Ballandean Estate Wines recognised by Tripadvisor with 2023 Travellers’ Choice award

Built from the ground up and exceeding some impressive milestones over the years, longstanding family-owned Ballandean Estate Wines has claimed another award for their outstanding hospitality.

Ballandean Estate has recently released its 50th Anniversary Opera Block Shiraz, a milestone for the Granite Belt, the Puglisi family and Queensland wine. Angelo Puglisi with his beloved Shiraz vines that are some of the oldest in Australia.

One of Stanthorpe’s oldest and much adored wineries has claimed a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2023.

The winery also celebrated another major hallmark earlier this year with the estate’s owner, wine king Angelo Puglisi 80th birthday.

Tripadvisor’s annual tourism award recognises businesses that have consistently received great traveller reviews on the site over the past 12 months.

Ballandean Estate Wines hasn’t gone without its trials and tribulations, facing years of backlash from wine critics and community members who were unconvinced of the estate’s long-term potential.

VINTAGE CLASS: Mary and Angelo Puglisi celebrate the 50th vintage of shiraz from Ballandean Estate. Picture: Contributed

The vineyard and cellar door are now managed by Angelo’s two daughters Robyn and Leeanne.

As a fourth-generation wine connoisseur, Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi said their love and passion for wine was the driving force behind their great success.

“When people walk into our cellar door, we just want to show them the best time, and of course our sensational wines,” she said.

“Our cellar door is an extension of our Italian hospitality and over the years we’ve welcomed hundreds of thousands of people through our cellar door, the massive increase in visitation to the Granite Belt has given us the opportunity to innovate with our visitor offering.

“In June 2022 we opened the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge, it’s a place for you to bring your friends and family, sink into a leather lounge, indulge in a wine flight of your choice, a Strange Bird varietal or a glass of our 50th anniversary Opera Block Shiraz.”

Ballandean Estate Wines’ Barrelroom opened in June last year and has been a great success for the vineyard. Photo: Contributed

The Barrelroom Wine Lounge is managed by Graeme Haynes, who has more than 20 years experience in fine dining around Melbourne and most notably has overseen events such as the Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup.

Tripadvisor chief growth officer John Boris congratulated the vineyard on their exceptional efforts and their demonstrated commitment to providing their guests with the best experience possible.

“Earning a Travelers’ Choice award demonstrates that you have provided great experiences to those who matter most – your guests – and with changing expectations, continued labor shortages and rising costs,” he said.

“This is no easy feat and I'm continually impress with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt, cheers to another successful year.”