The Black Rabbit Story
In 2009, Fish Hook Wines was established and a fleeting sighting of a Black Rabbit sealed the future.
It began like most good stories, with a glass of wine. Always on a quest to find new regions and to meet the makers, I found myself exploring the vineyards in Tasmania. It was here that I found a sense of place and made the decision to relocate from Sydney.
Turning a city girl with a dream into the reality of a vineyard was not without its challenges. But the wine community in the Tamar Valley region wrapped their arms around me and further instilled in me the belief that I was where I was meant to be.
Many vintages, and a few career changes later, I am proudly showcasing a wine that has been part of my identity since moving to Tasmania in 2009. I hope you love the collection of wines as much as i’ve enjoyed seeing them evolve.
The Winemakers
Each vintage only sees only 30-40 cases of Black Rabbit Pinot Noir made. It’s handpicked and nurtured, with guidance given by some of Tasmania’s most respected winemakers. Get to know the talented people who have crafted the Black Rabbit Pinot Noir since 2014.
Julian Allport
Julian Allport, formally from Moore’s Hill Estate was one of the first to put up his hand to help me in 2014, just as the vineyard was starting to produce reasonable crops. Julian’s friendship and pragmatism were the perfect match as my career took me away from the vineyard for long periods of time. Julian helped tend the vineyard and oversaw the earliest vintages, alongside winemaker Ricky Evans.
Ricky Evans
Then, as Ricky’s label Two Tonne Tasmania started to gain momentum, he took the reins of the Fish Hook Vineyard, nurturing the vines and tending to the fruit. Ricky’s business acumen and energy saw production grow and the fruit was split into wine for the Black Rabbit label, alongside contributing to his own Two Tonne Tasmania Tamar Valley Pinot Noir.
As Ricky’s wine labels expanded, he took the step to open the sensational Havilah Wine Bar in Launceston. If you love great food and exceptional wine, then make sure you add it to your list of places to visit when visiting Launceston.
Jeremy Dineen
I was then very fortunate to welcome Jeremy Dineen as my winemaker from the 2024 vintage. Jeremy’s experience as Chief Winemaker at Josef Chromy from 2005 to 2021 cemented his place as one of Tassie’s best winemakers. Since branching out on his own, he and his partners have delivered some iconic place-based Tasmanian Wine, including Haddow + Dineen.