Welcome to our very first Rooster & Robin update. Here’s a little of what we’ve been up to lately.

New entranceway and car park on Glen Gala Rd

There has been plenty of activity along our Glen Gala Road boundary, where we have created a new entrance and car park in preparation for the Great Eastern Wine Week this October. As the before-and-after photos show, the area has undergone a wonderful transformation, improving access to the property and providing a welcoming space for visitors. This is an exciting first step towards bringing our future cellar door vision to life.

Coming soon, we’ll also be launching a pop-up cellar door, allowing visitors to sample our wines, discover our range and enjoy the beautiful vineyard surroundings. We’re looking forward to welcoming guests during the Great Eastern Wine Week and sharing this next chapter with you. Stay tuned for more details!

Elmsroe

When the area our property is on was first settled, it was given the name Melrose. As Rooster & Robin begins an exciting new chapter, we wanted to honour that history while creating a fresh identity of our own. Elmsroe—an anagram formed from the same letters as Melrose—celebrates the property’s past while looking excitedly towards its future. 

To bring the Elmsroe name to life, we have planted a row of young elm trees along the new entrance. In time, we hope they will grow into a beautiful, welcoming avenue, providing shade, shelter and habitat for local birds and animals, as well as a peaceful place for our visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

The Dead Tree Project

Around 12 months ago, we sadly had to remove two trees that had become damaged and grown across the fence line, creating a pathway for possums and other animals to enter the vineyard. Although removing them was necessary, we promised these magnificent old trees would not go to waste.

We have now replanted the trunks in a new location, giving them a second life as habitat for birds and other wildlife. Standing proudly against the landscape, they beautifully frame the vineyard in the distance and will continue to play a special part in the story of Elmsroe for many years to come.

Winter prune

We have just completed another milestone for us as we completed our first ever prune of the ‘Final Block’, made up of the young vines we planted last year. Working our way through the block, we removed every vine guard, assessed each plant and cut the new growth back to two buds.

While the guards were off, we took the opportunity to clear the weeds from around each vine before carefully replacing the guards. It was a detailed, hands-on process completed vine by vine and row by row, but a rewarding one—and it was satisfying to see the block tidied, pruned and ready for its second growing season... something tells us, it's not going to be that easy in seasons to come!

Native plantings 

We have continued planting along our riparian zones to restore native vegetation, improve habitat connectivity and encourage greater biodiversity throughout the property.

All species have been selected because they are native to Tasmania’s East Coast, including Eucalyptus amygdalina, Eucalyptus ovata, Eucalyptus viminalis, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia verticillata, Acacia melanoxylon, Banksia marginata, Melaleuca ericifolia and Melaleuca pustulata.

We have also planted Bursaria spinosa, which is particularly valuable for attracting native wasps and other beneficial insects. As these plantings become established, they will provide food, shelter and movement corridors for insects, birds and other wildlife, while helping to strengthen and protect our waterways. It is a long-term project, but an important part of improving the ecological health of Elmsroe.

We have also been fortunate to secure a grant from Landcare to continue further planting in 2027. Stay tuned for further details about this project.