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Wines
With over 1300 hectares of vines and a new generation of talented people at the top, the creation of quality Queensland wines has had wide acceptance nationally and internationally. As wine tourism gathers momentum globally, the burgeoning industry has seen more trail blazers emerge and cellar doors open. It's easy to lose count of the number of passionate vignerons and their families who warmly welcome visitors to experience the fruits of their labours, taste their Verdelho, Semillon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon varieties, plus full-bodied Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon reds.
Those distant blue ranges that line the horizon south-west of Brisbane are guardians of another world. In the Southern Downs beyond Warwick lies the Granite Belt with its rocky outcrops, and the town of Stanthorpe, which became home to Ballandean Estate's legendary Angelo Puglisi and his family in 1961. Puglisi, who planted the first Shiraz and the unusual German Silvaner varieties, conducts complimentary guided tours daily and the Barrel Room Café is open for great meals. John and Heather Robinson who planted their first vines in 1969, have two flagship wines, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon; the winery and café at five-star Robert Channon Wines is open daily; Symphony Hill Wines which won Queensland's first gold medal at the 2005 Sydney Royal Wine Show has a fabulous funky cellar door and tastes of the 2003 Reserve Pinot Noir and the 2004 Danying Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, named in honour of the owner's adopted daughter Zara Danying Macpherson, are a must.
Beneath the backdrop of the Scenic Rim, west of Brisbane, new wineries and cellar doors such as Warrego Wines, Ironbark Ridge Vineyard, Normanby Wines and the Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm have put out the welcome mat to day trippers.
Inspired offerings come from the lush environs of Toowoomba's Preston Peak, which is rated a gold level producer; Rimfire in the foothills of the Bunya Mountains at Maclagan has alfresco lunches; the Darling Downs' Jimbour Station with its French classic sandstone homestead and expansive formal gardens has the Cellar Door Café.
The Gold Coast Hinterland wine region is ever-popular and growing in size. The stunningly beautiful Tamborine Estate the oldest winery and vineyard on the Gold Coast. Albert River Wines with the cellar door tasting rooms and Verandah Restaurant housed in the former Auchenflower House, a famous Brisbane landmark that was home to three former Queensland Premiers. At Sirromet created by the Morris Family at Mt Cotton, the tourism-focussed state-of-the-art winery, with 100 hectares of vineyards, the winemaker is Adam Chapman and the 200-seat restaurant Lurleen's is headed by Andrew Mirosch. Canungra Valley Vineyards is owned and operated by the O'Reilly family. The property on the Lamington National Park Road, features a grand homestead with sweeping verandahs, intimate dining rooms and a cellar door.
Drive north-west from Brisbane on the D'Aguilar Highway, climb the ranges clothed with hoop pines until you reach Kingaroy in the South Burnett. The cooler moderate climate has a similar altitude to the Hunter Valley, so is perfect for yielding high quality wines. Unfermented green grapes are also being made into verjuice and olive oil is being pressed from trees which enjoy similar conditions.
On the Booie Range, Bernie and Judith Cooper are the new owners of Cranes, one of the region's original wineries. Their shiraz, which has been aged in the underground cellar, is a smooth drop. Stop at Ziebarth Wines for a fine rose and a home made pie followed by Captains Paddock owned by the region's ambassador Maryanne Pidcock, partner Peter Eaton and of course Merlot the kelpie. Lunch with a glass of Rosetta in the Mediterranean courtyard is recommended. At Moffatdale, the 173 hectare Clovely Estate is a notable success story with exports around the world. Cellar door cafés also worthy of a visit are Tipperary Estate, Bridgeman Downs Cellars, Dusty Hill Vineyard, Rodericks Fine Wines and Stuart Range Estate.
On the Sunshine Coast hinterland, boutique vineyards are adding to the already strong food culture. From the beautifully located Settlers Rise Vineyard & Winery at Montville in the Blackall Range, it's worth the detour to Dingo Creek Vineyard in its pretty bush setting at Traveston; and in Eumundi the Glastonbury Estate Wines plus the Eumundi Winery to sip a Petit Verdot, and enjoy a light lunch.
The world's first and only tropical fruit wine region is attributed to the area from Ingham to Mossman including the Atherton Tablelands. Mangoes, lychees, Davidson plum, black sapote, bush lime, dragon fruit, mangosteens, citrus and passionfruit are among the luscious fruits used and many of the wineries such as Murdering Point at Kurrimine, De Brueys Boutique Wines at Mareeba and Paradise Estate Wines at Mission Beach welcome visitors. Be prepared for some pleasant surprises at Pacific Blue at Ingham. Its chilli and lime wine is known as Snakebite.
Fancy liquor aficionados should head to the hills and the Gold Coast's Tamborine Mountain Distillery where over 60 liqueurs, schnapps and spirits will ensure your taste buds are in a spin. Absinthe will make the heart grow fonder, however it's the Lemoncello that experts say is the best outside Italy. Owner Alla Ward hand paints every bottle. Open 10am to 3pm Wednesday to Sunday. 87-91 Beacon Road, North Tamborine.
Those distant blue ranges that line the horizon south-west of Brisbane are guardians of another world. In the Southern Downs beyond Warwick lies the Granite Belt with its rocky outcrops, and the town of Stanthorpe, which became home to Ballandean Estate's legendary Angelo Puglisi and his family in 1961. Puglisi, who planted the first Shiraz and the unusual German Silvaner varieties, conducts complimentary guided tours daily and the Barrel Room Café is open for great meals. John and Heather Robinson who planted their first vines in 1969, have two flagship wines, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon; the winery and café at five-star Robert Channon Wines is open daily; Symphony Hill Wines which won Queensland's first gold medal at the 2005 Sydney Royal Wine Show has a fabulous funky cellar door and tastes of the 2003 Reserve Pinot Noir and the 2004 Danying Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, named in honour of the owner's adopted daughter Zara Danying Macpherson, are a must.
Beneath the backdrop of the Scenic Rim, west of Brisbane, new wineries and cellar doors such as Warrego Wines, Ironbark Ridge Vineyard, Normanby Wines and the Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm have put out the welcome mat to day trippers.
Inspired offerings come from the lush environs of Toowoomba's Preston Peak, which is rated a gold level producer; Rimfire in the foothills of the Bunya Mountains at Maclagan has alfresco lunches; the Darling Downs' Jimbour Station with its French classic sandstone homestead and expansive formal gardens has the Cellar Door Café.
The Gold Coast Hinterland wine region is ever-popular and growing in size. The stunningly beautiful Tamborine Estate the oldest winery and vineyard on the Gold Coast. Albert River Wines with the cellar door tasting rooms and Verandah Restaurant housed in the former Auchenflower House, a famous Brisbane landmark that was home to three former Queensland Premiers. At Sirromet created by the Morris Family at Mt Cotton, the tourism-focussed state-of-the-art winery, with 100 hectares of vineyards, the winemaker is Adam Chapman and the 200-seat restaurant Lurleen's is headed by Andrew Mirosch. Canungra Valley Vineyards is owned and operated by the O'Reilly family. The property on the Lamington National Park Road, features a grand homestead with sweeping verandahs, intimate dining rooms and a cellar door.
Drive north-west from Brisbane on the D'Aguilar Highway, climb the ranges clothed with hoop pines until you reach Kingaroy in the South Burnett. The cooler moderate climate has a similar altitude to the Hunter Valley, so is perfect for yielding high quality wines. Unfermented green grapes are also being made into verjuice and olive oil is being pressed from trees which enjoy similar conditions.
On the Booie Range, Bernie and Judith Cooper are the new owners of Cranes, one of the region's original wineries. Their shiraz, which has been aged in the underground cellar, is a smooth drop. Stop at Ziebarth Wines for a fine rose and a home made pie followed by Captains Paddock owned by the region's ambassador Maryanne Pidcock, partner Peter Eaton and of course Merlot the kelpie. Lunch with a glass of Rosetta in the Mediterranean courtyard is recommended. At Moffatdale, the 173 hectare Clovely Estate is a notable success story with exports around the world. Cellar door cafés also worthy of a visit are Tipperary Estate, Bridgeman Downs Cellars, Dusty Hill Vineyard, Rodericks Fine Wines and Stuart Range Estate.
On the Sunshine Coast hinterland, boutique vineyards are adding to the already strong food culture. From the beautifully located Settlers Rise Vineyard & Winery at Montville in the Blackall Range, it's worth the detour to Dingo Creek Vineyard in its pretty bush setting at Traveston; and in Eumundi the Glastonbury Estate Wines plus the Eumundi Winery to sip a Petit Verdot, and enjoy a light lunch.
The world's first and only tropical fruit wine region is attributed to the area from Ingham to Mossman including the Atherton Tablelands. Mangoes, lychees, Davidson plum, black sapote, bush lime, dragon fruit, mangosteens, citrus and passionfruit are among the luscious fruits used and many of the wineries such as Murdering Point at Kurrimine, De Brueys Boutique Wines at Mareeba and Paradise Estate Wines at Mission Beach welcome visitors. Be prepared for some pleasant surprises at Pacific Blue at Ingham. Its chilli and lime wine is known as Snakebite.
Out of the Box
Don't miss these tops drops as rated out of 100 by James Halliday in his Australian Wine Companion 2006:- 94/100 Ballandean Estate Cabernet Shiraz 2002
- 94/100 Summit Estate Cabernet Merlot 2002
- 94/100 Crane Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
- 94/100 Mountview Wines Reserve Semillon 2004
- 93/100 Symphony Hill Wines Reserve Shiraz 2003
- 93/100 Robinsons Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2000
- 93/100 Boireann Shiraz Viognier 2003
- 92/100 Barambah Ridge Chardonnay 2004
Divine offerings
- On the Gold Coast: The Hinterland Wine Trail is self-guided, sign posted trail of the key food & wine precincts.
- Tour the Granite Belt with Filippo's Tours or The Grape Escape Tour Co.
- Tour the South Burnett with SB Grapevine Tours.
- At Bundaberg John and Caroline Gianduzzo create exotic fruit wines using only Queensland fruit; and at Bundaberg Rum two complimentary drinks are yours if you take the tour.
- In the Tropical North, mango wine using Kensington red mangoes is available in from the Golden Drop at Biboohra, near Mareeba; and become a banana bender and drink 'elixir de musa' or bananas in liqueur from the Mount Uncle Distillery at Walkamin.
Schnapps to attention
Fancy liquor aficionados should head to the hills and the Gold Coast's Tamborine Mountain Distillery where over 60 liqueurs, schnapps and spirits will ensure your taste buds are in a spin. Absinthe will make the heart grow fonder, however it's the Lemoncello that experts say is the best outside Italy. Owner Alla Ward hand paints every bottle. Open 10am to 3pm Wednesday to Sunday. 87-91 Beacon Road, North Tamborine.