Like many traditional woolgrowers on Tasmania's dry east coast, the Dunbabin family at Milton Vineyard diversified into wine grapes more than two decades ago.

Sixth-generation farmers Michael and Kerry Dunbabin saw the potential for viticulture in the early 1990s.

It has been a gradual transition on the property established in 1826 at Cranbrook, just north of Swansea, but the staged expansion is part of what impressed the judging panel who recently crowned Milton the 2017 Tasmanian Vineyard of the Year.

The annual award is an initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania.

"It's really a good way of benchmarking in a way," said Milton Vineyard's manager Henry Dunbabin.

"You are judged against your peers — where you're making mistakes and where you're doing well.

"We don't sell any fruit, we want to have a quality, well-regarded brand. We need premium quality fruit so that's the aim of our vineyard."

To date, they have planted 13 hectares featuring an array of varieties including riesling, pinot Gris, pinot noir and Gewurztraminer.

Milton expects to harvest around 70 tons of fruit this vintage.

Those volumes will continue to build when the six hectares it planted last spring start producing reliable fruit from 2019.

"For the table pinot eight tons is a good yield without compromising quality at all," said Mr. Dunbabin.

"For rose and sparkling you can look for ten plus, ideally 12 tons to the hectare.

"Your whites do vary as well, riesling we do tend to have a high yield on that."

Capping off this year's award, the Dunbabin's are looking to develop an on-site winery if a feasibility study supports the additional investment.

Read more at source: ABC News