The Granite Belt is has so many great wineries to visit, that it can hard to know where to start. The wines of this region are so delicious, and this is a testament to the way they operate here. They are all small batch producers and so a lot of love goes into the wine. So to help you plan your own trip, I wanted to share 5 Granite Belt wineries to visit.
The Granite Belt region produces a lot of Mediterranean wines, which are basically the varieties that I am in love with. We are talking Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Saperavi, Malbec, and all your classics like Chardonnay and Shiraz. Pretty much all the wines from this region that we tried were delicious, and I really don’t say that lightly. For a couple of hours outside of Brisbane, this region is definitely worth a visit!
Granite Belt wineries to visit: Ballandean Estate
Ballandean Estate we went to on both trips because it is a bit of an institution on the Granite Belt. This winery is family run and you can tell by visiting the cellar door as it has a distinct family feel. Everyone seems to pitch in to the tastings, and they are all so knowledgeable and willing to chat. We definitely had a few laughs throughout our two visits (we went twice the last weekend we went, three times if you count going to the restaurant).
The cellar door has a cosy feel with its cobblestone floors and stone walls, and the giant counter for tastings. There is also the Barrelroom which is a great place to have lunch or dinner if you need a meal. The food is incredible and you get a chance to view the giant wine barrels!
The wine tasting
The wine tasting list is comprehensive and extensive, with so many wines to choose from you may not know where to start. But they will help you pick out wines you like, and I loved how much information they gave you about each wine. It felt like they were tasting the wine with you, giving you helpful tips about the flavours and tasting notes. What I loved most was the variety of wines between red and white, sweet and dry. They really had something for everyone’s tastes!
The Cheeky Vino picks
We really enjoyed the Saperavi and the Durif which were both on-tasting, but we ended up purchasing a few of their Shiraz blends. These were great and easy-to-drink wines. The Saperavi actually won them a worldwide award for one of the best in the world, so make sure you try it (and perhaps you’ll be tempted to buy a bottle like we were). My partner also loved the chardonnay (he is a massive fan of these in general), but they had a lot of lighter whites which were quite nice too.
Definitely add this beautiful winery to your list. The cellar door is a great experience, and stop for a meal if you have time for lunch!
Granite Belt wineries to visit: Whiskey Gully Wines
We went to this winery on the latest trip because it was recommended to us by the tour guide on our tour the day before. Driving up to the cellar door, you go past all their grape vines which makes for a really picturesque entry! We found a lot of the wineries on the Granite Belt don’t worry about show too much, and so we were pleasantly surprised by this one! You then drive up to a beautifully restored Queenslander which was absolutely stunning inside and out. It is a heritage building that oozes history, and makes for a perfect place for a wine tasting!
The wine tasting
We were greeted at the door by the wine maker who even shook our hands before the tasting. He had to give one of the best wine tastings I’ve ever had. He was so knowledgeable about wine and told us so much we didn’t know about the wine making process, plus told us in detail about how he made the wines on offer. This was probably the highlight of the trip for my partner and I because of how great the wine tasting was, and also how incredible the wines were. He even gave us some tips for our upcoming trip to France as he is often travelling to learn more about wine from overseas!
I can say with confidence that there wasn’t one wine I tried on this list that I didn’t love, and I can tell you that the list was quite extensive. I am a little sad that we only bought 4 bottles, and I think next time we will be hitting this winery first before spending as much as some of the others. They had so many reds and whites, and I loved how each wine had a story behind it, and also had been so carefully brought into fruition. He uses very interesting blends and also takes so much care with his grapes, which you can really taste in the wine.
The Cheeky Vino picks
Our favourite wines were definitely the mixed reds, but I also loved the dessert wines, which normally I find too sweet. One he said would go perfectly with a gin and tonic or sparkling wine, and as those are my two favourite things other than wine, this definitely had my vote! We also loved all the whites, which normally I am not much of a fan of, but they had some really interesting varieties which were certainly worth a try!
If you are heading to the Granite Belt, don’t miss a tasting here! The scenery is beautiful, the wines are amazing, and the company is great!
Granite Belt wineries to visit: Granite Ridge Wines
We are frequent purchasers of Granite Ridge wines, having bought a carton at the Ekka last year. Granite Ridge Estate was on our visiting list both times we went to the Granite Belt, and this time around we went there first up. Driving up you get to see some of the grape vines, and the tasting shed looks small from the front but opens up to a big group tasting area which is set amongst all the vats (I loved this as it felt like you were really part of the wine).
The wine tasting
I loved how knowledgeable the wine maker was taking us through the wine (also, it was great getting the wine maker taking you through the wine as you often don’t get this at larger wineries). He provided us with so much knowledge about the different wines on offer. Also, for those who were first time wine tasters, he even provided some tips on how to taste wines! I was hanging on his every word because it was so informative. I especially loved hearing about the chemistry behind different wines.
The Cheeky Vino picks
The tasting list here isn’t as extensive but it is absolutely beautiful. They have a variety of wines suitable to every taste. Their sweet wines were a surprise and prompted us to buy a bottle. We also love their sparkling shiraz, and although it wasn’t on tasting, we had to buy two more bottles while we were there!
This winery is great for an interesting and informative tasting with delicious wines to match! You’ll find it hard to go home empty handed, especially as they even have a sweet chocolate liqueur which is sure to tempt any sweet tooth!
Granite Belt wineries to visit: Ridgemill Estate
We went to Ridgemill Estate both times that we visited the Granite Belt on wine tours. This winery was the first to bring spanish grapes to the area, and so I was hooked. They have also won an award for their Saperavi. If you ask nicely they might give you a tasting so you can see why it won the prize!
The wine tasting
There is a lot to see at Ridgemill Estate, with the vines, the goats and a lovely lake. However the main event is in the tasting room. It has a square bar that allows many people to sit around it and enjoy the wine. The tasting list isn’t extensive, but you can ask for additional tastings. We were taking through the list with a lot of time and were given some great information while tasting.
The Cheeky Vino picks
The highlight for me was definitely the Saperavi, but we ended up buying a delicious Rose from here (one of the only Roses we bought). I also bought some of the red blend for my parents because it was so good! I loved the red wines here the best, but their white wines were also quite nice, very crisp and acidic so quite refreshing.
Granite Belt wineries to visit: Moonrise Estate
We were disappointed that this trip we didn’t get to Moonrise Estate. Last time we visited the Granite Belt we went there and bought a few bottles, including a Tempranillo. We ended up opening this on Valentines Day and it was absolutely incredible, so we decided to buy another. We found out on our wine tour that this won an Australia wide award and that it was sold out. So devastated! But at least we enjoyed it on a special occasion. I can tell you now that I know why it won the award, it was seriously good. This winery has the most amazing view of the scenery, and so is worth a visit even just for this!
The Cheeky Vino picks
The owner of the winery was great and full of knowledge. I also liked his dry sense of humour, but the best part was how serious he was about his wine. And you can see why, because all the wines here are great. If you can’t get your hands on the Tempranillo, try his ‘Not Starboard’ which is similar to port. We still have a bottle at home and it is delicious!
So there you have it, my list of wineries for the Granite Belt. There were so many great ones we visited, and honestly you can’t go wrong in this amazing wine region. If you love wine and want to try some interesting ones, I highly recommend visiting this region. The people are great, the wines are fantastic, and after a day of trying wines you can retire to a cosy chair next to your fireplace. What’s not to love?
In summary: Granite Belt wineries to visit
Whether you are planning a short or long trip, it’s worth visiting some of the awesome wineries of the Granite Belt. These are just a few that we loved when we visited. And I hope these 5 Granite Belt wineries to visit help to inspire your own trip!