar venue may replace a listed stop if needed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.