Stargazer


— About —

Stargazer is owned by Samantha Connew, a New Zealander originally from Blenheim. She got inspired by wine whilst studying law at Christchurch University, working part time at a wine bar which was owned at the time by a qualified winemaker. Realising law wasn’t for her she went back to study viticulture and began working vintages around the world, starting at Elk Cove in 1996, one of Oregon’s most respected Pinot Noir producers.

Vintages in Sicily, Western Australia, Oregon for a second time, Mclaren Vale, Hunter Valley and then settling in Tasmania specifically to start her own winery. 2012 marked the first vintage of Stargazer. For the next few years she purchased fruit from Huon Valley and Derwent but had a passion for the Coal River Valley. She passionately believes that for her this subregion was the ideal spot to be able to make the kind of Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir she wanted.

In 2016 this dream became a reality and she purchased an 11 hectare site, of which 1 hectare was planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Since then she has planted 2 more hectares compromising of Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with another 2 planted in 2021. She is still buying some fruit from growers while these new plantings establish themselves. Samantha makes the wines at Pooley currently, just a few miles up the road from her vineyard. The range is both expressive and concise. All wild fermentations, no added acid, gentle use of oak. Palisander has a touch of extended time on skins, some whole bunch techniques in the Pinot Noir. 2012 marked the first vintage of Stargazer. For the next few years she purchased fruit from Huon Valley and Derwent but had a passion for the Coal River Valley.

 

Samantha’s notes on the origin of the name Stargazer:

“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 24 November 1642) and then the South Island of New Zealand, nineteen days later on 13 December.

He is a natural link for me, having been born and bred a South Islander, and now having fallen in love with another island, Tasmania. The opportunity to work with pristine fruit to craft the wines that I am passionate about in an environment of extraordinary beauty is really all I have ever wanted to do as a winemaker.

My high school Classics teacher, a Scotsman who at one point had been in the Merchant Navy, always said that when visiting museums, art galleries, and churches we should remember to look up as the best treasures can be above us. And as Stephen Hawking reminded us, ‘always look up at the stars and not down at your feet”.