13 of the Gold Coast’s best wineries and breweries
CHEERS! As our breweries, wineries and distilleries continue to multiply we go straight to the sauce to find out what’s new with our favourites on the Gold Coast.
Best of Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Best of Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AS our breweries, wineries and distilleries continue to multiply we go straight to the sauce to find out what’s new with our favourites on the Gold Coast.
Lost Palms Brewing
11 Oak Ave, Miami
The freshest brewery on the GC, these guys have quickly gained a reputation for fun.
Whether it’s their aqua and hot pink colour scheme, a newly installed basketball hoop, their $2 taco Sundays or — of course — the beers, people are loving the new kid on the block.
There’s still more to come.
“A few things we have coming up are a new IPA release in late March — look out for this, it’s a brand new styled IPA,” owner Jarrod Blanning says.
“We have a new can design release for 375ml cans in the next couple of weeks and a new sessionable beer to be released for the Comm Games.”
The lads will be extending their trading hours in April to open Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Mount Tamborine Vineyard & Winery
128 Long Rd, Tamborine
Mount Tamborine Vineyard and Winery are thrilled with the fruits of their vintage ’18 labours.
“We picked our chardonnay a couple of weeks ago and the sunny days and cool nights have ensured that we attained a high sugar level and great flavours in our grape,” owner Danielle Hart says.
“We picked our shiraz last week — starting with our premium Black Shiraz Rows, purpose grown and carefully had selected to make our flag ship Black Shiraz, and I am really excited about our flavours this year.”
Keep an eye out for MTVW’s 2016 Rose that Danielle says is “walking out the door”, perfect to sip chilled in a still-warm autumn.
Pickled Pig Brewery
2/18 Industry Dr, Tweed Heads South
There’s plenty going on at this Tweed Heads brewery, with an excuse for everyone from health nuts to even non-drinkers.
Oh, and in a serious case of destiny, the owner’s name is Paul Brewer.
“Our 14-tap tasting saloon, which opened last year, hosts a variety of events, functions and brewery tours,” he says.
“Our beer and cider range is vegan friendly and we also have a gluten-free offering. With the launch of our latest bottling, labelling and canning equipment, we are collaborating with partners including Sobah, producing their non-alcoholic beer, canning for Nitro Coffee and even produce a range of herb-infused beers developed with Elixiba, a vegan restaurant group.”
Pickled Pig also has its own range including the Chillin’ Pig Pils, Loco Cider and Angry Bear Dark Ale.
Husk Distillers
592 McAuleys Rd, North Tumbulgum
The people who brought you world-famous Ink Gin have built a new distillery about 50m down the paddock from where their existing shed is.
It should be open to the public mid-year.
“Once we have moved into the new distillery we will start fitting out our cellar door and bar,” marketing manager Harriet Messenger says.
“Our new distillery will be open to the public for tours, tastings and drinks — it’s very exciting. The new building will give us much-needed production capacity to keep everyone well stocked with Ink Gin and our paddock-to-bottle agricole rums. We will also now start to commission our Scottish Forsyth Still, the first of it’s kind to be imported into Australia — the Rolls Royce of whisky stills.”
Witches Falls Winery
79 Main Western Rd, North Tamborine
This Tamborine Mountain winery has a few exciting new releases, according to marketing manager Helen McAteer.
“Recently we have bottled some new vintages of wines and one of these is the 2017 Wild Ferment sauvignon blanc. This sauvignon is part of our Wild Ferment Range. This means no commercial yeast is used to ferment the grape juice.
“Instead it is fermented using the indigenous yeast on the skins of the grapes. We also have another sauvignon blanc in our Granite Belt Range, which is made more in the crisp style — fermented and matured in stainless steel.
“It too is a great wine and it is great to be able compare the two — both the same grape variety, but a very different end result due to the winemaking style.”
O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards
852 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra
In February, O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards swung open its barn gates in the wee hours to 150 eager grape pickers and members, all keen to share in the hands-on experience.
In total 1.145 tonne of verdelho and 1.042 tonne of semillon grapes were carefully hand-picked into buckets, in preparation for crushing and turning into premiere wine for consumption across the globe.
Unfortunately, due to flocks of pesky lorikeets and recent severe wet weather, much of the ripe red grape crop was damaged in the deluge.
The second grape harvest (scheduled for February 25) was cancelled and supplementary red grapes were sourced from third-generation Peter O’Reilly’s family vineyard in Stanthorpe.
Black Hops
15 Gardenia Grove, Burleigh Heads
Dan Norris, Eddie Oldfield and Michael “Govs” McGovern recently expanded their brewery and added a 400L pilot system where they’re rolling out limited-release Recon Series beers.
Every week or so they'll have a different beer on offer at the taproom and available for takeaway in refillable growler bottles.
Coming up is the Negroni IPA inspired by the Negroni cocktail; the “delicately sour with beautiful coffee aromas” coffee sour ale and the “Chair Force One” chocolate coffee stout.
They’ve also got a few collaborations in the works including mulberry lager for new Southport bar Last Night on Earth and maple cherry ale for the Canadians over the Comm Games at House of Brews.
Burleigh Brewing
2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads
It’s hard to believe Burleigh Brewing has been around for 12 years, pioneering the craft brewing revolution on the Coast.
Founders Brennan and Peta Fielding are passionate about their product and you won’t find any sugars, additives, preservatives or chemicals in any of their brews.
These guys will be opening the doors to their beautiful, modern brewery Wednesday to Sunday over the Commonwealth Games, with their award-winning brews all on tap including the no-carb Bighead lager, their 28 Pale Ale and “Burleigh in a bottle” Twisted Palm.
Balter
14 Traders Way, Currumbin
Six Aussies and a Yank walk into a bar and never come out ... that’s how Balter tells its story.
Balter is the venture of pro surfing buddies Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Burbidge along with master brewer Scotty Hargrave.
The brew house was opened two years ago and has already won three industry awards, including Best Medium Australian Brewery at last year’s Australian International Beer Awards.
Its range includes four specialty beers: its gold medal-winning pale ale, a draught, a pilsner and a brown ale.
Balter, which means to dance artlessly with enjoyment, has a rustic, relaxed vibe and its tap house is open afternoons and evenings Friday to Sunday.
Tamborine Mountain Distillery
87-91 Beacon Road, North Tamborine
After 25 years, the founders of this Tamborine favourite have handed over the reins.
New owners Gordon Chalmers and Shumei Hou took over the business in October and have opened a purpose-built, Tudor-style tasting house at the front of the property.
Tamborine Mountain Distillery has amassed hundreds of national and international awards for its handmade liqueurs, schnapps, vodkas and eaux de vies over the last quarter of a century.
The recipes remain the same and Gordon says they’re reviving a few old favourites.
All the eccentricities of the family-run business have been preserved.
Business is already booming and there are big plans to take the boutique liquor to the international market.
Cedar Creek Estate
104-144 Hartley Road, North Tamborine
If it’s tranquillity you’re after, Cedar Creek Estate offers a range of picturesque settings making the most of its stunning views and beautifully kept grounds.
Its winery boasts the largest selection of wines in the hinterland featuring reds, whites, and fortifieds, as well as stocking a changing selection of Queensland’s best local boutique wines from the Granite Belt and South Burnett regions.
The winery is open for tastings every day from 10am — 4pm.
Many tasters are lured to stay for lunch at the restaurant, which offers a range of stunning outdoor dining settings, or a cosy fireside retreat in winter.
There’s also a sweet sandstone wedding chapel on the estate that’s worth a visit.
Ilnam Estate Winery
750 Carool Road, Carool, NSW, 2486
Ilnam is the Tweed’s only winery, a family run business in the Carool Valley with amazing views of the ocean and the hinterland.
The cellar door is open Friday to Sundays between 11am — 4pm and generally offers around seven to 10 varieties of carefully handcrafted wines including dry whites and reds, semi sweets and fortifieds.
There’s a veranda cafe for lunches and light snacks and live music plays on the last Sunday of the month.
With its superb setting and vineyard backdrops, Ilnam is also a magic location for daytime weddings any day of the week.
Aardvark and Arrow
13 John Duncan Court, Varsity Lakes
Guy Scruton switched the blackboard for the brewhouse in 2012 and hasn’t looked back.
“I was actually a high school teacher for 22 years and I was looking for a sea-change.
“I love the creation of delicious beer. We’re not a big brewery compared to some of the other ones, but what we produce is quality.”
Guy says anyone is welcome to check out Aardvark and Arrow and try some of said delicious beer.
“Tours and tastings are available by appointment or we have a tasting evening the first night of every month. There’s a very social atmosphere — a good night all in all.”
Top five burgers on the Gold Coast named
This northern Gold Coast burger joint has been named the best in the region for the second year in a row. Find out who won.
Top five spray tanners on the Gold Coast
A mobile spray tanning business has been named the best in the region, securing 34 per cent of Bulletin reader-voted poll. Find out more.