Southern Downs wine: The Granite Belt wineries you should visit in 2024

Home to the oldest vineyard in Queensland, the Granite Belt’s wine trail is one well worth exploring. If you’re wanting to expand your palette in 2024, take a look at some of the region’s best here.

The Granite Belt is renowned for its tourism with a number of award-winning wineries and breweries from one end to other.

Many of the region’s vineyards have been forged by the hardworking families who have ran them for generations, with one winemaker widely known in the industry as the father of Queensland wine.

One vineyard now even features some of its best wine at the Queensland Ballet and in Qantas’ business class.

With Stanthorpe’s annual Apple and Grape Harvest Festival just around the corner, be sure to take note of the vineyards featured below.

A sneak peek at some of the best of the Granite Belt's wine trail.

Art of Krupinski

Inspired by their Polish parent’s migration, Natalia and Artur Krupinski made a steadfast decision to purchase an established vineyard on the Granite Belt to make their own.

Since it’s inception in 2022 the Art of Krupinski has focused on celebrating their national pride and vibrant traditions through the French oak barrels and deeper tones of their crisp blends.

The cellar door attracts passers by with three of its renowned and most popular wines, verdelho, cabernet franc and sparkling shiraz.

The serene view from the cellar door overlooks the vineyard and is a view not to be missed.

The Art of Krupinski’s cellar door is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until sunset, and Thursday and Friday by appointment.

You can find them at 344 Mount Stirling Rd, Glen Aplin.

Standing out from the rest, Polish couple Natalia and Artur Krupinski hope to continue their vineyard's legacy for years to come.

Ballandean Estate Wines

Surviving relentless drought and floods since the vineyard began making wine in 1932, Ballandean Estate Wines is Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery.

The estate has been in the Puglisi family since its inception, with current and fifth generation vigneron Angelo Puglisi now regarded as the ‘father of Queensland wine’.

Their cellar door boasts a range of award-winning starngeblend wines, with the crowd pleaser a tie between their shiraz and saperavi.

As well as an array of different wine tasting experiences and recent addition the Barrelroom Wine Lounge, which offers signature grazing and dip platters and award-winning wines.

The cellar door and wine lounge are both open seven days a week and are located at 354 Sundown Rd, Ballandean.

Ballandean Estate Wines on the Granite Belt is the oldest winery in Queensland.

Castle Glen

Unique both with its medieval exterior and extensive list of not only wine, but fortified wines, liqueurs, beer and spirits, Castle Glen is a one-stop shop.

Established in 1990, their cellar door prides itself on producing world class, all natural, preservative and chemical free products that won’t leave you with a nasty headache the next day.

Vastly sought after, Castle Glen’s spirit range has become quite popular with visitors, who have taken a shine to the cellar door’s single malt whiskey and rum.

The Granite Belt cellar door is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm and is located at 3184 Amiens Rd, Thulimbah.

Castle Glen specialises in more than just great wine, with an array of fortified wines, liqueurs, beer and spirits.

Golden Grove Estate

Golden Grove Estate made its debut into the Granite Belt’s ever emerging wine industry in 1946, and is now a third-generation family run business.

Following in his grandfather and father’s footsteps, Ray Costanzo is the estate’s winemaker who now specialises in the Strange Bird varieties his father Sam planted almost 20 years ago.

The vineyard is also managed by Ray’s brother Jason, who also caters for various functions at the estate throughout the year.

Golden Grove’s signature and most popular wine Vermentino, a white blend that has won multiple awards, most recently at the 2023 Australian Small Winemakers show and 2023 National Wine Show.

The dog friendly estate is open six days a week (closed on Wednesday) from 10am to 4pm and offers group bookings as well as antipasto hampers.

You can find Golden Grove Estate at 337 Sundown Rd, Ballandean.

Golden Grove Estate's white blend 'Vermentino' and their signature wine won multiple industry awards in 2023.

Heritage Estate Wines

Offering tasting rooms as well as guided tours of their vineyards and production facilities, Heritage Estate Wines gives visitors 30 variations of wines from reds, whites, sparkling and dessert wines.

While they may not have won the highest awards, the wine varieties that are most popular with visitors are among their Rabbit Fence and Moonshine blends.

The estate’s vineyard homestead offers accommodation for visitors, making it a dream destination.

You can find the picturesque estate at 747 Granite Belt Drive, Cottonvale.

Robert and Therese Fenwick offer 30 different blends of wines at their beloved vineyard Heritage Estate Wines.

Just Red Wines

After the success of their vineyard and winery in New Zealand, Tony and Julia Hassall established Just Red Wines on the Granite Belt in 1998.

Just as their name suggests, the vineyard is exclusive to red wine only and also offers visitors the opportunity to stay in one of their vineyard facing cabins.

The cellar door is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm and is located on Eukey Rd, Ballandean.

Just Red Wines' Julia and Tony Hassall's red blends are not to be missed out on.

Ravenscroft

After visiting on a wine tour more than two years ago and falling in love with the region, Nick and Caitlin Roberts found themselves the proud new owners of a small winery.

The couple had only recently returned to Australia from the United Kingdom, having originally planned on staying for just three months.

The former owner and found of the winery, award-winning winemaker Mark Ravenscroft, kindly offered a mentorship program as part of the sale, which Nick said was part of what enticed them to bite the bullet.

Nick said what makes them stand out from the rest is that their cellar door doubles as their family house, meaning you not only visit their winery but also their home.

Ravenscroft wines are made to be elegant and medium bodied, coming from a hybrid grape variation of pinot noir and Cinsaut.

The most popular, and their signature, wine is Pinotage, a red blend with spicy notes of blackberry, plum, tobacco and licorice.

The vineyard offers a range of red, white and pink wines, catering to wine connoisseur’s of all palettes.

Ravenscroft Vineyard’s cellar door is open to the public from 10.30am to 4.30pm Friday to Sunday, with other times via appointment only.

You can find them located at 274 Spring Creek Rd, Stanthorpe.

Nick and Caitlin Roberts fell in love with the Granite Belt during a visit just over two years ago and have now made the region their home, crafting their own unique blends of wine.

Ridgemill Estate

Home to the oldest tempranillo and saperavi vines in Queensland is something that sets Ridgemill Estate apart from the rest.

A long term dream of owning his own winery, a love for landscape, lifestyle and Granite Belt wines was what attracted the estate’s current owner Martin Cooper in 2004.

The estate was formerly known as Emerald Hill and was established by a Spanish couple in 1998.

Offering a range of winery experiences and packages, cellar door wine tastings and more, making it a great venue for corporate tours, group stays, weddings, wellness and other celebrations.

The vineyard is one of a handful of wineries in the region that offers accommodation overlooking the wines.

A top hit with visitors is a red blend tempranillo as well as their Pinot G, a white blend, and their chardonnay.

The pet friendly vineyard’s cellar door offers tasting experiences seven days a week, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

You can find them located at 218 Donges Rd, Severnlea.

Ridgemill Estate is one of only a few in the Granite Belt region who offer guest accommodation overlooking the vineyard.

Savina Lane

Savina Lane came to fruition in 2011 and is the brain child of Brad and Cheryl Hutchings, who have always held a passion for good wine.

Their cellar allows wines to age in stable temperatures, housing them in an underground purpose built cellar.

In 2023 they were recognised at a prestigious industry award, becoming Queensland’s first grapegrowers to be named among Australia’s top 50 as a finalist in the 2022 Young Gun of Wine Vineyard of the Year Awards.

The vineyard first planted 65 years ago now specialises in varieties such as fiano, tempranillo, graciano, montepulciano, petit manseng, viognier and syrah, a shiraz blend.

Enjoy a wine tasting experience for as little as $15 per person.

In 2024 Brad and Cheryl will be welcoming visitors to their vineyard from Easter to the end of October by appointment only.

You can find them located at 61 Savina Lane, Severnlea.

Savina Lane's Brad and Cheryl took over the vineyard in 2011 and specialise in producing lesser-known wine grape species.

Symphony Hill

Offering their most popular wine prosecco at the Queensland Ballet and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, as well in Qantas’ business class Symphony Hill Wines is a clear standout.

The estate ages their wines in terracotta amphora imported from Italy, with the staff naming each amphora after stylish and beautiful Latino actors.

The amphora tasting area features a large mural of Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida and Penelope Cruz.

On offer at the cellar door you can find alternative varieties such as prosecco, fiano, nero d’Avola and sagrantino.

Established by Ewen Macpherson in 1999, with the dream of starting a new career and raising a family with his wife Elissa.

The couple hired renowned South African winemaker Abraham de Klerk in 2019, who is known for his work in some of the works most prestigious wine regions.

The vineyard’s tasting room is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm.

You can find them located at 2017 Eukey Rd, Ballandean.

Symphony Hill Wines are now featured at the Queensland Ballet as well as Qantas' business class.

Tobin Estate

At Tobin Estate their philosophy falls strictly within discussing growing their wine, rather than how it’s made.

Described as an ‘old world’ winemaking philosophy, the estate ensures that all respect is paid to the vineyard, vine and the pursuit of perfection in grape quality.

Owner of the estate Adrian Tobin said he was firm of the belief that all of the work happens out in the vineyard.

“No winemaker is gifted enough to make those wonderful flavours and aromas,” he said.

“All of the work happens out there, in the vineyard.”

The range of wines on offer at the estate are premium, limited edition and hand crafted to express their origins in what they describe as the rugged, majestic landscape of the Granite Belt.

Two of Tobin Estate’s most popular wines are their Sarah Rose and Max Block Two Shiraz.

The cellar door is open to the public seven days a week from 10am to 5pm.

You can find them located at 34 Ricca Rd, Ballandean.

Granite Belt wine connoisseur Adrian Tobin takes on the 'old world' philosophy when it comes to growing vines.

Twisted Gum

Boasting a stylish 1920s Queenslander cellar door and holiday cottage in the heart of their vineyard, Twisted Gum’s vines date back to as early as the 1940s.

Twisted Gum came into fruition in 2007 with its owners both coming from agricultural backgrounds and sharing an interest in cool climate wines.

The winery is big on sustainable viticulture, ensuring despite producing small amounts of grapes on their vines, they’re of the highest quality and flavours.

Their 3ha vineyard means there’s no need for insecticides to be used, instead taking advantage of the number of birds and insects in the surrounding bushland.

The vineyard specialises in growing chardonnay, semillon, verdelho, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, mourvedre and black muscat.

Tim and Michelle Coelli are strong believers the best wines are grown in the vineyard, and hand prune and pick their grapes.

The vineyard was awarded the Premier’s Sustainability Award in 2015.

Most popular with visitors is their single vineyard, hand crafted Granite Belt Shiraz.

The cellar door is open to the public from 10am to 4pm on the weekend, with other times available via appointment.

You can find Twisted Gum Vineyard at 2253 Eukey Rd, Ballandean.

Twisted Gum Wines offers specialty blends of Chardonnay, Semillon, Verdelho, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre and Black Muscat.

*Can’t see your favourite winery on the list, or you would like your business included send an email with a brief outline of what you offer and what makes you stand out to [e-mail]

Originally published as Southern Downs wine: The Granite Belt wineries you should visit in 2024