Bay of Fires

Bay of Fires emerged from the predecessor Rochecombe vineyard at Pipers River in northeast Tasmania, an estate developed by Czech-Australian Josef Chromy in the 1980s and 1990s before passing through various ownership configurations. The Bay of Fires brand was established by BRL Hardy (now Accolade Wines) in the early 2000s as the still wine companion to the House of Arras sparkling programme that had been founded in 1995 under Ed Carr's leadership. The estate name draws from the Bay of Fires coast on Tasmania's east, charted by Captain Tobias Furneaux during James Cook's second Pacific expedition in 1773 and named for the Aboriginal fires he observed along the coast. The Bay of Fires region is now known internationally for its dramatic orange-lichen-covered granite boulders, white sand beaches, and pristine waters. The brand's positioning as a Tasmanian premium still wine producer complemented the prestige House of Arras sparkling programme, with shared winery facilities at Pipers River and shared fruit sourcing arrangements across leading Tasmanian sub-regions.

• Emerged from the predecessor Rochecombe vineyard at Pipers River, an estate developed by Josef Chromy in the 1980s and 1990s
• Bay of Fires brand established by BRL Hardy (now Accolade Wines) in the early 2000s as the still wine companion to House of Arras sparkling
• Brand name draws from the Bay of Fires coast on Tasmania's east, charted by Tobias Furneaux in 1773
• Shares winery facilities and Tasmanian fruit sourcing arrangements with House of Arras at Pipers River

Bay of Fires is based in the Pipers River sub-region of northeast Tasmania, at the same facility that produces the House of Arras sparkling range. The winery sits on red free-draining basalt soils at 41 degrees South latitude, in a cool-maritime climate moderated by Bass Strait. Bay of Fires sources fruit from across Tasmania's leading sub-regions for its still wine production, drawing on Pipers River basalt sites, Tamar Valley parcels, East Coast Tasmania fruit, and parcels from southern Tasmania for the multi-source blends and selected single-source releases. The cool-climate Tasmanian fruit profile provides the bright natural acidity, slow ripening, and aromatic precision that underpin the Bay of Fires style. Some of the Tasmanian fruit sourced for Bay of Fires also feeds into the House of Arras sparkling programme, allowing the broader Accolade Tasmanian programme to deploy fruit across both still and sparkling production based on vintage character and seasonal quality.

• Based at Pipers River; same winery facility as House of Arras on red free-draining basalt soils at 41 degrees South
• Sources fruit from across Tasmania's leading sub-regions: Pipers River, Tamar Valley, East Coast, and southern Tasmanian parcels
• Cool-maritime climate moderated by Bass Strait provides bright natural acidity and slow ripening
• Some Tasmanian fruit deployed across both still (Bay of Fires) and sparkling (House of Arras) programmes based on vintage

The Bay of Fires portfolio is structured across Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc as the primary still wine varieties, with a small range of sparkling wines complementing the still production. The Tasmania Pinot Noir is the estate's flagship still wine, widely regarded among Australia's leading cool-climate Pinot Noir expressions at moderate pricing. The wine shows red cherry, plum, savoury spice, and fine tannins with bright natural acidity, drawn from Tasmanian fruit sourced across multiple sub-regions. The Tasmania Chardonnay leans toward leaner, citrus-driven, mineral expressions with restrained French oak and creamy lees texture. The Riesling shows dry, taut, citrus-and-mineral character. Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc round out the white wine repertoire with textural and aromatic expressions respectively. The sparkling range provides an entry point to traditional-method Tasmanian production at more accessible pricing than the prestige House of Arras tier. Bay of Fires also produces a small range of premium single-source wines including the Eddystone Point branded series.

• Tasmania Pinot Noir: flagship still wine; widely regarded among Australia's leading cool-climate Pinot expressions at moderate pricing
• Tasmania Chardonnay: lean, citrus-driven, mineral expressions with restrained French oak and creamy lees texture
• Riesling: dry, taut, citrus-and-mineral; Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc round out the white repertoire
• Eddystone Point series provides premium single-source releases; small range of sparkling wines complements the still portfolio

Bay of Fires has built strong critical recognition over its two-decade existence, with consistent top scores from leading Australian critics including James Halliday and The Real Review. The Tasmania Pinot Noir has been particularly singled out as offering some of the best quality-to-price relationships in Australian cool-climate Pinot, while the Chardonnay and Riesling have similarly built positive critical reputations. Within the broader Accolade Wines portfolio, Bay of Fires occupies the still wine premium tier alongside the prestige House of Arras sparkling programme, with both brands serving as the corporate flagships for Tasmanian fine wine production. The estate's positioning is distinct from the prestige tier (occupied by House of Arras) and the broader Accolade portfolio (which includes Hardy's, Tintara, and many other brands), with Bay of Fires aiming squarely at the premium still wine market between roughly $30 and $80 retail pricing. Wine tourism at the Pipers River cellar door allows visitors to experience both the Bay of Fires still wine portfolio and the House of Arras sparkling range in a single visit.

• Consistent top scores from leading Australian critics including James Halliday and The Real Review
• Tasmania Pinot Noir noted for offering some of the best quality-to-price relationships in Australian cool-climate Pinot
• Occupies the still wine premium tier in the Accolade portfolio alongside the prestige House of Arras sparkling programme
• Wine tourism at the Pipers River cellar door allows visitors to experience both Bay of Fires still and House of Arras sparkling ranges

Bay of Fires sits within Accolade Wines, the broader Australian wine group that traces its lineage to Thomas Hardy and Sons, founded 1853 in McLaren Vale. Accolade is one of Australia's largest wine companies and operates a broad portfolio that includes Hardy's, Houghton, Tintara, Banrock Station, and many other brands, with House of Arras and Bay of Fires serving as the corporate flagships for Tasmanian fine wine production. The integration of Bay of Fires still wine and House of Arras sparkling at the same Pipers River facility allows Accolade to deploy Tasmanian fruit flexibly across both still and sparkling programmes based on vintage character and fruit quality. Chief winemaker Ed Carr's three-decade leadership of House of Arras has provided stylistic continuity across the Tasmanian programme, while the Bay of Fires still wine team operates with its own dedicated winemaker focus. The combined Bay of Fires plus House of Arras programme represents one of the most strategically integrated Tasmanian wine operations, with the dual still-and-sparkling brands serving complementary market positions. Wine tourism at the Pipers River cellar door is anchored by the combined experience of both brands.

• Owned by Accolade Wines, lineage to Thomas Hardy and Sons (founded 1853 in McLaren Vale); one of Australia's largest wine companies
• Accolade portfolio includes Hardy's, Houghton, Tintara, Banrock Station, and many other brands
• House of Arras and Bay of Fires serve as the corporate flagships for Tasmanian fine wine production within the Accolade portfolio
• Integration of Bay of Fires still wine and House of Arras sparkling at the same Pipers River facility allows flexible fruit deployment