Tasmanian wine label Rush Wines launches in Northern Tasmania

Sam Rush is a winemaker who spent seven years in the Hunter Valley and other wine regions around Australia before moving to Tasmania about two years ago.

Last month Mr Rush launched his first individual wine label, Rush Wines, and has embarked on a journey to craft his own individual pinot gris and pinot noir varieties.

"I have always been passionate about winemaking and it's always been a dream of mine to have my own label and make my own wines," Mr Rush said.

"Making things and the idea of creating something tangible that people will enjoy has really been something that I enjoy."

Mr Rush turned to viticulture as a career path after first completing a chemistry degree at university. He said he was initially attracted to forensic science, but changed his mind later in life.

"I thought winemaking and viticulture was something that I could see myself making a real career of," he said.

After moving to Tasmania Mr Rush has worked at a few vineyards in the Tamar Valley and over his career has worked up the experience to create his own unique brand of wines.

Mr Rush's passion to create is reflected in his wine label's logo - and blends both his passion for viticulture and his interest in forensic science together.

RELATED READING

He will literally have his fingerprints on every bottle of Rush Wines, through the winemaking process and through his label's logo, which features his fingerprint.

While he will be making traditional pinot gris and pinot noir, Mr Rush said he hoped to put his own spin on the wines' flavour and look.

"Pinot Gris has a colour extracted from the skin of the grapes, so I hope to be able to develop that so my pinot gris will end up being more bronze," he said.

"It will be similar to a rose, but with all the flavour of a pinot gris."

To help get his business venture off the ground, Mr Rush has started a Go Fund Me, to encourage financial backers.

Since it launched, the Go Fund Me has reached $5165 of its $20,000 goal and will go towards costs of barrels, the cost of the fruit and the labels.

Those who support the cause will be rewarded with wine - with the number of bottles a person will receive dependent on the donation.

Mr Rush said he was waiting for the grapes to ripen on the vines, and the pinot gris grapes were about three weeks away from harvest. The wine will be ready in about three to six months.

The pinot noir will take a bit longer because it's aged in barrels for between eight and 12 months.

Sign up here to Good Fruit and Vegetables weekly newsletter for all the latest horticulture news each Thursday...