WINE
A Summer Grape Escape awaits in Queensland
WORDS: Phil Hawkes PHOTOGRAPHY Mark Ravenscroft, Caitlin Hawkes Roberts and Supplied
“Summertime, when the livin’ is easy…” George Gershwin
We’re gazing at serried ranks of beautifully tended vines, marvelling how black sticks in the winter ground have suddenly sprouted leafy shoots since Spring gave them new life. They’re grapes in all their glory, one of Nature’s wonders people have enjoyed for many centuries and transformed into another triumph of human endeavour…wine. Red, golden white, pink, green…whatever your taste, wine has sometimes been called “the nectar of the Gods”. And Australia, with its various climates and soils, produces some of the world’s best.
Late Summer and Autumn is harvest season, and a great time to visit Queensland’s Granite Belt where cool climate wines reign supreme, winning many awards. Elevations up to 1,000 metres and ideal soils ensure traditional grapes like Chardonnay and Shiraz co-exist happily with other, lesser known European varieties like Fiano, Verdelho, Viognier (whites) and Tempranillo, Saperavi and Nero d’Avolo (reds). Cellar doors welcome visitors for tastings and a good chat with the independent, artisan winemakers whose passion flows through every drop. These are primarily small boutique wineries with limited output and emphasis on quality, not quantity.
A good reason to visit the Granite Belt is the annual Apple & Grape Festival late February/early March.
Apples, the other great local produce, attract a huge following and visitors can be seen during the season lugging boxes of the fruit to their car trunks as well as delicious apple pies, pastries, juice, jams and condiments from places such as Sutton’s and Jamworks. Strawberries are also a big drawcard from farms like Ashbern’s where you can pick (and eat) your own, or enjoy a yummy ice cream sundae. Book now for this popular festival. www.appleandgrape.org
There are some newer, quirkier attractions in the district as well.
Anvil Hill
After many years as a coal miner, Jason Simpson had unusual night time visions, moved to the Granite Belt and bought this shed, where he covers the walls with extraordinary art based on his dreams, mostly surrealist in style. But his other main interest is crafting superb forged cast iron cookware, works of art in themselves and available for sale.
The Folly Truffles
A unique new experience near Ballandean is The Folly Truffle, where you can join in the fun of truffle hunting with specially trained dogs sniffing and digging for the precious fungus in the farm’s private forest, currently 450 trees to be expanded to 1,800 by 2024. www.thefollytruffles.com.au
CELLAR DOOR DELIGHTS
Symphony Hill Wines
Recognised as a top cellar door, with a range of classy vintages. The 2020 vintage was led by new winemaker, South African Abraham De Klerk. Abraham and team were responsible for all the award winning whites from the 2019 vintage. Winery owner, Ewen Macpherson said, “Abraham has made wine in some of the best wineries in the world, including from Chateau Clos du Clocher in Pomerol, working with 3 generations of French vignerons. “He is the perfect winemaker to take our wines to the next level.” www.symphonyhill.com.au
Bent Road Winery
The Granite Belt is known for its experimentation and is renowned for its “Strange Bird Trail”, featuring wineries that make and promote alternative varieties such as Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne. Bent Road is a sophisticated operation, with some wines now being made in Georgian “qvevri” vessels which are buried in the ground. The resultant wines are unique, aromatic and textural and give an insight to how ancient wine styles must have been like. www.bentroadwine.com.au
Tobin Wines
Founder Adrian Tobin holds court in the inviting cellar door bar most days. He’s a veritable goldmine of information about not only his own winery’s top-of-the-class wines, but viticulture in general and the Granite Belt in particular. He loves a chat and will regale you with stories short and tall, while you taste his excellent hand-crafted vintages. www.tobinwines.com
WHERE TO STAY
There are many options around the Granite Belt ranging from basic camping sites to “bush luxury” and everything in between. Here are a few suggestions for something out of the ordinary:
Davadi Cottage
This is a unique accommodation offering in the centre of Stanthorpe, just a walk to great coffee shops and supermarkets. It’s a 3 bedroom cottage beautifully renovated and furnished by Anneke and Oliver Cleary, destined to be their family home when they retire, so everything has been done as a labour of love. It has everything you could imagine for a great stay.
Earth & Soul
Here you can escape into a world of contemplative bliss in this secluded off-grid, rammed-earth cabin with a fully-equipped kitchen, a king size bed, bathroom and outside stone bath and a firepit. True bush-luxe in the sounds of silence. earthandsoulretreat.com.au
Cannon Creek Cabins
Cannon Creek Cabins are a welcome new option for families or small groups, offering camp sites and heated “sleep cabins” (non-ensuited); plus a custom-built communal guest house with gourmet kitchen, well-appointed bathrooms, large dining area and free wifi.
cannoncreekcabins.com.au
Azjure Studio Retreat
A stylish, multi-award-winning haven of bliss with 3 spa studios and one villa for designed just for couples, surrounded by nature at its most beautiful in a forest setting. It’s the kind of place you’ll never want to leave.
