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Stanthorpe wine tours: Visit some of the Granite Belt wineries

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Best wineries to visit in Stanthorpe

When I visited Stanthorpe in 2020, it had been a while since I last spent time here and in amongst the vineyards.  Over the last ten years, my corporate role had brought me out here many times, but they were definitely all work and no play situations.  So, when I was given an opportunity to visit some Queensland wineries, and some of the best wineries in Stanthorpe, I jumped at the chance. 

Not only would this give me a chance to get re-acquainted with some old favourites, but it would also allow me to learn about many of the new varieties that are popping up in this area, known as the Granite Belt.  Furthermore, it would allow me to provide some support to an area that has had more than its fair share of difficult times, waging its own very personal war with drought, fire and now COVID-19.

stanthopre granite belt vineyard stanthorpe wine tours

Now, the town of Stanthorpe is a tourist boomtown, with record numbers of visitors flocking to the region to stay and play.  Stanthorpe is a town that should be visited for several days.  Take a long weekend, or at least head out for a few days that include an overnight stopover.  There’s so much to see in Stanthorpe that you will quite easily fill in your time.

Read our comprehensive guide on the best things to do in Stanthorpe.

If I could sum up my time in the regional Queensland town of Stanthorpe, I would look no further than the words of Rob Fenwick, owner of Heritage Estate Wines who said, “We know from people who have stayed with us that they love the experience of meeting real winemakers, real owners and people with skin in the game”. 

I couldn’t agree more.  The Granite Belt is an area where this is not something you might get on a good day or if the wind is blowing in the right direction.  Talking directly with their customers is the heart and soul of this region and every single winery owner.  

Two-day Stanthorpe wine tour

Queensland wineries are making solid inroads in the Australian wine industry. Long known as a wine-growing region, the Stanthorpe wineries have also had a reputation that the wine here aren’t as good as those found in other Australian wineries. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Today, there are many Queensland wine tours and Brisbane winery tours that include Granite Belt wines.

Here are some of our favourite Stanthorpe wineries. If you are not on an organised wine tour, this map of the Granite Belt wineries will help you plan the order in which you should visit them.

map of granite belt wineries
Map showing Granite Belt wineries

Heritage Estate Wines

Before I get to taste a single drop at Heritage Estate Wines, there was so much to take in first.  Owner Rob Fenwick meets us at the door and guides us inside the cellar door.  As you enter the building which also serves as a restaurant, there’s a feeling of nostalgia that envelopes you. 

The dark timber and brick from the converted apple store give it a moody ambience.  In the corner, co-owner Therese has scooted over to the pianola, inherited from the original winemaker’s grandmother, and is pounding out a lively piece to welcome us. 

Above us, the steel beams were once part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the table we sat at for lunch is a significant part of Queensland’s history.  In 1859, the Queensland government was formed whilst sitting around the rosewood leather-topped table.  Outside, an original cottage from 1864 provides guests with an opportunity to stay the night at a vineyard.

heritage wines

Heritage Estate Wines stands out for several reasons.  Here at the Cottonvale location, vines are grown at 960 metres above sea level in a terroir that is most suitable for growing white grapes.  Further down the road at Ballandean, another cellar door produces their red varieties, growing at around 840 metres altitude and with a slightly different soil structure. 

They are also a five-star James Halliday winery and have been so for the past five years.  Currently, three of their red wines are rated at 95 points, by James Halliday, a leading Australian wine writer and critic. 

Their wines are all handpicked and wild fermented using naturally occurring yeasts that are on the grapes, rather than adding it artificially. In association with the altitude assisting with a long grape ripening period, it helps to retain the original flavours of the fruit.

heritage wine of the year
Rob Fenwick of Heritage Estate Wines

Standing at the bar, we make our way through a solid list of excellent wines, including some of their Strangebirds.  It’s a term that’s unfamiliar to me (as it relates to wine) but one I will hear at every winery in Stanthorpe I visit. 

A simple marketing term that was developed around eight years ago, it’s now become synonymous with the alternative varieties grown in the Granite Belt. To be called a Strangebird there must be less than 1% produced in Australia.

Unlike the Barossa Valley in South Australia, known for its big, hearty Shiraz wines, or the Clare Valley which is known mainly for Riesling, the Granite Belt is a wine region where visitors expect a point of difference.  As Rob explains, “Our customers come here because there are 40 cellar doors and 40 different experiences because we have very different wines”.

The Fiano, a wine I had tasted earlier this year in the Scenic Rim was a Strangebird.  This ancient Mediterranean white grape is gaining popularity in these parts, especially as it is suited to high altitudes.  I’m certainly fast becoming a fan.  Wild fermented and aged in French oak, the Marsanne is yet another alternative variety, but for me, it has shades of Chardonnay so I move onto the Pinot Gris.

This one, with its light pink blush colouring, was so good it became my glass of choice to go with my lunch of Peking duck with a warm salad, walnuts and winter vegetables. The 2018 Shiraz Viognier, another Strangebird is a James Halliday top scorer and winner of the gold medal at the 2019 Queensland Wine Awards.  

Over lunch, we were introduced to more of their wines, each with their own story.  “The sauvignon blanc age is coming to an end”, proclaimed Robert, which I tend to agree with, although I’m more reluctant with his view that “chardonnays are on the rise once more”. 

Even though they are leaving behind the heady, buttery, strong oak flavours of the ’80s, I still can’t bring myself to like this white variety.  I’m sure the chardonnay lovers of the world will be absolutely delighted however that I won’t be challenging them for their favourite tipple.

lunch at heritage wines
Peking duck

Moonshine Madness, a fortified wine that smells like coffee but tastes like chocolate ended what had been a delightful experience at Heritage Estate Wines.  Moonshine Madness has become an iconic part of the winery.  “People donate recipes they have developed and used at home because we have such a cult following”, notes Therese.  From a pork rib marinade to cookies, mousse and brownies, they now have a printed recipe sheet for others to join the club!

Location: Cottonvale Winery and Cellar Door: 747 Granite Belt Drive Cottonvale Qld 4375 & Thulimbah Old Church Cellar Door and Cafe: New England Highway Thulimbah Qld 4376

Savina Lane Wines

Savina Lanes is probably the most unusual winery I’ve ever been to.  Open for only 10 weeks a year, or less if their wine sells out quickly, they have developed a unique business model that delivers on their dreams, whilst producing excellent wines and personal customer experience. Owners Brad and Cheryl Hutchings are living out their final project, “their dream”. 

Both are no stranger to developing successful businesses, having started Underwater World at Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.  Brad, an agronomist, “wanted to get his hands back in the soil”, said Cheryl and so buying a vineyard was perfect.   Since then, he has added being a viticulturist to his string of achievements.

savina lanes
Savina Lane Winery

Producing only around 10,000 bottles of wine per year, they focus on the emerging varieties like Graciano, Fiano and Tempranillo.  Grown at around 800 metres above sea level, combined with low humidity and cool nights provides excellent conditions for growing grapes.  Overall there are six different varieties, one of which, the Shiraz, comes from 60-year-old vines that were originally planted by the Savina family.

Here at Savina Lane Wines, they focus on producing premium wines for their 600 strong wine club, an integral part of their winery business.  The fruit that comes from seven acres of vineyards is handpicked and stored in an environmentally friendly cellar.  Taking 6.5 weeks, they blasted out the granite under their cellar door building to create a storage area that is naturally cooled.  

Brad puts his science background to good use at the vineyard.  A self-confessed “lover of toys”, he owns an anti-frost fan, which “only needed to save us once to pay for itself and has saved us eight times in eight years”. 

He also has a soil moisture probe, particularly useful in these times of drought, although he admits that the climate is always a harsh one out here.  Brad also has a  full scientific weather station that “he lives on”, using it to predict, as much as possible, the future weather conditions to be able to prepare his vineyards for it.  

savina lanes

They classify themselves as technical producers, doing everything by hand and reducing waste where possible.  They use different techniques to counter the drought, broadcasting fertilisers to send the vine roots out further to look for food, and choosing vines that are known to be more resilient.  Despite the lack of water, Brad believes that they will still have a vintage in 2020 and that “it should taste extraordinary because the vines have had to work harder”.

Whilst they do open to the public when they have sufficient wine, the primary focus is on the members of their wine club as Brad explains, “We make wine just for them”.  Originally comprised of members in the over 50 age range, they are now finding an increase in the number of young professionals who are discovering their wines. 

Savina Lane Wines opens up their facility and vineyard regularly as they welcome their members, who they treat as friends, for special dining events or just to hang out in the vineyard with a glass of their wine.

A wood-fired pizza oven helps to draw crowds of members, often coming with their families for a day out.  “It’s like having their own vineyard without the pain”, says Cheryl, a former writer with the Sydney Morning Herald.

savina laneswood fired bbq

Savina Lane Wines also have an association with our favourite small champagne producer in Epernay, France.  We have visited the house of Denis Frezier each time we’ve been in the Champagne region of France, buying cartons of his champagne each time! 

You can read about our experience of visiting a small champagne house in France here.   

Note: Due to production levels being impacted by the current drought situation, it is unlikely that Savina Lanes will open to the public for several years.  They will continue to service their club members during this time.

Location: 61 Savina Rd, Severnlea QLD 4381

Ridgemill Estate

Martin Cooper heads up Ridgemill Estate, an award-winning Granite Belt winery and cellar door. It’s also got some really groovy self-contained accommodation too. With winemaker Peter McGlashan at the helm, there’s a large range of wines to choose from including the usual varieties of Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

peter mcglashan winemaker ridgemill estate
Winemaker Ridgemill Estate Peter McGlashan

Martin came to the Granite Belt for work, project managing the development of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism and loved the area so much he didn’t want to leave. Like many others today, Martin followed a dream and a lifestyle change and with his wife, purchased the vineyard. Today, Martin is heavily involved in the wine industry and wine tourism as the President of the Granite Belt Wine and Tourism.

The vineyards of Ridgemill Estate are also blessed with conditions and terroir similar to that found in the Rhone Valley in France, which results in many other wines being made here that you may not have heard of before. Names like Mourvedre, Tempranillo and Viognier will be mentioned, but it is the Saperavi red that takes my fancy at the cellar door.

Order a platter and sit back to sip your wines or take a walk outside in the fresh air, stopping under the shelter to take in the beautiful surroundings and vineyards.

Ridgemill Estate is one of only a few wineries on the Granite Belt that have accommodation, making it a highly sought after location and bookings are often required well in advance. It’s also one of the few places that is pet friendly, both on the grounds and in several cabins.

ridgemill estate cabin
One of the Ridgemill Estate Cabins

Ther are eight studio cabins, each with a fireplace and underfloor heating for those cold winter nights. the Winery Escape House is also pet friendly and has three bedrooms, so great for a family.

ridgemill estate cabin

There is no restaurant on-site but guests may pre-order gourmet BBQ packs, cheese platters and even gourmet breakfasts.

Location: 218 Donges Road, Severnlea 4380 QLD

Jester Hill Wines

The bottles of wine on display at Jester Hill Wines have a very distinctive label.  The Two Fools insignia is a self-deprecating nod to owners Michael and Ann Bourke and the unusual way in which they came to own this winery.  Keen motorcycle enthusiasts, they set off one day in 2010 bound for the Granite Belt and some wine tasting.  Michael jokes that it was “to get away from their seven kids”.   

two fools wine

Whilst they were here, they fell in love with the area so much that they decided to buy a winery, an impulse buy that turned a normal weekend ride into a million dollar exercise.   

Roll on a few years and they now produce around 50,000 tonnes per annum from many vines that were planted over 25 years ago.  Michael is an accomplished winemaker, doing everything himself.  He’s noted as providing his guests with a true “grape to glass” experience, having grown, harvested, bottled and even labelled the bottles himself.

The Strangebird wines are part of our tasting here as well, starting off with the sparkling Roussanne, a glass of bubbles that I could get quite used to.  Verdelho, Petit Verdot and another wine I love, Sangiovese are good alternative examples also.  Down in the cellar, we tasted wine fresh out of the tanks.

sparkling roussanne

At the Jester Hill Wines cellar door, there is also a cafe, headed up by one of their children.  Where possible, they use local produce, supporting other local business owners and showcasing what the region has on offer.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner here, where the tasting of wine continued.  

Like everyone else we have already spoken to, this couple has faced tough times.  This is no more evident than when we hear Ann mention that she had to return to work as a nurse to pay for much-needed water for the vineyard.  However, they are resilient and have a positive attitude. 

They are active members of both their local community and the wine community, trying to raise the profile of an area that is perfect for visitors to spend time in.  They encourage visitors through the creation of special events.

Location: 292 Mount Stirling Rd Glen Aplin QLD 4381

Pyramids Road Wines

It was at Pyramids Road Wines that the underpinning reason as to why people should visit the Granite Belt was reinforced.  As I sat listening firstly to Sue, and later Warren Smith, I realised how truly special the connection with the owners and winemakers was. 

How often, I thought, do we get to speak so directly with a business owner?  How often are we afforded such an honest and genuine conversation that reaches deep into the soul of each business, where owners discuss their dreams but also their challenges?  

At the cellar door,  surrounded by Sue and Warren’s cellar pooches (another thing I love about the Granite Belt!) I can tangibly feel their connection to the area, their business and their dreams.  I turn my phone on to record as I don’t want to miss a word she says.  Like many of the winery owners here, they have their own unique story. 

Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, Warren worked in the carpentry industry and Sue was a schoolteacher.  Following a workplace accident, Warren decided he couldn’t just sit around the house so decided to study winemaking. 

sue and warren smith pyramid wines
Sue and Warren Smith

This decision ultimately lead them to the Granite Belt.  Keen campers and visitors to nearby Girraween National Park, they moved out here and lived in a tent whilst they found a winery to buy.  A huge risk that has turned into a great success, although hard-won, 20 years later. 

As Sue explained, “we had a plan but that went out the window pretty quickly, but we were in it for the long haul.  We never thought we’d get to 20 years but here we are”.

Their philosophy that washes across everything they do is about integrity in their products, always striving for quality and don’t ever compromise.  They sell what they are proud of and they are connected to everything they do. 

As such, this comes across consistently in their wines.  “Grapes will grow”, says Sue, “but good grapes need work”.  Every day there is something for us to do, and save for some friends and volunteers that help out at harvest time, they do everything themselves. 

warren at pyramids road

Getting in on the harvest action is something that sounds like a lot of fun.  They pick, they crush and at night they all kick back for some food, fun and to drink some wines that the volunteers helped to pick in previous years.  It’s got all the underpinning of a great community event.  

Of course, there are plenty of Strangebird varieties here including Verdelho, Petit Verdot and Mourvedre.  Warren loves Chardonnay and he couldn’t resist taking us down into his cellar to give us some samples straight from the oak barrels.  

Location: 25 Wyberba Lane off Pyramids Road Wyberba QLD 4382

Ballandean Estate Wines

For anyone who knows even a little about Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt, Ballandean Estate Wines is one of the big guns.  Angelo Puglisi, the owner of Ballandean Estate Wines,  is known as the person who pioneered the wine industry in Queensland. 

A fruit and vegetable grower in his ’20s, Angelo, along with his wife Mary, made a slight diversion, by switching to growing wine grapes.  Today, it is Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, with many generations involved in the day to day operations of the business.

What Client Relations Manager Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi doesn’t know about winemaking in the Granite Belt region probably isn’t worth knowing.  With all the flair of an Italian who loves to chat, Leeanne shares with us her passion for her family business and the broader wine community. 

Another producer of Strangebird wines, she provides a little more insight into why the Granite Belt has become a place for alternative wines.  “A long time ago, no-one cared what the winemakers in the Granite Belt did”, says Leeanne.  “So we all did what we wanted to and kept on doing it”. 

leeanne puglisi
Leeanne Puglisi from Ballandean Estate Wines

The no-rules comment is multi-faceted.  As mentioned earlier, in the Barossa Valley, for example, they need to keep making big reds as that is what their customers expect.  Other regions that are known for a particular variety of wine face the same situation. There are no appellation rules here that apply to dictate what or how the vines must be grown and how the wines are to be made.  

75% of their wine is sold through the cellar door, with the remainder going to members of their wine club and export.  Ballandean Estate Wines cannot be bought anywhere else.  They are also one of only five producers of Moscato Giallo in Australia. 

Following a wine tasting in the private member’s room, a wonderful Italian inspired lunch is provided in the Barrel Room.  Once upon a time, Leeanne’s Mum did all the cooking until she finally acquiesced and opened a restaurant.  

lunch at the barrel room
Locally sourced venison pasta

Location: 354 Sundown Rd Ballandean QLD

Golden Grove Estate

If the Queensland Wine Awards are anything to go by, then Golden Grove Estate is a clear winner.  Winemaker Raymond Costanzo was named as Queensland’s Winemaker of the Year, whilst his father, Sam picked up the top honour for Viticulturalist of the Year.  

rob costanzo at golden grove
Award-winning winemaker Raymond Costanzo

A farm since 1942,  this 5-star rated James Halliday winery has seen a natural change over the years.  Once a mainstay of table grapes, and later the usual suspects of shiraz, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, for third-generation winemaker, Ray, it’s all about the varieties, including Tempranillo, Nero d’Avola, Vermentino, Durif and Mourvedre.

Grown at around 820 metres, the conditions here are perfect for the slow ripening of the fruit.  The sparkling Vermentino gets my vote of approval here.

Location: 337 Sundown Rd Ballandean QLD

Twisted Gum Wines

twisted gum wines

The cellar door of Twisted Gum Wines is perfect, with the colonial Queenslander house, relocated and repurposed,  sitting in the middle of the vineyard.   Twisted Gum Wines owners Tim and Michelle Coelli are heavily invested in growing their vines and producing wine using sustainable techniques. 

On one of the smallest wineries in the Granite Belt, they only use their own fruit. Here, the grapes are harvested by hand and they do not irrigate.  This might sound like a good plan given the drought conditions, but growing vines without any artificial irrigation is not a straight forward process. They have no water infrastructure, so even in drought, they can’t water.

Michelle has a degree in Rural Science and Tim has also been on farms.  Special mulching techniques assist with water retention and the vines are assisted with pest prevention with the variety of animals and insects that live in the surrounding bushland. 

Adding to their sustainable practices is the use of solar energy, generating enough here to put electricity back into the grid that is over and above their needs.  Even the bottles used for their wine are more eco-friendly.

twisted gum wine bottles

Wine production here is small but Michelle believes that their vines are in a slightly better position as their vines “have deeper roots in tune with seasonality that access nutrients from further afield”.  “They bunker down in tough times and power on when the opportunity comes”, she said.  They develop their unique blends here too, picking the likes of Verdelho and Semillon together and then fermenting together also.  

They have also diversified the business selling from their farm gate, hosting guests overnight in their cabins and are about to hold some special events throughout the year.

Location: 2253 Eukey Rd Ballandean QLD 4382

Hidden Creek Wines

We’re met at the cellar door to Hidden Creek Wines by yet another cellar dog, Pepper.  Meeting her approval, we head inside to find business managers Andy and Leanne Williams, who are keen to share their wine story with us. 

Andy, complete with a Science degree, majoring in Wine Science is the winemaker here.  He’s doing something right with the winery winning the Queensland Winery of the Year award in 2018.

andy and leanne williams

Back when the vineyard was first established it covered 10 acres, including the area now owned by Twisted Gum Wines.  In 2007, the vineyard was sold and the titles split, creating the two neighbouring and independently owned wineries.

Around a wine barrel, we taste his wines, many of which are Strangebirds, whilst nibbling on a wonderful charcuterie plate.  Previously the winery was known for the staples of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot.  Andy saw the future in developing alternative wine varieties, and having made Tempranillo from other vineyard’s grapes, decided he could grow them here.  The Merlot plot was taken over by their own Tempranillo and Viognier.

hidden creek charcuterie

There’s also a cafe attached with outdoor seating overlooking the dam for those who need a little more sustenance.  With around 1-15 tonne of fruit produced each year, this is another example of the type of boutique wineries that operate in the Granite Belt, where “small quantities are produced but to a very high standard”, according to Andy.

My pick here was the rose.  Hidden Creek Wines are also preparing for the future with the installation of electric car charging stations!

Location: 2271 Eukey Rd  Ballandean QLD

Girraween Estate

As I perched on yet another bar at another cellar door, with yet another glass of wine in my hand, it struck me just how much the Granite Belt wine region had changed. Not only is it fast becoming a premier wine region of Australia, but I realised as I listened to owners Steve Messiter and Lisa Barter talk about their experiences here, that it has been pulling city folk to the country for a change of lifestyle for quite some time.

Such a change resulted in the purchase of Girraween Estate by Steve and Lisa, two chemical engineers who were taken away by the beauty of the area and its potential. Both of them left busy corporate careers, not for an easier life, but a different one.

steve messiter and lisa barter girraween estate
Steve and Lisa – owners Girraween Estate

Girraween Estate has been around a long time, with table grapes occupying the land in the late 1940s. Roll forward to 2021 and the vineyard now produces Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. Steve notes the Shiraz Cabernet as being one of the estate’s favourites, highlighting “it’s a great Aussie blend and a wine that we do exceptionally well, with many medals and a trophy as best Queensland red wine at the National Australian Small Winemakers Show.”

girraween estate wines

A visit to Girraween Estate means you get to ‘Meet the Maker”. With a winery added to the estate several years ago, everything to do with wine production is handled onsite by Steve and Lisa themselves. They produce around 10,000 bottles per year, which is amazing when you consider the size of their production facility. Half of these bottles are dispersed through the cellar door.

steve messiter girraween estate

Their personal production is something they are very proud of and not all that common in the days of mass manufacturing. Steve is proud of being ” truly authentic – every wine is hand crafted and Lisa and I do all the vineyard work, winemaking and bottling. The results from our wines in National shows has been astonishing for the quality and consistency of the results.”

As you chat with Steve over one of his wines, don’t miss asking him about his other love, astrophotography. He might even give you a sneak peek of his purpose-built observatory.

steven and his telescope
Steven and the telescope in his observatory

Tip: If you live in Brisbane, pop into Green Beacon at Newstead, Ballistic Brewing at Salisbury or All Inn Brewing at Banyo to pick up your favourite bottle of Girraween Estate.

Location: 41 Hickling Lane, Wyberba via Ballandean QLD

Balancing Heart Vineyard

You know you’re in a place with a difference when the owner tells you that “he is an entrepreneur” when questioned about the occupation he engaged in prior to buying the Balancing Heart Vineyard. The giant granite rock, in a balancing heart formation, was the inspiration for this modern’s winery’s name.

balancing heart glenda R Photography
Image used with permission © Monique Krause

A corrugated iron cellar door sets the scene and the picnic tables and chairs that surround the dam give a relaxed and casual vibe.

It’s the kind of place that makes you want to get straight into the tasting so that you can find one you like, buy a bottle, find a table near the dam and eat your way through one of the gorgeous platters on offer.

balancing heart vineyard platter
One of the platters available at the Balancing Heart Vineyard

Choose from seven wines on offer and take some time to relax in this stunning location set against the backdrop of Girraween National Park. If you are feeling peckish, Balancing Heart Vineyard is the perfect place to be, with lunch and dinner options available here.

We enjoyed excellent wood-fired pizzas under the stars, complete with a campfire, and matching wines of course. If you can time your visit with a full moon and sunset as I did, you’ll never want to leave. Future planning for Balancing Heart Vineyard will see the introduction of a restaurant, new cellar doors and even accommodation.

Location: 221 Old Wallangarra Road, Wyberba via Ballandean Qld

Queensland College of Wine Tourism

The Queensland College of Wine Tourism is a joint venture between the Queensland State Government and the University of Southern Queensland.  Managed by CEO Peter O’Reilly, its primary aim is to train local people in a commercial facility.  The concept grew from a desire to funnel local students into the winery and tourism business. 

As well as various training facilities including a commercial kitchen, the QCWT is home to a training restaurant, open to the public,  It’s also where you’ll find the Vineyard of the Future, where 70 varieties of vines have been planted, to ensure the ongoing viability of the wine industry in Queensland.

qcwt dinner

Location: 22 Caves Road Stanthorpe QLD 4380

Sirromet Wines

It might seem unusual to finish a two-day tour of wineries in Stanthorpe with a visit to Sirromet Wines a Brisbane vineyard, but the connection is very clear.  Not only did award-winning winemaker Mike Hayes grow up in the Granite Belt region, but he was also the architect of the Vineyard of the Future at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. 

He’s also the chief winemaker here at Sirromet, and also at the Balancing Heart Vineyard in Stanthorpe, has a Masters in Emerging Varieties, making him the perfect conduit to the Granite Belt.  With over 39 years in the professional wine industry as well as growing up in amongst the vineyards, there’s not much he doesn’t know about wine.  

The majority of the Sirromet wines are also made from Granite Belt grapes, with the business holding around 260 acres of vines in Stanthorpe.

sirromet table

Location: 850-938 Mount Cotton Rd Mount Cotton QLD 4165

How to get to Stanthorpe Qld

Stanthorpe is a regional Queensland town, located 2.5 hours south-west of Brisbane.  The area enjoys cold winters, sometimes even snow, due to its elevation.  It’s part of an area known as the Granite Belt, due to the heavy presence of granite rocks.  

The main street of town has many historical buildings, including the beautiful post office and clock tower dating back to the early 1900s.  The Granite Belt is also well known for fresh produce and artisanal, locally made products sourced from this produce.

By car

The easiest and most popular way of getting to Stanthorpe is by car.  It is 230km from Brisbane and 140km from Toowoomba.  Being on the Qld/NSW border, there is also easy access from NSW.

By bus

Crisps Coaches offer a bus service from Brisbane (3.5 hours)  and Toowoomba (3.25 hours).

By tour bus

Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt is popular for day trips and wine and food tours.  If you don’t want to drive yourself, there are some great tour bus options.  They operate from within Stanthorpe itself, but some also operate from other nearby cities.

For full details of tour companies in Stanthorpe, click here.

Note: The nearest international airport is Brisbane International.  Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba also services Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville and western Qld.

Where to eat in Stanthorpe

There are many great places to eat in Stanthorpe.  Those connected to the wineries are usually very good.

Read our detailed guide to all of the best places to eat in Stanthorpe. There are way too many to mention them here.

Where to stay in Stanthorpe

Stanthorpe accommodation is plentiful.  I have previously stayed in the Apple and Grape Motel and the Vines Motel.  Both are good motels that are central to Stanthorpe.  One of the best things about Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt, however, is the abundance of amazing cottages and bed and breakfasts.

Read our guide on some of the best Stanthorpe accommodation

For all Stanthorpe accommodation, check out TripAdvisor for prices, availability and reviews.

Our guide to some of the best wineries in Stanthorpe, wine tastings and where you can find them.

2 thoughts on “Stanthorpe wine tours: Visit some of the Granite Belt wineries”

  1. Hi

    Do you have a tour available for Sat 15/8 for between 6 – 10 people?

    Thanks
    Travis

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