Experience Tasmanian fine dining at Josef Chromy’s hatted restaurant

With its hatted restaurant and stellar cellar door, the acclaimed Josef Chromy Wines in Relbia, Tasmania is a gourmand’s delight.

A scant few minutes’ drive from UNESCO-recognised City of Gastronomy, Launceston, Josef Chromy Wines in Relbia is a must-visit for gourmands and wine aficionados travelling in Tasmania. Its vines overlooked by an 1880s lakeside homestead, the bucolic 61-hectare estate is the crowning achievement of Josef Chromy – a figure whose role in shaping the Tasmanian food and wine industry cannot be overstated. Josef Chromy Wines is famous for producing exceptional Tasmanian drops. A century-old garden welcomes guests into the cellar door, an intimate space with a roaring wood heater that wards off the Tasmanian chill. Get acquainted with a selection of cool climate wines, from riesling and chardonnay to pinot gris and pinot noir.

Josef Chromy Wines is an award-winning estate

Josef Chromy has shaped the Tasmanian epicurean scene since he arrived in the state as a 19-year-old fleeing war-ravaged Czechoslovakia. After successfully launching and establishing Blue Ribbon Meat Products, and productive ventures with Rochecombe (now Bay of Fires), Jansz, Heemskerk and Tamar Ridge, Josef ventured into winemaking and established his eponymous label in 2007. In just four years, the estate secured 14 trophies and 170 medals. The 61-hectare vineyard in the cool climes of the Tamar Valley yields both sparkling and table wines of unmatched quality. Set at an altitude between 81 to 170 metres with a temperate maritime climate free from extremes, Josef Chromy Wines’ vines benefit from rich alkaline clay and stony soils atop an ancient dolerite base.

Sustainability at Josef Chromy Wines

At Josef Chromy Wines, sustainability is woven into the very fabric of its vineyard practices, with a focus on nourishing the land. Central to the approach is an in-house composting system, where grape marc and other winemaking by-products are repurposed into nutrient-rich compost and returned to the soil. The vineyard also embraces an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy that emphasises ecological harmony over chemical intervention. By planting diverse grasses and flowers, Josef Chromy Tasmania creates habitats beneficial for insects, creating natural defences against pests like the light brown apple moth.

The estate is home to one of Tasmania’s best wine experiences

The vineyard’s elevation, stony dolerite soils and temperate maritime climate yield some of the state’s most lauded drops – sparkling with a crisp, balanced acidity, perfumed pinot noir with sour-cherry lift, plus elegant whites from riesling to chardonnay. Chief winemaker Yael Sandler has ushered in a style that pays homage to traditional winemaking while playing to the strengths of this cool-climate region. Expect a sour cherry fruit profile with bold tannins and aromatic lift from the pinot noir, while elevated citrus and delicate fruit notes are signatures of the whites. Josef Chromy’s sparkling varietals are famous across the island state and renowned for their Granny Smith apple acidity. Guests can sample the range through curated tasting flights or immersive experiences. ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ couples a guided tasting with a two-course meal. For serious sparkling devotees, ‘The Art of Sparkling Masterclass’ reveals the méthode traditionelle and lets you dose and cork your own personalised bottle. ‘Go Behind The Label’ takes guests on a tour of winemaking from grape to glass, with a vineyard tour and a two-course lunch with matched wines in the hatted restaurant.

What types of wines are available at Josef Chromy Wines?

Josef Chromy Tasmania currently sells approximately four types of sparkling, seven white wines, two pinot noirs and three Rosés, plus two special releases: 2019 Josef Chromy Brut Finesse and the 2023 Josef Chromy Chardonnay.

The Josef Chromy Restaurant is Hatted

Gastronomes must dine at the Josef Chromy Restaurant. Located within a contemporary extension with a striking architectural exterior, this restaurant has been awarded one chef’s hat by The Australian Good Food Guide every year since 2017. Executive chef Nick Raitt crafts seasonal menus from small farms and artisanal producers, echoing the winemakers’ commitment to excellence. Raitt constructs dishes that reflect Tasmania’s culinary heritage and echo the seasonal cycles of the estate’s wine growing. Following principles of sustainability and regenerative agriculture, Josef Chromy Wines delivers an authentic Tasmanian food and wine experience.

Josef Chromy Wines hosts Effervescence Tasmania

Discover the Apple Isle’s finest sparkling wines at Effervescence Tasmania, one of the state’s premier wine festivals. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the event is hosted by Josef Chromy Wines over three days from 8 to 10 November 2024. Presenting an impressive program that showcases Tasmanian dishes and drops, highlights include the exclusive five-course Gala Dinner at Josef Chromy Wines’ hatted restaurant; the Grand Tasting lakeside soirée; sparkling masterclasses led by Wine Truth’s Loic Le Calvez; and the debut of the VIP experience, which includes a brunch hosted by esteemed wine communicator Cassandra Charlick, early access to the Grand Tasting, and lunch at Josef Chromy restaurant. To register for pre-release 2025 access, visit effervescencetasmania.com.

Who is Josef Chromy?

In 1950, at just 19, Josef Chromy left his war-torn homeland of Czechoslovakia and began a new chapter in Australia. From humble beginnings, he founded Blue Ribbon Meat Products, establishing himself as a master butcher before listing the burgeoning business on the stock exchange. Though he arrived here as a young man, it was only in 2007 – at a spritely 76 years of age – that Chromy would found his own, eponymous label. It soon found great acclaim, nabbing no less than 14 trophies and 170 medals in its first four years of operation. Chromy developed several celebrated wineries, including Rochecombe (now Bay of Fires), Heemskerk, Jansz, and Tamar Ridge Wines. In recognition of his contributions, Josef Chromy was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 1997.