Stoney Rise, owned by Joe and Lou Holyman, has become one of Tasmania’s most respected small producers, celebrated for crafting precise, character-driven wines from their Tamar Valley estate. Under the Holyman label — the premium range — the wines express greater depth, structure, and purity. The 2024 Holyman Chardonnay continues this tradition, capturing the tension, minerality, and clarity that define the finest cool-climate Australian Chardonnay.
Vineyard
The Holyman vineyard sits in the Tamar Valley of northern Tasmania, where cool breezes, long daylight hours, and ancient soils create ideal conditions for slow, even ripening. The Chardonnay vines are planted on well-drained clay and gravel loams, contributing to the wine’s linear structure and mineral edge. Low yields, selective hand-harvesting, and minimal intervention help preserve the site’s natural electricity and precision.
Vintage
2024 was a standout cool-climate vintage in Tasmania. A mild spring, steady summer conditions, and a long, dry autumn allowed Chardonnay to ripen perfectly while retaining exceptional acidity. The fruit achieved a rare balance of concentration and freshness, resulting in wines with fine structure, purity, and extended ageing potential.
Winemaking
Grapes were whole-bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeasts in French oak barriques, including a restrained proportion of new oak. Extended lees contact adds texture and complexity without compromising the wine’s brightness. The Holymans’ approach is deliberately minimalist, aiming to capture vineyard expression with clarity and finesse.
Tasting Notes
The 2024 Holyman Chardonnay opens with pristine aromas of white peach, lemon zest, nectarine, flint, hazelnut, and delicate spice. The palate is tight, pure, and mineral-driven, offering citrus and stone fruit supported by a fine line of acidity and subtle oak integration. Tension, grip, and saline length define the finish. This is a focused, elegant, and beautifully composed Tasmanian Chardonnay — energetic in youth, with the structure to develop complexity over the next decade.
Critics’ Acclaim
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Lauded for precision, purity, and cool-climate tension
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Considered one of the benchmark Tasmanian Chardonnays
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Praised annually for its balance between richness and restraint
Technical Information
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Region: Tamar Valley, Tasmania
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Producer: Stoney Rise (Holyman)
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Alcohol: ~13%
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Style: Dry
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Oak: French oak barriques, limited new oak
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Drinking Window: 2025–2034+
A Collectible Gem
The 2024 Stoney Rise Holyman Chardonnay is a brilliant expression of Tasmanian terroir — pure, mineral, finely etched, and beautifully balanced. A must-have for collectors of Australia’s new-wave cool-climate Chardonnay, and a wine destined to age gracefully.
