Figures from Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries and Water show that the 2008 vintage of 9628t is almost double last year's yield of 5058t.

Primary Industry and Water Minister, David Llewellyn, praised the result given the "often adverse environmental conditions, including lack of rain, dwindling water supplies, and the fierce, destructive winds that swept across the State in early April".

The DPIW's Tasmanian Wine Industry Vintage Report and Vineyard Statistics 2008 reveal that generous harvests were experienced this year across all of Tasmania's seven key winegrowing regions, where 162 licensed producers operate 249 vineyards.

The Tamar Valley was most productive, more than doubling its 2007 vintage of 2307t with a 2008 yield of 4953t, or 51pc of the State's total.

The North East accounted for 19pc, while the Coal River Valley made up 16pc, the Derwent Valley 6.5pc and the East Coast 5pc, all enjoying significant increases in tonnage.

Vintage 2008 also included a large volume of new production resulting from recent large scale vineyard developments in Tasmania, with more than 200 hectares of new vines were added, chiefly on the East Coast and in the north of the State during the 2004-2005 growing season alone.

The State’s total bearing area was 1315ha, compared to 1196ha last year, and 999ha in 2006.