Pooley Wines began in Tasmania's Coal River Valley in 1985, when Denis and Margaret Pooley planted Pinot Noir and Riesling at Cooinda Vale. What began as a retirement project developed into one of Tasmania's established family wine estates, now spanning three generations of winemaking and two distinctive vineyard sites.
Today, Pooley works across Cooinda Vale and Butcher's Hill, producing regional and single-vineyard wines with a particular focus on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. The range also extends to Syrah, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer and small-production releases, with older vintages and alternative formats offering a broader view of the estate.
Cooinda Vale & Butcher's Hill
Pooley's identity is closely tied to its two estate vineyards in the Coal River Valley.
Cooinda Vale, established in 1985 north of Campania, is a cooler and more exposed site. Its sandy soils, limited water and nutrient availability and challenging continental conditions contribute to wines typically associated with finesse, fragrance and detail.
Butcher's Hill, established later near Richmond, presents a different expression of the region. Its north-facing slopes receive greater sunlight, while well-drained soils with iron-rich components contribute to wines with greater depth, structure and concentration.
Working with both vineyards allows Pooley to explore how variety, soil, aspect and season translate across two sites within the same Tasmanian region.
Pooley Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir sits at the heart of the Pooley range.
The regional Pooley Pinot Noir introduces the house style, while Cooinda Vale and Butcher's Hill provide more site-specific expressions. Across multiple vintages, these wines offer an opportunity to follow the differences between the two vineyards as well as the influence of individual growing seasons.
At the top of the range sit wines including Jack Denis Pooley Pinot Noir and the limited Oronsay Pinot Noir releases from Cooinda Vale and Butcher's Hill, taking the estate's focus on site and selection further.
Pooley Chardonnay
Chardonnay is another important part of Pooley's exploration of the Coal River Valley.
Alongside the regional Pooley Chardonnay, the collection includes individual expressions from Cooinda Vale and Butcher's Hill, allowing the contrasting vineyard sites to come into sharper focus.
The range extends to Elizabeth Anne Chardonnay, one of Pooley's more limited Chardonnay releases, as well as selected older vintages, half bottles and magnums.
Pooley Riesling
Riesling has been part of Pooley from the beginning, planted alongside Pinot Noir at Cooinda Vale in 1985.
Today the collection spans the regional Pooley Riesling, vineyard-specific releases from Butcher's Hill and Cooinda Vale, and wines such as Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling.
The range also includes Butcher's Hill Cane Cut Riesling, a concentrated sweet expression produced in 375ml format, showing a distinctly different side of the variety.
Beyond Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Riesling
While the three varieties define much of the estate, Pooley's range extends further.
Syrah is represented through both the regional wine and Cooinda Vale JRD Syrah, while Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer add to the estate's aromatic white wine offering.
Together, these smaller parts of the range provide another perspective on the varieties suited to Tasmania's cool-climate conditions.
Three Generations of Pooley
Pooley remains a family-run Tasmanian producer.
Third-generation winemaker Anna Pooley grew up around the family vineyards before studying winemaking in South Australia and building experience across Australia and internationally. She returned to Pooley in 2013, working alongside her husband Justin Bubb.
Their approach places the vineyard first, with winemaking decisions made according to site, variety and vintage rather than a fixed recipe. Techniques can include wild fermentation, barrel fermentation, whole bunches, skin contact and selective malolactic fermentation, used where they serve the individual wine.
The philosophy is captured neatly in Anna Pooley's own words: “Sense of place is everything, for this is where the heart and soul of wine exists.”
Shop Pooley Wines at Kent Street Cellars
Explore Pooley Wines from Tasmania's Coal River Valley, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah and aromatic white wines, alongside single-vineyard releases from Cooinda Vale and Butcher's Hill, limited cuvées and selected older vintages.
Delivery is available Australia-wide, with same-day delivery also available across eligible Sydney metropolitan areas.
