The Puglisi family has been making wine on Ballandean Estate since 1932. Five generations have carried on the tradition of producing quality, boutique wines that express the unique characteristics of the Granite Belt. At over 1000 metres above sea level, the Granite Belt in Queensland, near the New South Wales border is one of the highest-altitude wine regions in Australia, boasting over 50 cellar doors.
The Puglisi family are wine industry pioneers and storytellers who love to share their passion for winemaking with visitors to the estate. Opening their cellar door to the public in 1970, they welcome the opportunity to tell some of their family story of Australian winemaking and show visitors through their fascinating museum collection. And of course, offer a taste of their national and international award-winning wines.
For over 80 years, the Puglisi family has been cultivating grapes and crafting wine at Ballandean Estate, Queensland’s oldest winery.
The Puglisi family sustainably grow Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Sylvaner, Malvasia, Fiano, Nebbiolo, white muscat and Muscat Giallo. The family will tell you ‘Every bottle has a story – of people, place and passion.’
At 1000 metres above sea level, the air in the Granite Belt region is fresh, crisp, and sparkling. The spring frosts, sub-zero winter nights and low humidity all contribute to the outstanding growing conditions for cool-climate wines.
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The Puglisi family has created the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge experience, The Barrel room. It’s a comfortable, cosy place to sink back into a leather lounge by the fire and enjoy platters of local produce and fine wine. The estate features a Gourmet Food Gallery with amazing treats to complement your wines and for something more relaxed, indulge in a gourmet vineyard picnic amongst the vines.
Plan a visit to the Granite Belt soon on one of our popular tours. A stopover at Ballandean Estate Wines is a guaranteed treat as they proudly claim to have the friendliest cellar door on the Granite Belt!
Salvatore Cardillo first planted the original vineyard in Ballandean in 1932, then in 1968, Angelo Puglisi planted a block of Shiraz vines followed by Cabernet in 1975. Since then, the vines have been lovingly tended to produce the award-winning Opera Block Shiraz and the estate’s signature wine Generation 3 Shiraz Cabernet.
Visitors flock to the Granite Belt region, especially in spring, or the Italian translation, Primavera, as the locals call it. Days are sunny, nights are cool, and rare wildflowers dotted across the countryside.
Granite Belt wines are gaining popularity and acclaim both nationally and internationally. Gourmet Traveller magazine lists the Granite Belt amongst world-renowned regions including Champagne in France, Tbilisi in Georgia, and Italy’s oldest winery in Tuscany. According to local vignerons, cool-climate wines are medium-bodied, fresh, and focused, with refined tannins, impressive flavour intensity and moderate alcohol levels.
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We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
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