Wine Region	Freycinet Coast, Tasmania
Wine Maker	Kristen & David Cush
Spring Vale is situated at Cranbrook, north of Swansea on Tasmania's East Coast. Continuing in the tradition of hard work and innovation established by William Lyne in 1826, Rodney and Lyn Lyne have planted 6.6 hectares of wine grapes at Spring Vale, principally Pinot Noir. The vineyard began in 1986, when a small area of two acres was planted to Pinot Noir. Further plantings were made in the following years: firstly, more Pinot Noir, then Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer, followed by Pinot Gris in 1996. The most recent plantings are of still more Pinot Noir and a splash of Pinot Meunier. This most recent planting is within the red oval in the aerial photograph below.
The Freycinet Coast is the driest part of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 550mm. Irrigation is therefore essential. The entire vineyard is drip irrigated, except for the newest block, which currently only has overhead sprinklers. For frost protection, four out of the five blocks have overhead sprinkler systems, while the other has a wind machine to blow away the cold air. The soil is mostly a fertile clay loam, with the subsoil varying from porous friable loam with rock to medium-heavy clay. Drainage is excellent throughout the vineyard and the pH of the soil is around 6.5.
Rodney and Lyn are the owners of Spring Vale. Rodney manages the farm and vineyard - a never-ending task which sees few spare weekends present themselves. He steers the ship with Lyn as counsel and support. Lyn is a primary school teacher of 25 years who has shown great enthusiasm for farming and viticulture, giving Rodney her full support and assistance.
Kristen is the only daughter of Rodney and Lyn. She completed her wine science degree in 1999, and has since worked in France as an assistant winemaker and in the Yarra Valley as a lab technician. As of 2002 vintage, Kristen is the winemaker at Spring Vale, assisted by her husband, Dave Cush. Outside of vintage time, Kris and Dave work in the vineyard and on the farm. Family businesses require everyone to be multi-skilled and willing to do whatever needs doing.