{"id":91320,"date":"2025-09-29T09:51:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T23:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/?p=91320"},"modified":"2025-10-28T09:43:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T22:43:13","slug":"josef-chromy-wines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/josef-chromy-wines\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience Tasmanian fine dining at Josef Chromy’s hatted restaurant"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1759210062818{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]With its hatted restaurant and stellar cellar door, the acclaimed Josef Chromy Wines in Relbia, Tasmania is a gourmand\u2019s delight.<\/p>\n

A scant few minutes\u2019 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 \u2013 a figure whose role in shaping the Tasmanian food and wine industry cannot be overstated. Josef Chromy Wines<\/a> 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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1731462886183{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Josef Chromy Wines is an award-winning estate<\/h3>\n

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\u2019 vines benefit from rich alkaline clay and stony soils atop an ancient dolerite base.<\/p>\n

Sustainability at Josef Chromy Wines<\/h3>\n

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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”91327″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1721879496530{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1759210380576{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

The estate is home to one of Tasmania\u2019s best wine experiences<\/h3>\n

The vineyard\u2019s elevation, stony dolerite soils and temperate maritime climate yield some of the state\u2019s most lauded drops \u2013 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\u2019s 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. \u2018Let\u2019s Do Lunch\u2019 couples a guided tasting with a two-course meal. For serious sparkling devotees, \u2018The Art of Sparkling Masterclass\u2019 reveals the m\u00e9thode traditionelle and lets you dose and cork your own personalised bottle. \u2018Go Behind The Label\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

What types of wines are available at Josef Chromy Wines?<\/h3>\n

Josef Chromy Tasmania currently sells approximately four types of sparkling, seven white wines, two pinot noirs and three Ros\u00e9s, plus two special releases: 2019 Josef Chromy Brut Finesse and the 2023 Josef Chromy Chardonnay. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”91325″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1733809077648{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1759210437936{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

The Josef Chromy Restaurant is Hatted<\/h3>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019 commitment to excellence.\u00a0Raitt constructs dishes that reflect Tasmania\u2019s culinary heritage and echo the seasonal cycles of the estate\u2019s wine growing. Following principles of sustainability and regenerative agriculture, Josef Chromy Wines delivers an authentic Tasmanian food and wine experience.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”91323″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1731457356014{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1731457428960{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Josef Chromy Wines hosts Effervescence Tasmania<\/h3>\n

Discover the Apple Isle\u2019s finest sparkling wines at Effervescence Tasmania<\/a>, one of the state\u2019s 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\u2019 hatted restaurant; the Grand Tasting lakeside soir\u00e9e; sparkling masterclasses led by Wine Truth\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”91324″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1721879476721{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1759210184599{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Who is Josef Chromy?<\/h3>\n

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 \u2013 at a spritely 76 years of age \u2013 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.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1597204195011{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column]\n VISIT WEBSITE<\/span>\n <\/a>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Read more:\u00a0<\/strong>
\n<\/span>How to have a meaningful encounter with Tasmania\u2019s wildlife<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>The Tasman Hobart: is Tasmania\u2019s most anticipated luxury hotel worth the wait?<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>Explore Tasmania on a 9-day air safari and you won\u2019t ever land tour again<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>This charming Tasmanian heritage hotel has just 11 rooms<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>27 of the best food & Wine experiences around the world <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in volume 48 of Signature Luxury Travel & Style<\/em> magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue today<\/a>. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter below.[\/vc_column_text]