Granite belt

[vovo]

We are looking at visiting the granite belt shortly, and am looking for some good recommendations for accommodation, food and wine.

I have found this thread covering wineries,
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13607&p=111595&hilit=Granite+belt&sid=3c34e351f3c99d7bb2e9f3f979a5b440#p111512
feel free to add anything, but I'm looking for accommodation and food recommendations on top of this.

Thanks
Vovo

[Luke W]

Don't miss out on Tobin Estate - particularly the Joshua Tempranillo.

[Michael McNally]

Can't help with accom or food as I haven't been down there for an age, but recently had a Witches Falls Grenache which was very smart. They appear to have a cellar door.

Let us know where you end up going/tasting/eating/staying as a trip down there is long overdue.

Cheers

Michael

[Waiters Friend]

Can't help with accom or food as I haven't been down there for an age, but recently had a Witches Falls Grenache which was very smart. They appear to have a cellar door.

Let us know where you end up going/tasting/eating/staying as a trip down there is long overdue.

Cheers

Michael

I'm a fan of Witches Falls - good range and quality. However, the cellar door is at Mount Tamborine, a couple of hours away from their grapes in the Granite Belt.

[Michael McNally]

Can't help with accom or food as I haven't been down there for an age, but recently had a Witches Falls Grenache which was very smart. They appear to have a cellar door.

Let us know where you end up going/tasting/eating/staying as a trip down there is long overdue.

Cheers

Michael

I'm a fan of Witches Falls - good range and quality. However, the cellar door is at Mount Tamborine, a couple of hours away from their grapes in the Granite Belt.

Thanks Alan. I didn't look at where it was and made assumptions.

Any other varietals of theirs that you would recommend?

Cheers

Michael

[gap]

Pretty much everything on the 'Strange Bird Trail' is good drinking. Actually, pretty much everything from the Granite Belt is good drinking.

We haven't been up there since last November but will be there in a couple of weeks. Accommodation proved to be a problem as the races are on that w/end but managed to get a cottage about 15 minutes walk from centre of town. I suggest a cottage in Stanthorpe itself to stay as you have a range of dining options. We stayed at The Vines Motel and Cottages in one of their cottages (houses really) the year before last which was very good and reasonably priced.

"Anna's" restaurant is good value for dinner and "Patty's on McGregor" (I think) is a BYO and good food and prices although the service is a bit slow when they're busy so take another bottle of wine with you. Try this link http://diningonthebelt.com.au/ and of course http://www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au
A lot of the wineries have food too but it pays to book where ever you go.

All the wineries on the thread you mentioned are good and a couple of newish ones that we sampled from last year are Bent Road Wines and Savina Lane Wines.

Just about every red from 2012 vintage is worth buying. Don't be fussy about variety, just buy it. I've read a few reviews about the 2015 whites that sound promising too. Hello Verdelho...

And don't forget to get a few stickies too.

[rens]

I spent a bit of time in the area last year. Did not get to see much wine though. But the Vines is a nice motel and an easy stroll to town and 200 metres from Anna which is a great Italian place. Watch-out, the servings are huge. The Entres are the size of mains and the mains, well very big. Having said that they are great value and BYO wine (which all of on the forum love).

[ticklenow1]

In my limited experience, Boireann make some impressive wines. The Shiraz Viogner being the standout. Be great if you write a report as my wife and I are due a trip out there.

Cheers
Ian

[vovo]

Thanks guys, seems there is a small winemaker show on the Saturday we are keen to visit which seems to be making accommodation hard to find. Is Ballandean too far out of the way?

[rens]

No, It is about 5-10 minutes down the road from Stanthorpe. Lots of wineries down there too

[Redav]

Symphone Hill and Golden Grove have some good wines too.

[chillwrx]

Symphone Hill and Golden Grove have some good wines too.

Just don't ask for a spittoon at Golden Grove - they don't like people to spit their wines. Wines are not flash anyway in comparison with Boirean and Tobin - you can speak to both winemakers and they are passionate and hospitable.

[gap]

That's a very unfair comment about Golden Grove. I've never had a problem with spitting out a wine there, especially as I'm usually driving, and their Vintage Grand Reserve range is bloody stunning. Their Chardonnay is the only one I don't like, although there is no Chardonnay that I do like anyway.

Ray, the winemaker, will not only talk to you quite happily, he'll also help you load your car with wine.

[chillwrx]

That's a very unfair comment about Golden Grove. I've never had a problem with spitting out a wine there, especially as I'm usually driving, and their Vintage Grand Reserve range is bloody stunning. Their Chardonnay is the only one I don't like, although there is no Chardonnay that I do like anyway.

Ray, the winemaker, will not only talk to you quite happily, he'll also help you load your car with wine.

Not unfair Gap just the truth. Another fella walked out at the same time for the same reason - never met Ray but the other wineries that I visited commented that the lady that works in there is high strung and often loses the plot. Glad you had a great tasting but I won't go back.

[gap]

Wines worth a try:

Banca Ridge Verdelho 2015
Symphony Hill SB 2015 and Danying 2012
Ballandean SSB 2015 and Fiano 2015
Golden Grove SB 2015 and Vermentino 2015 (although not as good as last years)
Robert Channon Verdelho 2015
Savina Lane Graciano 2013

There are a few others too that we tried and decided not to buy this trip as space in the car and at home is tight.