The Auswine Forum

G'day

I apologise in advance for being off the air for the first couple of weeks of November. I will be in Queensland, where my partner comes from, and whose mother will be celebrating her 80th (everyone go "aaahh").

So I need some help. Not all of the time will be in Brissie, and it is a rare chance to take advantage of grandparental babysitting.

We were in Queensland a year ago (without kids), and tried a few wineries of varying quality (on the good side, included Lurleens Restaurant @ Sirromet Wines in Mt Cotton, and a couple up Mt Tamorine, that use Granite Belt as their designation). This time, I thought I should ask for some advice.

So, please, let's have some recommendations.

Cheers

Allan

There's a winery up there called Heritage, or Heritage Estate. We reckon their Merlot is pretty good. Would love to know what you think of it.

I have tried and failed to find good wines from the Granite Belt in the past. I'm sure they are there, but they have eluded me. Robert Channon Wines near Stanthorpe is, I believe, the "gun" winery in the Granite Belt these days, especially for Chardonnay. I have not tried their wines and would be interested to hear other opinions.
I recently tried the Robinson's range- not bad, but overpriced IMO.

The pervading view seems to be that Boireann are making really good stuff these days. Havn't tried them for a few years but there are good vibes floating around.

Cheers

Dear Allan

There are lots of good wines made in Qld but unfortunately a lot of old prejudices still persist. Take a tour and include the Granite Belt but don't forget Sirromet and the Mt Tambourine ones. You won't like everything but some of the premium wines are as good as most boutique premiums - sorry no Rockfords or Wendourees or for you Cape Mentelle's though.

Have a great trip - if you are coming anywhere near Rockhampton (Yeppoon after all is the most beautiful place in the world) - give me a call and we'll find something special to drink.

Regards

Luke

Waiters Friend wrote:G'day

I apologise in advance for being off the air for the first couple of weeks of November. I will be in Queensland, where my partner comes from, and whose mother will be celebrating her 80th (everyone go "aaahh").

Allan,

My Dad at 88 reckons those 80 year olds are young whipper snappers.

I've always liked the Ballandean Stickies,

http://www.ballandean-estate.com.au/

Sirromet is a nice experience and the wines are ok, but overpiced for what they are. Still a nice afternoon though.

http://www.sirromet.com.au/

The Strangebird tour might be worth a look as well, I haven't done it but looks interesting

http://www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au/pages/strange-bird/

Cheers - Nick

Try places like Summit Estate, Ravensworth, Symphony Hill, Golden Grove, Ballendean. The big problem with Granite Belt wineries is that there are very few qualified winemakers actually making the wines - last count there were 4-5 of them only. Those wineries that have one are making good wines, some very good - the others, welll!!!!!

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Sean wrote:Allan,

I am embarrassed to say I can’t really recommend very much, despite being a Qld’er. But if I suggested that you ask the locals, don’t be a bit surprised if you get the same answer.

I would agree with this. I used to stop into some Granite Belt wineries on the way to Noosa. I would spend the night at Warwick. I have also spent a little time in Warwick looking for local wine in the bottleshops. They hardly know that there are wineries half an hour down the road, let alone what their names are, or (God Forbid!) stock any. Maybe this has changed.
I find Ipswich to Stanthorpe pretty easy driving. It takes under 2 hours, and watch for police around Warwick and Stanthorpe.

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I havent been up to the Granite belt for ages, but I on Qld wines in general I can say.

Granite belt
Boireann deserve their reputation. They make some very good reds that compete on the Australian stage, and a local retailer I buy from puts them on tasting once a year.
Ballandean have at times been good. The Sylvaner based dessert wine is something special (well, relatively), I've bought this on and off since the 1985 vintage, when the place was called Sundown Valley.
Surely there are a few others up there now that make it worthwhile. But expect a heap of tourist crap, and probably some overblown cellar door prices.

Sirromet is touristy. The restaurant, Lurleens, is very very good. This is about a half hour southeast of Brisbane, make it a lunhc destination and it becomes worth the trip.

South Burnett is up and coming, and I travel to Kingaroy every so often for work. I'm yet to be inspired by the local wines though.

AB

Golden Grove just did well at the latest Australian Small Winemakers Show, fwiw....

I can strongly recommend Summit Estate as being worth a visit.

I know a few of the Summit Estate shareholders (most are medical specialists with good cellars and palates) and I have therefore tasted many of their wines, including the most recent releases. The 06 Cabernet and Malbec (estate grown and made) are standouts.

Not surprisingly the fruit on the Granite Belt has always been good, the main problem has been with the winemaking, including the use of poor quality oak and equipment. This has changed massively at the better wineries over the past 5 years or so with the investment of significant capital and addition of skilled winemakers.

Hope you get the chance to report back on your own experiences!

TORB wrote:

Waiters Friend wrote:G'day

I apologise in advance for being off the air for the first couple of weeks of November. I will be in Queensland, where my partner comes from, and whose mother will be celebrating her 80th (everyone go "aaahh").

Allan,

My Dad at 88 reckons those 80 year olds are young whipper snappers.

And my 90 y.o. grandmother is on the lookout for her 4th husband - know any retired winemakers?

Thanks everyone, for the quantity and quality of feedback.
Roscoe, I’ve also heard good things about Robert Channon, and will probably have a look.
Grant, I recall a magazine article on Boireann in the last 12 months, describing it as the next ‘big thing’ for the Granite Belt.
LukeW – sorry, Yeppoon isn’t on the itinerary this time but thanks for the invitation, and it’s reciprocated if you’re in Perth. I’ve tried the Mt Tamborine wineries, and Witches Falls stood out for us.
Rednick and others: Ballandean has been on the radar as the obvious big gun, and I hope we have time to do it justice. Unlike some Queenslanders (!), I have no prejudice against Queensland wine, and am happy to explore.
Sean – a comprehensive and considered reply (thank you), and I will see what’s in range in our limited available time.

I’ll report back on what limited experiences we get. At this stage, it’s entirely possible that a day trip to Stanthorpe is on the cards – but with the 80 year old M.I.L. and a 12 year old stepson.

So, the next questions (for locals, especially) are:
1. a good winery/restaurant for lunch, and
2. some non-winery tourist spots.
Thanks in advance
Allan

A smorgasbord dinner at Anna's in Stanthorpe could be a goer on a Saturday night. Make sure you book ahead though. Love the stuffed mushrooms.

G'day again

I've done some web-based research myself (and thanks for the links, everyone), and it looks like a day trip to Stanthorpe (and I'm driving the rental car ) - so I've been looking at combining a winery visit with lunch (especially as the 80 y.o. M.I.L. is diabetic and doesn't drink much - unlike her daughter )

Both Ballandean and Robert Channon (which seem to be the two big guns for wine in this area) do cafe style lunches around the $16 mark. Not all that stimulating, but will probably do the trick.

Before I go with one of them, are there any winery / restaurants which really stand out for the food?

Cheers

Allan

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Sean wrote:[Sorry about the long post, but if you got this far, has anyone tried any of these wines and what did you think of them??

Hi Sean

Of the comprehensive list you've mentioned, the only wines I've tried were Masons and Witches Falls. We bought Mason's Viognier and Chardonnay in small quantities, and they were OK and a mixed case of Witches Falls followed us back to WA. This included the 2006 Chardonnay which you mentioned in your post - they apparently also made a 'wild ferment' Chardonnay which had already sold out despite the higher price tag. I hope to get back there this trip.

Cheers

Allan

Finally decided to do a trip to Granite Belt!!!

Have been very hesitant after reading many bad reports!

BUT....Best way, is to do this thing & decide yourself.

No negative vibes BUT open mind & just trying a few days & enjoy the hospitality.

Thanks Sean for your summary of recent small winemakers show.

This will be handy, as I will use this as the basis for my winery selection plan!

& I'll watch for that nasty bush pig!

Cheers

Yours Hopefully

Ronaldo

Maroon&Blue wrote:Finally decided to do a trip to Granite Belt!!!

So Ronaldo, when are you going? We're planning a day trip from Brisbane, probably around 12 November.

Cheers

Allan

Maroon&Blue wrote:& I'll watch for that nasty bush pig!

Cheers

Yours Hopefully

Ronaldo

Where there's one there's more, some of 'em walk on two legs

Look forward to your impressions, I'm one of those Qlders who's never really tried Qld wine, seen Sirromet around but not seen any praise of the wines.

Cheers

daz

Waiters Friend wrote:

Maroon&Blue wrote:Finally decided to do a trip to Granite Belt!!!

So Ronaldo, when are you going? We're planning a day trip from Brisbane, probably around 12 November.

Cheers

Allan

Roughly same time Allan.....What is your itinerary?

So Ronaldo, when are you going? We're planning a day trip from Brisbane, probably around 12 November.

Cheers

Allan[/quote]

Roughly same time Allan.....What is your itinerary? [/quote]

Itinerary? Don't have one yet, nor a firm date on which date we're going. It will be a day trip to and from Brisbane, and is as much about taking out the mother in law as it is about visiting a couple of wineries. Lunch will be Ballandean or Robert Channon at this stage, and the trip will probably be 10th, 12th or 13th. Please also see the posting from Daz about Good BYOs in Brisbane - we may be getting together for an offline one night that week. The more, the merrier.

Cheers

Allan