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The Minister for Tourism, Scott Bacon today congratulated the Tamar Valley Wine Route (TVWR) on its twentieth birthday at their annual awards ceremony in Launceston.

Mr Bacon said the event was a celebration of not only the TVWR Awards, but also two decades of wine tourism and promotion in the Tamar Valley.

"Marking such a milestone makes these awards, which every year celebrate the achievements of members, that little bit more special," he said.

"The establishment of the Tamar Valley Wine Route did more than just bring a number of vineyards and cellar doors together under a single banner.

"It created a tourism experience that embraced the entire region and encouraged visitors to explore it for themselves."

Mr Bacon said the Tamar Valley region, from Pipers River in the north to Relbia in the south, is home to over 32 wineries, and some of the best-known cellar doors in the state.

"While our wine industry is relatively small, it is a high-value and high-profile industry that presents great opportunities for tourism, providing visitors with enriching and memorable experiences.

"Around 145,000 interstate and international visitors to Tasmania participate in a local wine tourism experience each year - that's around 17 per cent of all visitors to Tasmania."

Tourism Tasmania has worked closely with Wine Tasmania to promote the authentic and personal wine tourism experiences on offer throughout the State, investing $30,000 to support the industry's Tasmania Unbottled roadshow, media visits and the TV documentary Unbottle Tasmania.

Awards were announced in the categories of Service to the Industry; Best Restaurant Wine List; Service from an outside Organisation / Person; Wine Industry Tasmania Best Cellar / Vineyard Hand; and Best Cellar Door.

Further information about the Tamar Valley Wine Route and the awards is available at http://tamarvalleywineroute.com.au/