From the grapevine to you

McCormack Wines has evolved from over three decades of growing wine grapes in the West Tamar Valley, Tasmania.

Bruce McCormack has been involved in the Tasmanian wine industry, particularly in the West Tamar Valley, since 1993. He began his journey in the wine industry at the age of 20 after arriving in Tasmania from Western Australia on a working holiday, initially seeking employment in the Tasmanian Aquaculture industry due to his special interest in fin fish, particularly Tasmania Salmon. After obtaining a Certificate III in Aquaculture from the Maritime College in Fremantle, Western Australia, Bruce found that the fledgling Tasmanian Aquaculture industry in the early 1990’s was limited for choice of prospective employment. Seeking other employment options, Bruce, through a friend of a friend whom Bruce was travelling with, was offered some work at Strathlynn Vineyard (now Ninth Island Vineyard) in Legana. He was subsequently employed by Pipers Brook Vineyard under the auspice and mentorship of Andrew Pirie, founder of Pipers Brook Vineyard and Ninth Island Wines. Enjoying a shift from fin fish to grapes on the lands of the West Tamar, Bruce’s traveling holiday transformed into a permanent move to Tasmania. During this time, he started a family and transitioned to vineyard management. He also completed a six-year degree in viticulture at Charles Sturt University in 2004, ten years after his arrival in Tasmania. Bruce dedicated 18 years to Pipers Brook Vineyard in the Tamar Valley before founding his own business, “Bruce McCormack Grapevine Management Services,” in 2011. His new venture provided expertise in grape growing, vineyard management, and development services to both established and new stakeholders in the Tasmanian wine industry. Bruce’s business quickly expanded from managing a single vineyard to overseeing ten different vineyard properties along the West Tamar Valley. In 2018, after 26 vintages in Tasmania and seven vintages under Bruce McCormack Grapevine Management Services, the first “McCormack Wines” came to fruition.

McCormack Wines products are produced from grapes of very specific and select small single-site parcels of grapes from vineyards managed and grown solely by Bruce McCormack. These grapes are sourced exclusively from vineyards along the West Tamar, with a local young winemaker crafting wines that embody the distinctive McCormack Wines style. Characterised by medium to full-bodied profiles with upfront fruit-driven characters, these wines are designed for easy, everyday drinking. However, they are also crafted with winemaking skills that ensure good longevity and improvement with time in the cellar.