Stargazer

Samantha Connew (Sam to her friends) grew up on the South Island of New Zealand, and put herself through school working at a wine bar. Sam was bitten by the wine bug, and ended up travelling the world, working vintages in Oregon, Italy, Spain, and Australia. She landed in Australia, spending ten years as the senior winemaker at Wirra Wirra in McLaren Vale before putting down roots and starting her own winery in the Coal River Valley of Tasmania.

The name "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 November 24 1642) and then the South Island of New Zealand, 19 days later on December 13. He is the natural link for Sam, connecting her original home of South Island New Zealand to her current home of Tasmania.

Located in the Tea Tree subregion at the northern end of the Coal River Valley, Sam's original vineyard was planted by Norm and Jan Gangell in 2004. Pretty much half and half riesling and pinot noir, the eleven hectare property is also home to an olive grove (which produces some killer olive oil!). Sam took over the property in 2016 and in late 2017 expanded the vineyard to include an additional two hectares of vines: more pinot noir (four clones), some chardonnay (another four clones) and more riesling. She also farms a bit of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Meunier to keep things interesting. She believes fundamentally in sustainable farming and is excited about leaving her bit of dirt better than she found it.