Stanthorpe & The Granite Belt Visitor Guide

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

The New England Highway runs for more than 62kms through the heart of the Granite Belt, from Dalveen and The Summit to Stanthorpe, Glen Aplin, Ballandean and beyond. It meets the border with NSW at the historic town of Wallangarra. The Granite Belt is part of the Southern Queensland Country region.

granitebeltwinecountry.com.au

CONTENTS 4

National Park Splendour

6 150 Years of Winemaking History 8 Chests of Gold, Tables of Trophies 10 Meet the Vignerons & Winemakers 12

StrangeBird Wines

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A Year in the Life of a Vineyard

16 Getting the Most from your Wine Tasting 18 Tastes of the Granite Belt 20 Gourmet Delights from Local Artisans 22 Arts & Heritage 24 So Many Reasons to Visit 25 Experience our Four Beautiful Seasons 26 Directory 29 Town Map 30 Regional Map 32 How to Escape to the Granite Belt

WHEN YOU ARRIVE Make sure you visit the friendly Visitor Information Centre located on the southern bank of Quart Pot Creek (through town and over the bridge if you’re coming from the north) 28 Leslie Parade, Stanthorpe Open daily 9am – 4pm For more information: 07 4681 2057 Disabled parking and access E: visitor@sdrc.qld.gov.au

QUEENSLAND STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT

NOOSA BRISBANE

FIND OUT MORE www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

NEW SOUTH WALES

BYRON BAY

HEADING GOES HERE

WELCOME TO

GRANITE BELT WINE COUNTRY STANTHORPE AND THE GRANITE BELT ARE SITUATED ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE NEW ENGLAND TABLELAND, RIGHT ON THE BORDER BETWEEN QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES, AT AN ELEVATION OF AROUND 1000 METRES. HERE THE AIR IS INTOXICATING – SO FRESH AND CLEAN – AND THE SKY SEEMS A DEEPER BLUE.

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he Granite Belt has always been a place of rest and relaxation – a place where people came to enjoy nature or recover from illness or war. In 1905 the State Government gazetted the region as Queensland’s official ‘health resort’. And it remains so to this day.

This is a landscape of dramatic beauty and diversity with four distinct seasons. Here, 200-millionyear-old Triassic granite formations emerge from thick forests and house-sized boulders balance

precariously one on top of the other. On the Granite Belt you can feast on local fresh produce and choose from a wide range of accommodation from simple to simply luxurious. Granite Belt Wine Country hosts work hard to make your stay in our region unforgettable. It’s a wonderful place to grow wine grapes, apples, strawberries and all kinds of stone fruit and vegetables. There are more apples grown on the Granite Belt than anywhere else in Australia.

Visit award-winning wineries and chat to the people who grow the grapes and make the wine. A craft brewery offers hand-made beers.

Come for the cool summer nights or the apple blossoms of springtime.

Come for the red and gold of autumn trees and vineyards, or warm log-fires on crisp winter days – and on rare occasions you may even come to see snow. Come whenever you wish, the Granite Belt is always beautiful.

It’s part of Queensland yet it’s another country.

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NATIONAL PARK SPLENDOUR WHETHER YOU SEEK REST AND REPOSE OR WANT TO BE ACTIVE, THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE TIME SPENT OUT-OF-DOORS IN OUR EXTRAORDINARY ENVIRONMENT – IT’S ANCIENT, BEAUTIFUL AND BOUNTIFUL. SUNRISE AT GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK

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ejuvenate your body, mind and soul with a yoga session in a vineyard, stargaze under stunning night skies, or sit beside a rocky cascade to listen to the sound of rushing water and watch the birds flit amongst the trees. You may even see some of the animals that make our national parks their home. This is a place to enjoy nature at its best, especially if you love the seasonal changes – the soft sunshine and wildflowers of springtime, the cold, crisp days of winter that make those rocky summits that much more reachable. Noticeably absent is that high humidity that often makes bushwalking in summer in lower climes, sticky and uncomfortable.

GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK Girraween National Park is renowned for its massive 200-million-yearold Triassic granite boulders. Climb the Pyramid, Castle Rock or take the hike to Mount Norman. A gentle stroll to the Granite Arch is a less strenuous adventure.

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Girraween’s almost 12,000 hectares of eucalypt forests are teeming with wildlife and rare and lovely plants.

Girraween is an Aboriginal name for ‘place of flowers’ and in spring and summer it really does live up to its name. At Girraween there are excellent facilities for camping and picnicking and 17km of well-defined walking tracks – from a gentle 1.4km ramble to more than 10km hikes. The summit tracks have steep slopes.

The winding 9km bitumen road to Girraween National Park can be entered 26km south of Stanthorpe or 11km north of Wallangarra at the turn-off to Wyberba. For a shorter hike to Mount Norman, enter from the south via Wallangarra. Follow Mount Norman Road across a couple of grids and gain entrance through a gateway into the park. A few kilometres further is a parking and picnic area and the signposted track to Mount Norman.

SUNDOWN NATIONAL PARK South-west of Stanthorpe is the wild and beautiful Sundown National

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

Park – a contrast to the rounded giant ‘marbles’ of Girraween, Sundown is a wilderness park hidden in the Severn Valley to the west of the New England Highway. Over millennia, the Severn River has cleaved through the park’s ancient rock, forming spectacular sharp ridges and steep-sided gorges.

It is popular with birdwatchers as many uncommon birds find a haven in its remote gorges.

About 5km from Sundown’s 4WD entrance via Ballandean, a side track leads to the spectacular Red Rock Gorge where 50m high falls tumble over cliffs stained red with lichen. At the southern end the Broadwater camping area is a family camping spot (great fun when the river is running). The ranger station is located here and this is the starting point for visitors wishing to experience the true Sundown wilderness.

Access to this park is via three directions – the access via Ballandean is suitable for 4WD vehicles only, but there are two all-vehicle entrances that can be found south from Nundubbermere

NATIONAL PARK SPLENDOUR

Road to Nundubbermere Falls and east from Glenlyon Dam Road to the Broadwater camping area.

MORE TO EXPLORE A few kilometres from The Summit village, a winding gravel road leads to Donnelly’s Castle, a charming picnic area where walking tracks lead to huge caverns formed from housesized granite boulders.

In the heart of Stanthorpe, in a small reserve off Jardine Street, a group of massive granite boulders beg to be explored via a walking track that wends its way around the small hillside. Locals call the formations Sentimental Rocks.

Bike Trails string many cellar doors and food stops together. The Granite Belt Bike Trail follows 34km of quiet country roads, meandering from Stanthorpe through to Ballandean.

Bring your own bike, or hire one from the local Stanthorpe-based bicycle tours and hire.

Mt Marlay Lookout & Summit Walk are located on the edge of town up a steep, winding lane. There are free mounted binoculars and picnic tables. A short walk encircles

THE GRANITE ARCH AT GIRRAWEEN NATIONAL PARK

the summit on a well-made path and offers views in every direction.

The Ballandean Pyramid is located in Jacobsens Road off Eukey Road, Ballandean. Built from blocks of local granite, the pyramid stands 17.5 metres in height, 30 metres square at the base and contains 7,500 tonnes of rock. It is located on private property but can be viewed from the roadside.

To the east, just over the NSW border, reached via Tenterfield, is Bald Rock National Park and Boonoo Boonoo Falls. Or north-east of Stanthorpe, visit the lovely Queen Mary Falls near Killarney. About 90km west is the huge Glenlyon Dam, also a haven for fishing enthusiasts as it is well stocked with several excellent fish species.

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150 YEARS OF WINEMAKING HISTORY WINE GRAPES WERE FIRST PLANTED ON THE GRANITE BELT IN THE 1860S BY THE LOCAL CATHOLIC PARISH PRIEST, FATHER JEROME DAVADI. LATER MANY ITALIAN FAMILIES SETTLED IN THE REGION AND GREW VINES TO MAKE WINE FOR THEIR OWN CONSUMPTION.

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he children of those first pioneers studied at home and overseas, bringing with them a new enthusiasm for lesser-known grape varieties. Over the past decade Granite Belt wineries have made their mark at national and interstate wine shows and the region is now recognised as a small but unique producer of premium wines and one of the most exciting wine regions in Australia.

At just under 1000 metres’ elevation, the Granite Belt is one of the highest wine regions in the nation and almost 900 metres higher than Bordeaux in France or the Napa Valley in the USA. The unique terroir with its longer growing season and deep granitic gravels, combined with the innovative approach of the region’s winemakers and vignerons, produces wines of elegance and complexity. Cool climate wines as individual as a fingerprint.

The last few years have seen a number of emerging varieties grown with great success on the Granite

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WINEMAKER ANDY WILLIAMS MAKES WINE AT HIDDEN CREEK, ANOTHER OF THE GRANITE BELT’S OLDEST WINERIES

Belt, which is officially recognised as a wine-producing region under its own GI (Geographical Indicator). The region has a growing reputation as one of Australia’s top producers of alternative variety wines.

A host of cellar doors offer a personal, unhurried and friendly wine experience. Taste mainstream varieties such as cabernet sauvignon,

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

shiraz and chardonnay, or discover the StrangeBirds – luscious alternative varieties. Many are old European varieties that delight the senses with new and exciting aromas and flavours.

For those who enjoy a great craft beer or cider, a premium craft brewery has some excellent brews. The Granite Belt Brewery is gaining a reputation for the quality of its hand-made beers.

150 YEARS OF WINEMAKING HISTORY

SPECIAL EXPERIENCES & EDUCATION A number of wineries offer private tasting rooms for groups, vineyard tours and wine master-classes and the Queensland College of Wine & Tourism has Winemaker for a Weekend courses.

Find out more on our website or ask at our Visitor Information Centre on Quart Pot Creek. granitebeltwinecountry.com.au

AT OUR TABLE

FOURTH-GENERATION WINEMAKER RAY COSTANZO GOLDEN GROVE ESTATE

A TALE OF TWO FAMILIES The Puglisi family tradition of winemaking dates back to 1930 when Salvatore Cardillo, an Italian immigrant, made wine from table grapes grown on his farm. His son-in-law, Alfio Puglisi, took the baton from him before passing it to son Angelo and his wife, Mary. The couple saw the potential for a new industry in the area, planted wine grapes and started making wine commercially. Ballandean Estate Wines is now one of the region’s leading wineries. Now the fourth generation, the couple’s daughters, Leeanne Gangemi and Robyn Henderson, have taken on the management role.

Sicilian immigrant, Salvatore Patti, also made wine from his surplus table

grapes. His daughter Nita and husband Mario Costanzo continued this practice.

When their second son, Sam, with wife Grace, purchased the family property, now known as Golden Grove Estate, in the mid 1980s, they gradually replaced table grapes with wine grapes. Now their sons Raymond and Jason have taken up the reins. Raymond studied winemaking at university, graduating with a B. App Science, then worked in a number of important wine regions, including Washington State in the USA, before returning home and taking over as winemaker. Jason became a qualified chef and caters for functions.

There are now more than 30 cellar doors open to Granite Belt visitors.

Many are relative newcomers who

Ballandean Estate offers a behindthe-scenes tour of their winery plus a two-course lunch in the Barrelroom Restaurant, featuring six matching wines, every Monday from 11am to 1.30pm hosted by one of the Puglisi family. $90 per person. Bookings essential www.ballandeanestate.com

THE PUGLISI FAMILY OF BALLANDEAN ESTATE WINES

have seen the potential offered by the granitic soils and dry, cooler climate for growing quality wine grapes. They all make their own special contribution to the region’s growing credibility and reputation for quality wines.

Three generations of passion, love and the strive for excellence.

Mainstream varieties and a long list of Strangebird wines to tempt every palate.

Cultural, food and wine events throughout the year.

OPEN DAILY 337 Sundown Road, Ballandean Qld 4380 Ph: 07 4684 1291 • Email: sales@goldengroveestate.com.au www.goldengroveestate.com.au

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GRANITE BELT WINERIES HAVE MADE THEIR MARK AT NATIONAL WINE SHOWS

CHESTS OF GOLD, TABLES OF TROPHIES THE SHEER NUMBER OF GOLD MEDALS AND TROPHIES PROUDLY DISPLAYED IN CABINETS, TABLES AND ON WALLS IN CELLAR DOORS THROUGHOUT THE GRANITE BELT, IS TESTIMONY TO THE REGION’S GROWING REPUTATION AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST INTERESTING AND GO-AHEAD WINE REGIONS.

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ranite Belt wines have gone from being a curiosity many years ago, to now taking their place among the respected wine regions of Australia. It is a small region, but one that produces some excellent cool climate wines.

At an elevation of 1000 metres above sea level, wines grapes take longer to ripen, ensuring luscious, full flavours with great diversity between individual vineyards. That sense of place (or terroir) is reflected in the quality of fruit

produced on the Granite Belt. Wines from this region have been said to be as individual as a fingerprint.

Respected wine writer Mike Bennie, who contributes articles on wine for most of Australia’s leading magazines, made the following observations in an article in The Wine Front, a major online wine commentary website: “Granite Belt has to be one of Australia’s most exciting wine regions.

Indeed, the scope of wines possible from the region is startling, and the

Reserve your premium wine experience now Our beautiful cellar door is open by appointment only. Closed May. Call: 0419 723 755 61 Savina Lane, Severnlea 8

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

overall sense of quality, very high.

Few regions in Australia manage to excel at so many varieties and styles, and few regions in Australia have a culture of innovation, and, importantly, a willingness to let the region speak clearly through its wines.”

Here on the Granite Belt we are proud of our wines and the people behind them.

Not all Granite Belt wineries enter wine shows or submit their wines for assessment by wine writers, but those

CHESTS OF GOLD, TABLES OF TROPHIES

who do, provide gold-standard proof that our wines can compete with the best other regions have to offer.

THE QUEENSLAND COLLEGE OF WINE TOURISM Visitors are welcome seven days a week for tastings of award-winning wines made by the College’s professional winemaker with the assistance of local school students, who also train in the College’s vineyards.

The renowned Vineyard of the Future is part of the College, although entry to this area is not permitted for biosecurity reasons. It can be viewed from the carpark and restaurant however.

Local viticulturists have contributed time and material to preserve and trial new heritage wine grape varieties.

The excellent on-site restaurant, Varias, overlooking the vineyards, is air-conditioned and offers full menus with paired local and college wines as well as light meals. It is open every day for lunch and on Friday and Saturday nights for dinner.

The Queensland College of Wine Tourism was created as a joint venture between the Queensland Government and the University of Southern Queensland. Better known locally by its acronym QCWT, the College provides a real-world industry

training context for hospitality, tourism, commercial cooking and wine industry operations for students. It is dedicated to raising quality and service standards in the food and wine tourism sector.

The College also runs workshops and seminars for visitors on a wide range of subjects, including winemaking.

QCWT is equipped with excellent function rooms and seminar facilities which have seen it become a hub for wine industry training and workshops which draw industry professionals from across Australia as well as southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.

QUEENSLAND COLLEGE OF WINE TOURISM

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MEET THE VIGNERONS & WINEMAKERS THE GRANITE BELT IS ONE REGION WHERE SINGLE-VINEYARD, HAND-PICKED, HAND-CRAFTED WINE IS THE NORM AND NOT THE EXCEPTION.

MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE WINE AND GROW THE GRAPES

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nlike most of Australia’s wine industry, the vast majority of wineries on the Granite Belt are owned and operated by individual families who work in the vines, make the wines and often, run the cellar door too. None of our wineries are owned by big corporations or listed on the stock market.

Wherever you go on the Granite

Belt you will be greeted by people who know and love good wine.

People who spend their lives seeking excellence, both in the quality of fruit produced and the quality of wines made from that fruit.

OPENING HOURS There are at least a dozen Granite Belt cellar doors that open seven days a

week, however the remainder generally open for three or four days, or even just at weekends.

Wineries do their best to always be open when advertised and it is rare to find them closed at these times.

While winery owners understand that visitors would like to be able to visit all wineries any day of the week, for the small wineries this is just not possible.

The vineyards take priority and there is much work to be done all year round.

Winery owners are friendly and hardworking and love nothing better than showing their wines to Granite Belt visitors, however the many demands of running a small winery place some restriction on times they can be in the cellar door.

If you have your heart set on visiting a particular winery and they are not open when you are in the area, it is always worth giving them a call to see if you can make an appointment. While it might not always be possible, it is always worth a try. Phone numbers are on pages 29-31.

Wines in the cellar door Lunches in the Singing Lake Café Concerts in the Swigmore Hall

“They are by far the best Verdelhos I have ever tasted.”

James Halliday 2003

“Arguably Australia’s foremost producer of Verdelho.”

James Halliday 2009

“Robert Channon has long been a master of the dark arts of Verdelho” James Halliday 2016

Verdelho

Chardonnay

Pinot Gris

Pinot Noir

Shiraz

Cabernet Sauvignon

Ph: (07) 4683 3260

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

Rosé

Sparkling

E: info@robertchannonwines.com

www.robertchannonwines.com 10

Malbec

HEADING GOES HERE TASTING WINE AT A GRANITE BELT CELLAR DOOR

TASTING ETIQUETTE Around Australia it is now common to find wineries asking for a small tasting fee to sample their range of wines. This helps cover staff time as well as the cost of wine. This small amount is normally not charged if visitors make a wine purchase.

Granite Belt winery owners want you to enjoy the tasting experience and spend a lot of time ensuring you do. They are happy to answer all your questions, and, if they are not too busy, will even take you for a walk in their vineyards or show you their winery or wine storage cellar.

If you have enjoyed your visit, it is a courtesy to buy something. If you don’t like the wines or just aren’t in a position to buy, then paying the small tasting fee is a good way to recompense the winery for their time, effort and product.

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MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO AT VERAISON

THE STRANGEBIRDS BEYOND CHARDONNAY, BEYOND SHIRAZ (ALTHOUGH BOTH DO BRILLIANTLY ON THE GRANITE BELT), THERE ARE OUR STRANGEBIRDS. OUR ALTERNATIVE VARIETIES, ALSO KNOWN AS EMERGING VARIETIES.

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o be called an alternative, a variety must represent not more than 1% of the total bearing vines in Australia as defined by Wine Australia. Over the past decade, the Granite Belt has become known for the sheer number of different, delightful and award-winning varieties available for tasting at cellar doors.

Pursue the StrangeBirds and discover wines you’ve never tasted.

Wines that delight the senses and quench your desire for something new and exciting. Enjoyed in Europe for generations, these alternative varieties are now emerging as Australian favourites due to their ability to match perfectly with our food preferences.

Ask for your copy of the StrangeBird Alternative Wine Trail Map, which will give you more information about them and tell you where you can taste them.

StrangeBird wines are available for tasting at more than 24 cellar doors on the Granite Belt.

SERVING TEMPERATURES – NO ICE CUBES PLEASE! Serving wine at room temperature doesn’t mean that of a Queensland summer’s day when inside your home can be up to or more than 30˚C. In fact you might need to chill your red wines!

The practice of serving red wine at room temperature came from Europe where home cellar and

room temperatures are much lower.

Many wine critics have written that Australians drink their white wines too cold (often straight from the fridge) and their reds far too hot.

White wines release their full aromas and flavours between 1013˚C, not chilled like Champagnes – although serious Champagne aficionados would never drink their Krug straight from the refrigerator. They would also recommend you serve your bubbly around 8-10˚C, even up to 13˚C. Reds should be enjoyed at between 18-20˚C. Ten or twenty minutes in the refrigerator should do the trick in a Queensland summer.

Jester Hill Wines Est 1993 – not ‘jester’ notha winery

CELLAR DOOR & JESTER CAFE DAILY – Tastings/sales: 10am to 5pm FRIDAY TO SUNDAY (MAR to SEP) – Lunch: 11.30 to 2.30pm Enquiries for dinner bookings of 10 or more welcome.

Visit us to find the perfect wedding/event venue.

Estate Grown Stunning Wines Family Owned Family Friendly Tranquil Setting

jesterhillwines.com.au  info@jesterhillwines.com.au 292 Mt Stirling Rd, Glen Aplin QLD 4381  (07) 4683 4380

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

THE STRANGEBIRDS

There are several types of wine thermometer on the market and the use of one will add to your enjoyment of the wine as you will know it will be served ‘just right’.

There are small cubes or ‘pearls’ made from stainless steel or plastic widely available that you can use to keep both red and white wines cool.

These can be kept in your freezer until required. If the weather is very hot, just pop one or two into your glass and your wine will stay at the perfect temperature without being diluted by melting ice. After all, you wouldn’t want to spoil all the hard work of the people who went to so much trouble to make the wine for you.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH STRANGEBIRD WINES Lighter-flavoured wines match lighterflavoured foods and full-flavoured wines are best with full-flavoured dishes. There’s a Granite Belt StrangeBird wine variety that matches perfectly with your favourite dish. Here are a few recommendations:

• Petit Manseng Asian dishes, seafood • Roussanne chicken, pork, veal, paté • Sylvaner (sweeter styles) blue cheese, crème brulee • Verdelho seafood & light meats • Vermentino strongly flavoured seafood dishes • Viognier soft cheeses, creamy chicken, rich seafood, pork

STRANGEBIRD WHITE WINES

STRANGEBIRD RED WINES

• Alvarinho seafood, poultry • Chenin Blanc light creamy chicken & fish • Fiano seafood, poultry, pork, veal or sushi • Gewurztraminer Indian & Thai dishes • Marsanne pork, veal or lobster in cream sauce

• Barbera pizza & antipasto • Durif game or red meat dishes • Graciano red meats, Mediterranean dishes, venison, tajines • Malbec grilled game, red meats & pasta • Montepulciano grilled meat, lamb, bolognese sauce & pasta • Mourvedre game meat & duck dishes • Nebbiolo hearty meat dishes, beef casseroles & salami • Nero d’Avola rich red meats, spicy casseroles & salami • Petit Verdot lamb shanks & beef casseroles • Pinotage red meats, duck & venison • Sangiovese pizza margarita, Italianstyle pork, veal or chicken • Sagrantino pizza, pasta, truffles • Saperavi rich meat dishes • Tannat beef, lamb, strong cheeses, cassoulet • Tempranillo tapas, cured ham, herbed meat, smoked sausages

3 wines served on Qantas business class flights

Complimentary Wine Tastings at 2017 Eukey Rd, Ballandean 7 Days 10am - 4pm

2019 Results include trophies for 2019 Albarinho and 2019 Fiano 2019 Vermentino voted Top 5 Alternative White Wines of the Year

by Winestate magazine and finalist for Wine of the Year 2019 Gewurztraminer awarded TOP GOLD Royal Melbourne and nominated for trophy

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A Taste of the Granite Belt in a glass...

Our wines express their origins in the rugged and majestic landscape of the Granite Belt.

We don’t just make wine, we grow Premium, Limited Edition, Hand Crafted wines.

Growing Wine At Tobin Wines, we talk about growing our wine, rather than making the wine.

Our winemaking philosophy is undeniably ‘old world’ — all respect is paid to the vineyard, the vine, and the pursuit of perfection in grape quality, with little — if any — reverence paid to the winemaker or winemaking process.

Each grape variety is given the spotlight to truely reveal its own unique flavour.

“No wine maker is gifted enough to make those wonderful flavours & aromas — all of the work happens out there, in the vineyard” — Adrian Tobin The production of our wine is limited to between 100 – 160 cases of each varietal every year.

Our Limited Edition wines express their origins in the rugged and majestic landscape of the Granite Belt making them truly unique.

Their hard work is driven by the belief that exceptional fruit is the foundation of superb wine and has led to awards such as one of Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Best Cellar Doors in 2019.

It’s not about making wine, it’s about growing it. That’s the philosophy Ballandean vineyard owner Adrian Tobin lives by.

This determination to produce only the very best sees Adrian and the rest of Tobin Wines team clock 100-hour weeks, tending to the vines by hand.

Their hard work is driven by the belief that exceptional fruit is the foundation of superb wine.

It’s the flavours of Adrian’s vineyard which shine through his wines. It also means they perfectly reflect a sense of place, evoking Queensland’s Granite Belt in a glass.

“No other wine growing region in Australia has what we have in terms of geography, topography, altitude and climate,” Adrian explains of his home. “It’s this combination which produces wine of such high character and quality.”

Tobin’s Wines is located at 34 Ricca Rd, Ballandean.

The cellar door is open for tastings daily from 10am – 5pm (Anzac Day trading hours 1pm – 5pm and closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.)

Advertorial

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

Heartland Magazine Special Feature | 29

BIRD NETTING PROTECTS GRAPES FROM HUNGRY BIRDS AND FOXES

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A VINEYARD WHILE THE VINEYARD MIGHT PASS THROUGH A 12-MONTH CYCLE, FOR MOST VIGNERONS, A MONTH CAN FEEL LIKE A YEAR AS THEY BATTLE EVERYTHING FROM THE WEATHER TO THE WILDLIFE. LIKE FARMERS EVERYWHERE, VIGNERONS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE ELEMENTS.

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n summer, hailstorms are a vigneron’s worst enemy. Every year many Granite Belt vineyards will suffer serious hail damage to their fruit.

Smoke from bushfires can also taint ripening fruit making it unusable for wine production. Extremely hot summers will bring the grapes on early, cool, rainy summers not only bring issues with disease, but delay ripening.

SPRING This is bud burst time and the time for frosts that can burn off new growth overnight and affect yield.

Increasingly vignerons are using anti-frost equipment – either sprinkler systems or huge anti-frost fans that prevent frost from settling on the emerging shoots.

SUMMER

WINTER

Vintage (harvest) usually commences in late January or early February for early-ripening varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Verdelho, followed in early March by the aromatic whites, such as Chardonnay, Fiano and Viognier. Reds like Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz are picked mid to late March, however some varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano and Montepulciano, can still be on the vines towards the end of April.

Pruning of the vines is usually left until mid to late winter before the sap starts rising again in spring. Frosts that arrive over autumn and winter do not harm the vines themselves, nor does snow, providing the temperatures do not drop too far below zero.

AUTUMN After all the fruit has been picked, the vine leaves turn red or gold and one by one, fall off until only bare sticks are left. Vignerons can take a break over autumn.

KEEPING THE WILDLIFE AT BAY Visitors to the region in summer may also notice black or white netting in vineyards, either over each individual row, or multiple rows. This is to protect the fruit from the huge flocks of birds that we love having around most of the year, but wish they would go to the beach for the summer months.

Private tasting experiences with Brad & Stacey, our door is open!

Alvarinho, Petit Manseng, and a range of premium wines.....

Bookings essential, Phone 07 4684 1139 viewwine.com.au

VIEW

WINE

Located in Ballandean, QLD

Sancerre Estate B&B and self contained cottage 60 Zambelli Road Ballandean QLD Accommodation bookings sancerreestate.com.au stay@sancerreestate.com.au 07 4684 1139

Stay where the wine is grown!

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GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR WINE TASTING MANY VISITORS TO THE GRANITE BELT ARE WINE EXPERTS THEMSELVES, SO THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR WINE TASTING. HOWEVER, SOME VISITORS ARE NEW TO WINE OR PERHAPS HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE FINER POINTS OF TASTING WINE.

A PERSONAL WINE EXPERIENCE

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ere are a few brief guidelines to increase your enjoyment of the wine tasting experience:

LOOK, SWIRL AND SNIFF The colour of wine tells you a lot about its age and taste, even before you put a drop into your mouth.

Hold your glass against a white page, tilt it slightly and really look at the colour.

White wines tend to gain colour as they

age. Most white wines will have a pale straw colour. Some aromatic white wines (such as viognier and fiano) age well and take on a more golden hue. White wines that come from cooler climates won’t be as golden as those from warmer places.

Almost all red wines start out bright purple but change with age towards a red ‘brick’ colour. Not all red wines have the same colour intensity – pinot noir for example is lighter in colour than many reds.

Once you have examined the appearance of the wine, swirl it around in your glass to check its ‘legs’ and release the aromas. The ‘legs’ indicate alcohol content only. The higher the alcohol, the more viscous the wine will be and those ‘legs’ will trickle down the side of the glass longer. It is a myth that long-lasting ‘legs’ denote wine quality.

Swirl the wine around again and put your nose right into the glass, taking a full sniff. What can you smell?

Young wines will have fresh fruity

aromas and older ones more earthy or spicy smells.

NOTE THE SENSATION OF TASTE Now, after looking, swirling and sniffing, it is time to taste the wine.

Take a good sip. Swish it around in your mouth and note the taste in the back of your throat and how it feels in your mouth (e.g. is it rich and heavy (viscous) or light and thin)? The higher the alcohol content the more viscous the wine will feel – that is it will be light, medium or full-bodied. Give the wine a little slurp to release flavours.

The body of a wine is a term used to describe the sense of ‘fullness’ in your mouth. Full-bodied wines are big and powerful, and light-bodied wines are more delicate and lean.

There are areas on the tongue that sense different taste sensations such as bitter, sweet, sour and salty for example so letting the wine roll over your tongue may assist you to identify more flavours.

Stanthorpe Tours with Filippo’s, the tour specialists, are for people who enjoy great wine, great food and a great day out on the Granite Belt near Stanthorpe.

Discover the famous wineries and special places of interest, whilst enjoying award winning wines with friends. All our drivers are courteous and knowledgeable in the Stanthorpe South East Queensland area.

TOUR PROFESSIONALS Showing you the BEST of the Granite Belt District

CALL 0409 877 973

EMAIL enquiries@filippostours.com.au

www.filippostours.com.au

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR WINE TASTING

FINALLY, IDENTIFY THE FINISH OF THE WINE This is best done by simply swallowing, but many people can assess the finish and still spit the wine out.

If you plan to visit a number of wineries, then use the spittoons provided, otherwise your ability to assess wines as the day passes will diminish as your blood alcohol level increases.

The finish of a wine is just how long the taste of the wine stays on your palate after swallowing. The length of the finish is the final indicator of the wine’s quality. The taste of some exceptional wines will remain on your palate for more than a minute.

The finish is important because it is your final impression of a wine. If the flavours drop off quickly it can be disappointing. A good finish will leave you delighted and wanting another sip.

These local tour operators are professional and experienced: Filippo’s Tours www.filippostours.com.au Granite Highlands Maxi-Tours www.maxitours.com.au Stanthorpe Tours www.stanthorpetours.com.au Wine Discovery Tours www.winediscoverytours.com.au

HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS ON A WINERY TOUR

TAKE A WINERY TOUR Let someone else do the driving on an escorted winery or brewery tour.

Granite Belt tour operators are not only professional, they are determined their guests have a thoroughly rewarding experience.

Wine tours offer a wide range of possibilities, whether you just want a gettogether with friends and a tour of the wineries, or are serious about wine and want a more in-depth experience and wish to visit wineries of your choice. Or perhaps something in the middle. Tour operators will tailor a tour just for you.

Take a half day or full day tour with lunch included, or just enjoy a morning

or afternoon tour if that’s all the time you have. Whatever you choose, it will be fun-filled and enjoyable. And you won’t have to worry about a thing.

TAKE YOUR TIME AND ENJOY THE WINE

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ENJOY LUNCH AL FRESCO

TASTES OF THE GRANITE BELT

LONG BEFORE THE GRANITE BELT GAINED A REPUTATION AS QUEENSLAND’S PREMIER WINE REGION, A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY FLOURISHED. THE GRANITE BELT IS NOW AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST PRODUCER OF APPLES AND SUPPLIES THE VAST MAJORITY OF SUMMER SALAD VEGETABLES, SUCH AS TOMATOES AND LETTUCES, TO THE NATION’S CONSUMERS, AS WELL AS STONE FRUITS IN SEASON.

A

VARIAS RESTAURANT QUEENSLAND COLLEGE OF WINE TOURISM

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combination of 1000 metres’ elevation, low humidity and granitic soils enables our local producers to supply fruit and vegetables of a quality unparalleled in Australia.

Sprinkled throughout the region there are also numerous producers of artisanal cheeses, jams and condiments, apple pies and sauces, ciders, honey and olives.

Most visitors to the region aren’t aware that fresh local venison is available.

Or locally-produced organic lamb, pork, bacon and processed meats like prosciutto and chorizo. Premium beef is sourced just across the border from quality New England producers.

Supporting these artisan producers are some excellent restaurants, casual dining cafés and winery eateries located within lovely vineyards.

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

Enjoying a glass of award-winning Granite Belt wine with your meal offers an opportunity to enjoy the best of this mountain climate where nights are cool, even in summer.

During the winter months, our busiest time, restaurant bookings are essential, but most other times our excellent hosts will find you a table.

Whether you’re enjoying breakfast in one of our excellent bed & breakfasts, lunching or dining in one of our Tourism Award-winning restaurants or eateries or even just enjoying a sandwich in a café, it’s likely you’ll be enjoying the best of what this region has to offer.

Varias Restaurant at Queensland College of Wine Tourism aims for excellence with its contemporary Australian menu that focuses on seasonal produce sourced from local

TASTES OF THE GRANITE BELT

producers. The purpose-designed College also has an impressive cellar door tasting room. Varias is airconditioned and has a log fire in the winter months.

The Barrelroom Restaurant at Ballandean Estate Wines offers casual fine dining with an eclectic modern Italian-Australian focus.

Diners sit amongst an array of enormous 150-year-old port barrels.

The menu is prepared from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients by two popular award-winning chefs, Matt and Bobbi Wells, who recently returned to the region.

The bar at the Granite Belt Brewery is open from 10am every day for tastings of their excellent craft beer. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. Enjoy fresh local produce and great beer along with country hospitality.

At Hidden Creek Winery & Café, lunch can be served indoors or outside under the trees in one of the prettiest spots in the region. The modern Australian-themed menu comprises locally sourced, organic and home-grown ingredients selected to pair beautifully with their wines.

Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for lunch. Reservations are essential. The café can cater for larger groups and functions.

Heritage Estate Wines offers wine tastings and morning coffee or lunch at its Churchyard Café on the Highway, which was beautifully transformed from an old wooden church and decorated with elegant period furniture.

FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE AND EXCELLENT WINES

Jester Hill Wines serves à la carte lunches from March to September in their charming family-run café which has lovely vineyard views from the terrace. Delicious platters are offered upon request during the summer months. Wine tastings are available every day.

Mason Wines Cellar Door Café serves all day platters and lunch in a rustic setting overlooking the vineyard.

Bookings are preferred, phone 0439 530 535. Taste the wines, olives, jams, chutneys, chilli sauces, fudge and plenty more.

Robert Channon Wines Singing Lake Café offers a lunch menu in a serene setting overlooking a wide expanse of water. An ideal spot for a celebration. There are monthly concerts at the winery’s Swigmore Hall. Phone 4683 3260.

St Jude’s Cellar Door & Bistro at Ballandean is open for delicious coffee and cakes and gourmet lunch using fresh local produce.

Whiskey Gully Wines’ restaurant in the historic Beverley Homestead offers an imaginative six-course Saturday night degustation menu, which is a true gourmet experience. Diners are entertained by the talented host, on one of his many guitars.

Indulge in strawberries and ice cream at Ashbern Farms Café from October to May. Vast fields of strawberries were planted in recent years to supply this luscious berry in the summer months when growers in other regions are unable to grow them because it is too hot. You can pick your own strawberries, enjoy delicious strawberry ice cream or a fresh strawberry dipped in chocolate.

Di Lunc nne h rF 7d ri & ays Sa t

(07) 4685 5050 www.qcwt.com.au

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JAMS, CHUTNEYS, GOOD FOOD & GREAT COFFEE

GOURMET DELIGHTS FROM LOCAL ARTISANS IN HOME KITCHENS, RESTAURANTS AND SUCCESSFUL COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES – PASSIONATE PEOPLE ARE CONVERTING OUR LOCAL PRODUCE INTO GOURMET DELIGHTS.

T

he talented young owner-chefs at Jamworks are now exporting their products widely outside the region and many visitors arrive on the Granite Belt to meet the owners and sample their growing range of outstanding products and enjoy a delicious meal or great coffee in their fascinating café boutique. They are licensed and sell local wines and beers. This is a great place to select some souvenirs of your visit to the Granite Belt.

The Market in the Mountains is normally held at the Showgrounds on the second Sunday of the month and on other special dates to coincide with long weekends. The market is from 8am to 12 midday.

The Rocks Restaurant at Honeysuckle Cottages, off the highway near town, opens for Brazilian Tapas during the winter months. Check their website for details.

Castle Glen

Sutton’s Juice Factory, Cidery & Shed Café just north of The Summit offers delicious home-made apple pies and lovely ciders.

Just inside the Queensland border with NSW, the Wallangarra Railway Café & Museum offers a taste of history and heritage with home-style breakfast and lunch, home-made cakes and great coffee every day. Markets on the platform first Sunday each month.

Multiple Award Winners

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Wines | Fortifieds | Liqueurs | Spirits | Beers EST. 1990

Medals

PRE

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

E

3184 Amiens Road, Thulimbah QLD 4376 Ph: 07 4683 2363

IV

Make Award Winning Castle Glen “Castle in a Valley” your destination when visiting the beautiful Granite Belt.

100 % Queensland handmade preservative free and chemical free wines (table, fortified, sparkling) from the Castle Glen Vineyard.

Multi award winning liqueurs and world first vegan crème liqueurs – no dairy, no fat and no eggs. Spirits including Single Malt Whiskies, Gins, Rum and a boutique range of Beers.

E R VAT Complimentary try before you buy available across S our unique range!

Opening Hours – 10.00am – 4.00pm, 7 days FREE

Online delivery – castleglenaustralia.com.au

GOURMET DELIGHTS FROM LOCAL ARTISANS

STANTHORPE FRIDAY MORNING FRESH FOOD MARKET

IN STANTHORPE TOWN

THE GRANITE BELT MAZE & MINI GOLF Take a break and enjoy hot snacks, cakes, ice creams, coffee, tea & cold drinks in the small café while keeping an eye on the kids.

GREAT CRAFT BEER

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stanthorpeer of the chamber ofil commerce

2017stanthorpe chamber of commerce

2017

For the best food & coffee!.. be sure to visit us next time you’re in Stanthorpe!

We’re

g n i d a e s pr the love !

7 Townsend Road, Glen Aplin QLD 4381 Ph: 07 4683 4171

jamworks.com.au

• PICKLES • RELISHES • CHUTNEYS • PASTES •

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the Granite Belt is a food enthusiast’s delight from the paddock to the pantry to the plate.

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• JAMS • JELLIES • MARMALADES • BUTTERS •

Every Friday morning right in the heart of town, under shady gazebos, local fresh food producers gather for the weekly outdoor market. Here you might find fresh eggs from free-range chickens, pork or ham from happy pigs, fresh flowers, jams, pickles or whatever fruit and vegetables are in season.

While you are in town there are a host of trendy cafés and bakeries offering a tempting choice of light lunches, deli foods for gourmet picnics, and patisseries as well as great coffee.

Our modern RSL Club does good food in air-conditioned comfort and scattered around town restaurants offer everything from Japanese food to fish and chips.

Steeped in European culture with produce as diverse as its seasons,

STANTHORPE LANEWAYS FEATURE MURALS BY LOCAL ARTISTS

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STANTHORPE REGIONAL ART GALLERY HAS A QUALITY PERMANENT COLLECTION AND REGULAR EXHIBITIONS

ARTS & HERITAGE LONG BEFORE EXPLORER ALLAN CUNNINGHAM CAME THIS WAY IN 1827, THE REGION WAS A HEARTLAND OF THE KAMBUWAL PEOPLE AS THEIR SUMMER HUNTING GROUNDS. BY 1844 FOUR SQUATTERS HAD TAKEN UP A VAST AREA OF THE GRANITE BELT.

T

he Crown Land Act of 1868 led to an influx of selectors, as well as enabling shepherds and other farm labourers to acquire land of their own. The large holdings began to shrink.

The 1870’s discovery of tin at Quart Pot Creek brought miners hoping to strike it lucky. As the settlement grew in importance, Quart Pot, as it was then known – named that by a miner who accidentally left his quart pot beside the creek at which he had camped – was changed to Stannum (Latin for tin). Later the name was gazetted as Stanthorpe, literally meaning ‘tin town’. The Stanthorpe tin field was the greatest tin producer in Queensland and its production has not been eclipsed to present times.

When the tin prices fell many miners turned to farming.

The climate was suitable for growing cool climate fruits and vegetables. Grapes were first planted here in the 1860s with encouragement from the local Catholic parish priest Father Jerome Davadi, in order to produce altar wine. His Italian descent made grape growing and wine production a familiar pastime and the notion caught on in the area. There were plenty of Italian settlers and wine was made for home enjoyment. The railway arrived in 1881 bringing an influx of German settlers.

The cool, dry climate was valued as an aid to health from the early nineteenth century especially for those suffering from tuberculosis or chest conditions. Following the First World War, Stanthorpe was a major resettlement area for soldiers recovering from mustard gas exposure. Many of these Soldier Settlers took up the land leased to them in the areas around Stanthorpe which now bear the names of WW1 battlefields, such as Pozieres, Messines, Fleurbaix,

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

STANTHORPE MUSEUM IS HOUSED IN THE 1914 OLD SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Amiens, Passchendaele and The Somme. Stanthorpe is still a place that welcomes newcomers.

A drive or walk around Stanthorpe will reveal some wonderful vintage Queenslander-style houses, but the town is dominated by its beautiful old post office, which is still in use. Stanthorpe Post Office was built of local granite and brick in 1901. It is a good example of Edwardian Classical design with arched windows and an ornamental ceiling and was the first in Australia to be built after Federation, however its magnificent English-made clock, installed in 1903, bears the British Coat of Arms.

ARTS & HERITAGE

Stanthorpe is privileged to have an Art Gallery of this size and quality.

Established in 1972, the collection now comprises more than 900 pieces and represents the diversity of Australian art practice through wide-ranging mediums – fibre/textile, painting, ceramics, works on paper and sculpture. The collection includes works

by Margaret Olley, Charles Blackman, William Robinson, Jon Molvig, Gordon Bennett and Barbara Schey. New exhibitions are regularly presented.

The Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery is open Tue to Fri 10am–4pm; Sat & Sun 10am–1pm A great spot to enjoy a fresh croissant while the children play in a shaded playground, is beautiful Weerona Park where you will also find the Swimming Pool, Library and Art Gallery.

STANTHORPE MUSEUM – A MUST-SEE TREASURE Winner of multiple Awards for Excellence, Stanthorpe Museum is an outstanding regional museum housed in the 1914 old Shire Council Chambers.

There is the School Residence built in 1894, complete with inkwells, school desks and slates. Gracious Ardmore House, once the summer residence of a wealthy Brisbane family, was built in 1920 and is now filled with wonderful period collections. Heath House, built in 1940, has complete rooms dressed with household furniture and items from the 30s and 40s including some gorgeous vintage clothes.

Wilsons Downfall Gaol, also on the Museum site, was built in 1876 and used for more than 100 years. See antique farm machinery, fire engines and an important and poignant WWI display as well as the old Glen Aplin Telephone Exchange which carried all interstate military calls during WW11. There are fifteen complete buildings on the large site so make sure you set aside enough time to enjoy them all.

Open Wed to Fri 10am–4pm; Sat 1pm–4pm; Sun 9am–1pm

QUART POT CREEK & THE RED BRIDGE Walkways meander both sides of Quart Pot Creek and are a delight for adults and children alike who can feed the ducks or enjoy the picnic facilities and playgrounds along the way. The stroll to The Red Bridge, a railway bridge crossing over Quart Pot Creek, follows a well-made path and in hot weather the cool rock pools upstream are a delight. The bridge was constructed between 1885 and 1888 using horse-drawn drays and manpower to move the tonnes of rock needed for banking. Many who came to build the bridge stayed to build new lives in the region.

border runs right across the platform and visitors stand with a foot in each State.

The Wallangarra Station was created to service a break-of-gauge between Queensland’s narrow gauge railway line and NSW’s standard gauge when the two systems met in 1888. Until 1932, the railway was the only rail link between the two States. All scheduled rail services stopped in 1997. In 2003, after major refurbishment, the station was reopened as a museum and now also houses an excellent café where morning teas and lunches can be enjoyed seven days a week in the original Tearoom building.

The railway line from Stanthorpe to Wallangarra has continued to be maintained and tourist steam trains occasionally operate from Warwick, stopping in Stanthorpe to pick up extra passengers.

Open 7 days 7am–5pm ZAC ROBINSON

STANTHORPE ART GALLERY – A QUALITY COLLECTION

WALLANGARRA RAILWAY STATION & MUSEUM Visitors will notice the design of the platforms on either side of the station buildings are completely different.

One side matches the old designs for Queensland Railway platforms and the other for NSW Railways. The state

A STARRY NIGHT AT THE RED BRIDGE OVER QUART POT CREEK

Main Range National Park

GRANITEBELTWINECOUNTRY.COM.AU

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STANTHORPE ZONTA CLUB HOLDS ITS PINK DINNERS AT QCWT FUNCTION ROOM

SO MANY REASONS TO VISIT COME FOR THE FESTIVALS, THE STARRY NIGHTS, LOWER SUMMER HUMIDITY OR LOG FIRES IN WINTER, OR TO CELEBRATE YOUR OWN SPECIAL EVENT AT A GRANITE BELT WINERY OR RESTAURANT.

B

ut perhaps it’s not quite so well known that no matter how hot the summer days, it will be cooler on the Granite Belt at night than anywhere else in Queensland.

Humidity is lower too at 1000 metres up in our mountain environment.

Our four gorgeous seasons mean holding your special event or small conference here offers the perfect escape from heat, noise and bustle.

YOUR SPECIAL EVENT Whether it is a wedding or a party to celebrate a significant birthday, there is a venue just right for you on the Granite Belt. From vineyard and winery restaurants to the first-class function rooms of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. You won’t have any problems finding the perfect place.

FABULOUS FESTIVALS Check our website for an update on coming events: www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au Apple & Grape Harvest Festival 2022: Usually held in even years (2022, 2024 etc) end of February to first week of March. A week of wonderful music, food and wine. www.appleandgrape.org

Snowflakes in Stanthorpe Festival 2021: Held in winter months in uneven years (2021, 2023 etc) features real snowfields, ice-skating and winter markets. www.snowflakesinstanthorpe.com.au

Grazing the Granite Belt: Held annually in mid-May. Two days of lazy grazing on gourmet local produce and premium Granite Belt wines and ciders. Hop-on, hop-off

bus ferries you from one delicious experience to another. www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au

Australian Small Winemakers Show: Recognised nationally, this outstanding event in October each year attracts thousands of entries from small producers in Australia and NZ. The Public Tasting is a mustdo but book early. www.asws.com.au Granite Belt Art & Craft Trail: An Open Studio showcase of local arts and crafts held over two weekends usually in October. It features classes, demonstrations and exhibitions. www.southerndownsandgranitebelt. com.au/gbart

Welcomes you

The location boasts freedom, romance and relaxation, nestled amongst the wineries, breweries and many other attractions directly linked to the famous Granite Belt.

Relax with a local wine amongst the trees, friendly kangaroos and enjoy the fresh country air, peace and serenity of the bush.

Take a walk to the highest point and watch the glorious sunsets over the mountain or just sit on your balcony and watch the sun go down.

Snuggle up for a cosy evening next to the fireplace and enjoy the ambience our cottages provide.

P: 0429 122 233 | E: admin@randrontheravine.com.au | 464 Back Creek Road, Severnlea

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STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITOR GUIDE

EXPERIENCE OUR FOUR BEAUTIFUL SEASONS HERE IS SOME IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON THE GRANITE BELT. LOCALS NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT SOMETHING WARM TO WEAR, NO MATTER HOW HOT THE DAY HAS BEEN. VISITORS SHOULD ALWAYS BRING A LIGHT WRAP. IN WINTER IT SOMETIMES SNOWS SO BRING WARM COATS, GLOVES AND BEANIES.

SPRING

• • • • •

WILDFLOWERS ARE EVERYWHERE

Warm, sunny days and very cool nights Bud burst in the vineyards Pink and white blossoms on stone fruit and cherry trees The wild yellow coreopsis flowers along roadsides Rare and lovely wildflowers in Girraween National Park

AUTUMN

AUTUMN GOLD

• Cooler, sunny days and crisp nights • The last of the wine grape harvest • Red and gold in vineyards, orchards, parks and gardens as leaves on deciduous trees and vines change colour • Harvesting the apple orchards

SUMMER

VINES READY FOR HARVEST

• Hot days, cooler nights and low humidity • Fresh local summer peaches, apricots, nectarines, cherries and strawberries • Fresh local tomatoes and summer salad vegetables • Vineyards groaning with luscious ripening fruit – the grape harvest runs right throughout summer

WINTER

• • • •

LOG FIRES IN WINTER

Sparkling, sunny days and often very cold nights Occasional snowfalls Log fires in wineries and accommodation Crisp local apples

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ACCOMMODATION

GRANITE BELT MOTEL

31 THE ROCKS Villas with Style “Relax – Revive – Re-energise”

Book your next stay with locals Michael & Lou at the Granite Belt Motel.

Private 10-acre property with valley views and rock outcrops. Studio, One Bedroom and Two Bedroom Villas each with a unique aspect and privacy. Wood fire, reverse cycle AC, private BBQ and fully selfcontained. Stylish, modern design with comfort in mind. Allow us to ensure your stay is memorable.

 Centrally located in the heart of Stanthorpe

31therocks.com 07 4681 2726 stay@31therocks.com 31 Brunckhorst Avenue, Stanthorpe Q 4380

granitebeltmotel.com.au 07 4681 1811 info@granitebeltmotel.com.au 34 Wallangarra Road, Stanthorpe Q 4380

GRANITE GARDENS COTTAGES

HONEYSUCKLE COTTAGES

 A rural property incorporating six acres of gardens; floodlit during the evening  Three cottages and a contemporary Retreat with views of the lake and gardens  Corner spas and log fires – BBQs on each verandah

 Spoil yourself in a Deluxe Room featuring king size beds, contemporary décor & Smart TVs  Sumptuous breakfast championing local produce  Relax in one of our many peaceful outdoor spaces

The perfect escape Located close to the centre of town, but hidden away in native bushland, our eight fully self-contained cottages enable you to relax and enjoy the comforts and serenity of country living.

 Complimentary breakfast hamper containing fresh, locally sourced produce

 Log fire / Spa bath / Kitchen

 Abundant wildlife and native birds

 Breakfast hamper

 Outdoor entertaining area with fire pit

Set on 30 acres of natural bushland just 5 minutes from Stanthorpe, Granite Belt Retreat features 19 cedar cabins complete with log fire, a 1000 litre micro brewery plus a bar, restaurant and function centre.

We have cabins that appeal to couples, families and guests travelling with their much loved pet.

Experience the gourmet tastes of the Granite Belt with our great value packages.

granitebeltretreat.com.au 07 4681 1370 146 Glenlyon Drive, Stanthorpe Q 4380

JUST RED WINES VINEYARD CABINS Two self-contained two-bedroom cabins with wood fires and air conditioning overlooking the vineyard, adjacent to private native bush and giant granite boulders. Enjoy a glass of your favourite wine on the veranda as you watch the sun go down. Wake up to the melodious sound of native birds. Take a walk in the bush or just relax. One night stays available.

granitegardens.com.au 07 4683 5161 or 0418 459 774 info@granitegardens.com.au 90 Nicholson Road, Thorndale, Stanthorpe Q 4380

honeysucklecottages.com.au 07 4681 1510 info@honeysucklecottages.com.au 15 Mayfair Lane, Stanthorpe Q 4380

justred.com.au 07 4684 1322 or 0419 795 329 cellar@justred.com.au 2370 Eukey Road, Ballandean Q 4382

LOGGER’S REST B&B, COTTAGE & BUNGALOW

LOUGHMORE HOUSE & COTTAGE

LYNROSE PLACE

Logger’s Rest is a luxury B&B within walking distance of the centre of Stanthorpe with a warm and friendly atmosphere in a home full of old world charm, modern comforts, air-conditioning, electric blankets, doonas, en-suites, most rooms have French doors onto the veranda. Wood fireplaces in lounge and games room. Perfect for small groups of 4 couples or a romantic get-a-way.

Comfortable accommodation conveniently located along a scenic drive between Stanthorpe and Ballandean. Relax with family and friends in our fully renovated, three bedroom Queenslander. Granite Belt vineyards on your doorstep, Girraween National Park over your back fence. Fireplace, air-conditioner, TV/DVD, DVD library, electric blankets, BBQ, outdoor entertainment area. Linen and firewood included.

loggersrest.com.au 07 4681 2572 admin@loggersrest.com.au 33 Sugarloaf Road, Stanthorpe Q 4380 26

GRANITE BELT RETREAT

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITORS’ GUIDE

stayatloughmore.com.au 0419 782 625 or 0499 616 401 info@stayatloughmore.com.au 2 Armstrong Lane, Eukey Q 4380

Comfortably accommodates up to 6 people, includes 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, electric blankets, reverse cycle air conditioning throughout, TV/media room, separate lounge with fireplace, dining room with garden views, full laundry facilities, outdoor fire pit, picnic table and carport for up to 3 vehicles. Nestled in a quiet and peaceful position, on the edge of town.

lynroseplace.com.au 07 4681 4676 info@lynroseplace.com.au 115 College Road, Stanthorpe Q 4380

ACCOMMODATION

POSSUM’S HOLLOW AND HOOTER’S HUT

|

TOURS

|

CAFÉS, RESTAURANTS & FOOD

QUAFFERS ON STORM KING

R & R ON THE RAVINE

Featuring 7 luxury self-contained cabins, set amongst 30 acres of native bushland on the banks of Storm King Dam. The 7 cabins have been carefully situated around the property to maximise the water views. Whether you are escaping from the kids for a few days, enjoying a family or group gathering, celebrating a special occasion, or simply because you need to get away from everything, “Quaffers” is the perfect destination to escape and unwind right in the heart of the Granite Belt Wine Region, Queensland’s own wine country.

Set on 113 acres of picturesque bushland, just 7 minutes’ drive from Stanthorpe’s town centre. The location boasts freedom, romance and relaxation, nestled amongst the area’s wineries, breweries and many other attractions directly linked to the famous Granite Belt. Relax with a local wine amongst the trees, friendly kangaroos and enjoy the fresh country air, peace and serenity of the bush. Snuggle up for a cosy evening next to the fireplace and enjoy the ambience our cottages provide.

cobbncocabins.com.au 0438 213 216 possumsandhooterscabins@gmail.com 216 Butler Road, Stanthorpe Q 4380

quaffer.com.au 07 4683 7043 bookings@quaffer.com.au 601 Eukey Road, Storm King Q 4380

randrontheravine.com.au 0429 122 233 admin@randrontheravine.com.au 464 Back Creek Road, Severnlea Q 4352

RIDGEMILL ESTATE WINERY AND CABINS IN THE VINES

SEVERN-DIPITY

STANTHORPE GETAWAY

Possum’s Hollow and Hooter’s Hut are homestead style twin cabins which offer cosy, comfortable accommodation sleeping up to six people in each.

Cabins are fully self-contained and located a short two minute walk from each other for those looking for a group booking.

Great for kids, couples... everyone really!

Nestled amongst the vines, our award winning accommodation offers a tranquil, luxury escape. As one of only a few guests, awake to your own private view of the sun rising over the estate’s vineyard and after a day exploring, cozy up by the wood fire with a bottle of complimentary Ridgemill Estate boutique wine!

Private and secluded in bushland on Severn River.

Modern, fully equipped 2 bedroom/2 bathroom cabin with sauna. Self-contained. Experience the Severn Sins. Midweek and Summer Specials available.

Located in Ballandean with impressive views overlooking a vineyard. Girraween National Park is only a 12 minute drive.

Also Terata House 3 bedroom/2 bathroom renovated Queenslander with 360º views of the working farm from 4 decks. Features a wood-fired pizza oven and open plan living.

 James Farmhouse suits a large group 14 pp

ridgemillestate.com 07 4683 5211 info@ridgemillestate.com 218 Donges Road, Severnlea Q 4380

severn-dipity.com.au 0418 797 791 sdip@halenet.com.au 38 Mungall Lane, Ballandean Q 4382

GRANITE HIGHLANDS MAXI-TOURS

SUTTON’S JUICE FACTORY, CIDERY & SHED CAFÉ

Specialising in winery/beer and food, and district tours on the Granite Belt offering full day/half day and private group tours.

Also offering group tours from Brisbane/Toowoomba and other areas.

For more information visit our website/email or phone Granite Highlands Maxi-Tours.

maxitours.com.au 1800 85 29 69 or 07 4681 3969 allan@maxitours.com.au

Imagine staying in one of these 4 amazing Properties:  Namar & Zuny Yurt are unique 8 sided buildings, 4 pp each  Rose Cottage for 2 pp

stanthorpegetaway.com.au James 0412 889 678 or Mary-Ann 0403 233 699 jamesbooking@optusnet.com.au 2636 Eukey Road, Ballandean Q 4382

At Sutton’s Juice Factory, Cidery & Shed Café our products are produced from Apples and fruit grown on The Granite Belt. We offer our Award Winning Apple Ciders and Apple Juice for tastings and purchase. We are home of The Famous Apple Pie. Opening Hours: 9.30am – 4.30pm – 7 days a week.

suttonsfarm.com.au 07 4685 2464 info@suttonsfarm.com.au 10 Halloran Drive, Thulimbah Q 4376

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BREWERIES, WINERIES & CELLAR DOORS

GRANITE BELT BREWERY

BOIREANN WINERY

Sample handcrafted ales and lagers freshly brewed in our 1000 litre microbrewery. See how the brewery works from the viewing lounge. Try a tasting paddle in our Brew Bar with a choice of six beers made from the finest ingredients. Check out our lunch and dinner menus including our famous Brewers Platter in our onsite restaurant. Extend your experience and stay overnight at our Retreat.

With a red Five-Star James Halliday rating, Boireann Wines has been producing premium quality red wines for over 20 years. Hand-picked and crafted, our meticulous attention to detail allows us to produce remarkable red wines with exceptional character and varietal expression. With specialties including Shiraz Viognier, Barbera and Sangiovese, we invite you to join us for a tasting at Boireann Wines.

Cellar Door Open: 10am–4pm Friday–Monday

CASLEY MOUNT HUTTON WINERY  Wine tasting & tours with winemaker  Producing a wide range of medal winning red & white sweet & dry wines for 20 years  2019 Winner Gourmet Traveller Best Additional Experience  Open Fri to Mon 9:30am–4:30pm (summer); daily in winter months Apr — Sep, other times ph 0427 099 981  10 minutes west from Stanthorpe

granitebeltbrewery.com.au 07 4681 1370 146 Glenlyon Drive, Stanthorpe Q 4380

boireannwinery.com.au 07 4683 2194 cellardoor@boireannwinery.com.au 26 Donnellys Castle Road, The Summit Q 4377

casleywines.com 0427 099 981 cucellardoor@gmail.com 94 Mt Hutton Road, Stanthorpe Q 4380

JUST RED WINES

PYRAMIDS ROAD WINES

RIDGEMILL ESTATE WINERY

A family-run boutique winery specialising in red wine.

All wines are made on the premises from grapes grown on our property. Grape varieties are Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Viognier.

Chances are you will find the winemaker in the cellar door when you visit.

Warren and Sue warmly welcome you to their historic tasting room where Ralph, the famous winery dog will keep a close eye on you from the couch. The couple hand planted their vines in the scenic Wyberba valley which lies in the foothills of Girraween National Park.

They later established their winery and cellar door and invite you to savour the handcrafted wines along with a guided tasting from winemaker Warren. Each vintage brings a new expression of the terroir and the winemaking. Open daily 10:00am to 4:30pm.

Open daily 10.00 am to 5.00 pm or by appointment (closed September). Vineyard Cabins are also available — refer Accommodation section.

We are committed to quality boutique wines, made at the winery from both traditional and emerging varieties, from estate grown and/or Granite Belt grown fruit.

With a high level of elegance and finesse, our boutique wines and picturesque accommodation are the perfect combination.

justred.com.au 07 4684 1322 or 0419 795 329 cellar@justred.com.au 2370 Eukey Road, Ballandean Q 4382

pyramidsroad.com.au 07 4684 5151 or 0432 849 212 info@pyramidsroad.com 25 Wyberba Lane, Wyberba Q 4382

ridgemillestate.com 07 4683 5211 info@ridgemillestate.com 218 Donges Road, Severnlea Q 4380

SYMPHONY HILL WINES

TWISTED GUM WINES

WHISKEY GULLY WINES

3 wines served on Qantas business class flights

Enjoy a leisurely wine tasting in our stylish cellar door, set in a classic 1920s Queenslander surrounded by lush vineyards and native forest. Explore our crisp dry whites, deep inky reds and hedonistic Pink Moscato.

All wines are crafted onsite using hand-picked grapes from our boutique vineyard. Winner of Premier’s Sustainability Award. Open Saturday and Sunday 10am–4pm or by appointment.

Award-winning winery set in historic homestead overlooking the Severn Valley. Hand-crafted wines with cottage accommodation and degustation dining with home-grown produce, wine matching and entertainment on Saturday nights.

twistedgum.com.au 07 4684 1282 info@twistedgum.com.au 2253 Eukey Road, Ballandean Q 4382

whiskeygullywines.com.au 07 4683 5100 denice@whiskeygullywines.com.au 25 Turner Road, Severnlea Q 4380

2019 results include trophies for 2019 Albarinho and 2019 Fiano. 2019 Vermentino voted Top 5 Alternative White Wines of the Year by Winestate magazine and finalist for Wine of the Year. 2019 Gewurztraminer awarded TOP GOLD Royal Melbourne and nominated for trophy. 5 stars James Halliday.

Open 7 days, 10am to 4pm – complimentary wine tasting.

symphonyhill.com.au 07 4684 1388 info@symphonyhill.com.au 2017 Eukey Road, Ballandean Q 4382 28

An award winning winery with both national and international gold medals.

STANTHORPE & THE GRANITE BELT VISITORS’ GUIDE

Wine, Dine & Recline

Open: Friday-Tuesday 10 am – 5 pm for wine tasting and sales. Group dining and functions by appointment.

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STANTHORPE TOWN MAP

Connor House – www.connorhouse.com.au 07 3203 7170

Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery – www.srag.org.au 07 4681 1874

Daniel Ma

Vinland Estate

Southern Downs Regional Tourism

Rosemary Hill Vineyard – grape grower

Calaine Vineyard - grapegrower

Different Drum Wine – grape grower

Misty River Vineyard – grape grower

Gillmore Estate – grape grower

Carniel Lane Wines – grape grower

Andelas Estate – grape grower

Ambar Hill Wines – grape grower

OTHER SUPPORTERS OF GRANITE BELT TOURISM

Wine Discovery Tours - www.winediscoverytours.com.au 0497 418 958

Stanthorpe Tours - www.stanthorpetours.com.au 0437 707 765

Granite Highlands Maxi Tours – www.maxitours.com.au 4681 3969

Filippo’s Tours – www.filippostours.com.au 07 4681 3130

TOUR OPERATORS

Stanthorpe Museum – stanthorpemuseum@gmail.com 07 4681 1711

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ATTRACTIONS

Varias Restaurant (Qld College Wine Tourism) – www.qcwt.com.au 07 4685 5050

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16 Ashbern Farms PYO Strawberries – www.ashbernfarms.com.au 07 4681 012 2 Market in the Mountains – www.marketinthemountains.org 0417 760 529

Stanthorpe RSL Club – www.stanthorperslclub.com.au – 07 4681 2324

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16 Ashbern Farms Strawberries & Cafe – www.ashbernfarms.com.au 07 4681 0124

17 Lynrose Place – www.lynroseplace.com.au 07 4681 4676

21 Logger’s Rest B & B and Cottage – www.loggersrest.com.au 07 4681 2572

18 Grovely House – www.grovelyhouse.com.au 07 4681 0484

19 Granite Belt Motel - www.granitebeltmotel.com.au 07 4681 1811

14 Diamondvale Cottages - www.diamondvalecottages.com.au 07 4681 3367

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20 Briar Rose Cottage - www.briarrosecottages.com. au 0427 327 344

ACCOMMODATION

22 31 the rocks – www.31therocks.com 07 4681 2726 15 Apple Blossom Cottage – www.appleblossom.com.au 07 4681 0251

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Severn-Dipity – www.severn-dipity.com.au 07 4684 1300

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Jamworks Gourmet Foods Café & Larder– www.jamworks.com.au 07 4683 4171 Jester Hill Winery Restaurant & Café – www.jesterhillwines.com.au 07 4683 4380 Mason Wines Cellar Door & Café – www.masonwines.com.au 0439 530 535

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The Rocks Restaurant - www.honeysucklecottages.com.au 07 4681 1510 Varias Restaurant Qld College of Wine Tourism - www.qcwt.com.au (07) 4685 5050

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Wallangarra Railway Café - www.facebook.com/.../Wallangarra-Railway-Cafe 07 4684 3376

Sutton’s Juice Factory, Cidery & Shed Café - www.suttonsfarm.com 07 4685 2464 5

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St Jude’s Cellar Door & Bistro - www.stjudesballandean.com 07 4684 1000 52

Robert Channon Wines Singing Lake Café - www.robertchannonwines.com 07 4683 3260

Granite Belt Maze - www.thegranitebeltmaze.com.au 0467 824 520 12

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Hidden Creek Winery Café – www.hiddencreek.com.au 07 4684 1383

Heritage Churchyard Café & Cellar Door – www.heritagewines.com.au 07 4685 2197 Granite Belt Brewery & Retreat - - www.granitebeltbreweryt.com.au 07 4681 1370

Donnelly’s Castle (Picnic Area) 6 16

Barrelroom & Larder (Ballandean Estate) - www.thebarrel-room.com 07 4684 1226 8 58

Ashbern Farms PYO Strawberries & Café – www.ashbernfarms.com.au 07 4681 0124 65

FOOD & ATTRACTIONS

Whisky Gully Wines Bush Cottages – www.whiskeygully.com.au 07 4683 5100

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Twisted Gum Vineyard Cottage – www.twistedgum.com.au 07 4684 1282

Sancerre Estate – www.sancerreestate.com.au07 4684 1139 Straw House B & B - www.strawhouse.bnb.com 0466 134 777

R & R on the Ravine – www.randrontheravine.com.au 0429 122 233

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Ridgemill Escape – www.ridgemillestate.com 07 4683 5211

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Quaffers on Storm King - www.quaffer.com.au 07 4683 7043

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Loughmore House & Cottage – www.stayatloughmore.com.au 0419 782 625

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Possum’s Hollow & Hooter’s Hut –www.cobbncocabins.com.au 07 3892 7443

Just Red Wines Vineyard Cabins - www.justred.com.au 07 4684 1322

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James Farmhouse & Cottages – www.jamesfarmhouse.com.au 07 3715 6310

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Honeysuckle Cottages – www.honeysucklecottages.com.au 07 4681 1510

Mallow Cottage - cottage@mallow.net.au 0401 557 338

Heritage Estate Winery Cottage - www.heritagewines.com.au 07 4685 2197

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MollyMac Cottages – www.mollymac.com.au 07 3286 2338

Granite Gardens Cottages – www.granitegardens.com.au 07 4683 5161

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Granite Belt Brewery & Retreat - www.granitebeltbrewery.com.au 07 4681 1370

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Glenlyon Dam Tourist Park - www.glenlyondamtouristpark.com.au 02 6737 5266

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Fergie’s Hill Cottage - www. www.graniteridgewines.com.au 07 4684 1263

Country Style Caravan Park – www.countrystylecaravanpark.com.au 07 4683 4358

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Accommodation Crk Cottages - www.accommodationcreekcottages.com.au 07 4684 1144

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Heritage Wines & Churchyard Cafe – www.heritagewines.com.au 07 4685 2197 Hidden Creek Winery & Cafe - www.hiddencreek.com.au 07 4684 1383 Jester Hill Wines - www.jesterhillwines.com 07 4683 4380

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St Jude’s Sirromet Satellite Cellar Door - www.stjudesballandean.com 07 4684 1000 Summit Estate - www.summitestate.com.au 07 4683 2011 10

Tobin Wines - www.tobinwines.com.au 07 4684 1235 Twisted Gum Wines - www.twistedgum.com.au 07 4684 1282 View Wines – www.viewwine.com.au 07 4684 1139 Whiskey Gully Wines - www.whiskeygullywines.com.au 07 4683 5100

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Symphony Hill Wines - www.symphonyhill.com.au 07 4684 1388

Sirromet Wines - www.sirromet.com 07 3206 2999 52 60

Savina Lane Wines - www.savinalanewines.com.au 07 4683 5258 or 0419 723 755 x

Rumbalara Estate Wines - www.rumbalarawines.com.au 07 4684 1206

Robert Channon Wines - www.robertchannonwines.com 07 4683 3260

Ridgemill Estate - www.ridgemillestate.com 07 4683 5211

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Ravens Croft Wines - www.ravenscroftwines.com.au 07 4683 3252

Heritage Estate Winery Cellar Door - www.heritagewines.com.au 07 4685 2197

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Granite Ridge Wines - www.graniteridgewines.com.au 07 4684 1263

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Qld College of Wine Tourism - www.qcwt.com.au 07 4685 5050

Golden Grove Estate - www.goldengroveestate.com.au 07 4684 1291

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Pyramids Road Wines - www.pyramidsroad.com.au 07 4684 5151

Girraween Estate Wines – www.girraweenestate.com.au 0448 866 890

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Castle Glen Australia - castleglenaustralia.com.au 07 4683 2363

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Mason Wines Cellar Door & Cafe- www.masonwines.com.au 0439 530 535

Casley Mount Hutton Winery - www.casleywines.com 0427 099 981

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Bungawarra Wines - www.bungawarrawines.com.au 07 4684 1128

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Just Red Wines - www.justred.com.au 07 4684 1322

Boireann Winery - www.boireannwines.com 07 4683 2194

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Ballandean Estate Wines - www.ballandeanestate.com 07 4684 1226

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Balancing Rock Wines – www.balancingrockwines.com.au 0407 127 903

WINERIES & CELLAR DOORS

Granite Belt Brewery & Retreat - - www.granitebeltbrewery.com.au 07 4681 1370

CRAFT BREWERY

Whiskey Gully Wines Vineyard Restaurant – www.whiskeygully.com.au 07 4683 5100

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How to Escape to the Granite Belt If you’re heading south from Brisbane, it’s a scenic 230km drive. Take any highway or byway that puts you onto the Ipswich Motorway heading west, then take the Warwick exit onto the Cunningham Highway. When you reach Warwick on the Southern Downs, follow the signs towards Sydney on the New England Highway. If you’re coming from the south, just follow the New England Highway, crossing the NSW/ Queensland border into Granite Belt country at Wallangarra, 20km north of Tenterfield.

Before you leave home visit our website to plan your visit and find out where to stay. www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au Granite Belt Wine Country

granitebeltwinecountry

Front cover photo by Paul Gandini Photography. Back cover photo by Sam Costanzo.

BRISBANE

Toowoomba

Warwick

Gold Coast

Beaudesert Killarney Legume

STANTHORPE Wallangarra

Tenterfield

Lismore Casino

Byron Bay Ballina

Distance from: Brisbane ...............................................................230km Toowoomba ....................................................... 140km Gold Coast ..........................................................250km Sunshine Coast .................................................350km