Granite Belt

The Granite Belt wine region of Queensland runs from the town of Dalveen in the north down to Liston across the border in NSW, and includes such towns as Applethorpe, Amiens, Ballandean, Pozieres, and Wallangarra. It is named for its spectacular granite outcroppings that can be seen in many places within the region, but most easily in the Girraween National Park. Dalveen is 200 kms or a two and a half hour drive from Brisbane.

Allan Cunningham in 1827 was the first European known to have explored the area. But any considerable settlement did not occur until the 1860s. At first this was for agriculture, and then the discovery of gold, copper and tin brought in many more people. But Wallangarra was only founded in 1881 when the railway was extended that far.

Towns in the Granite Belt region with names such as Amiens and Pozieres have an even more recent origin. As their names suggest, they relate to the Great War of 1914-1918 and its aftermath, when returning soldiers were granted allotments as a reward for their services in the war. For a time such places thrived, but harsh conditions, inexperience and finally the Great Depression saw most of these men and their families leave the land and migrate back to bigger towns and cities.

As early as the 1870s grapes were planted in the Granite Belt region, but the industry did not survive the turn of the century. In the following century, as in such wine growing areas as the Riverina region in NSW, the presence of large numbers of people of Italian heritage has given the Granite Belt region a longer modern history of wine growing than most parts of Queensland; one with a distinct style of its own. Salvatore Cardillo was producing wine for himself and his family in 1932, for example, and when his grandson Angelo Puglisi took over the farm in 1968 he decided to establish the first of the Granite Belt’s many vineyards. These often began with Shiraz but the Granite Belt’s range of styles has gradually developed until Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho are also found throughout the region.

You might think that as it is so far north, this would make grape growing difficult in the Granite Belt. But being located on the Great Dividing Range gives the region sufficient altitude, ranging from 800m to 1,000m, to allow for the maturing of many excellent wines. In fact, the Granite Belt region has some of the highest vineyards in Australia, with many located at over 1,000m above sea level. Overall the climate of the Granite Belt region is a mixture of high humidity, hot summers modified by sub-tropical monsoons, cold winter nights, and even frosts in spring. It is this cooler than expected climate that enables the growing of its many fine wines.

The main styles of the Granite Belt region are Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier, Verdelho, Cabernet Sauvignon and of course Shiraz. But in fact a feature of the Granite Belt is growing what other Australian regions would consider ‘alternative’ varieties, such as Barbera, Chenin Blanc, Colomard, Durif, Malbec, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Sylvaner, Tannat, and Tempranillo.

The Granite Belt is Queensland’s leading wine producing region with over 60% of all the grapes grown in Queensland coming from here. Most of the wineries of the Granite Belt region are small, owner operated affairs, and many produce grapes that are used by winemakers located outside the region. Nevertheless the Granite Belt also has over 50 cellar doors.

One of these is Ballandean Estate Wines, which began with Angelo Puglisi’s grandfather, Salvatore Cardillo in 1932. Angelo and his wife Mary replanted the vineyard to create the first commercial vineyard in the Granite Belt region. The Ballandean Estate produces a wide range of wines, from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, to Methode Champenoise and Tawny Port. Ballandean Estate also hosts such events as Opera in the Vineyard, and Jazz in the Vineyard to raise money for charity.

Another excellent winery of the Granite Belt region is Rumbalara, begun by Bob and Una Gray in 1974. This makes it one of the Granite Belt region’s earliest wine making efforts. The property was originally a mining lease producing silver and afterwards an orchard; one that had grapes growing on it in the 1920s. Rumbalara began by making fortified wines, for which it has received many awards, and now makes a range of wines that can be sampled at its cellar door.

The Granite Belt is also where the Queensland College of Wine Tourism is located and where the most advanced techniques in the art of wine are taught. The Granite Belt also has an interesting wine trail named the “Strange Bird”, which specialises in taking you to those wineries that grow ‘alternative’ grape varieties and so can guarantee you a unique wine tasting experience.

Some of the best Verdelho in Australia comes from the Granite Belt region as this is a variety well suited to the warm days and cools nights of the region. Chardonnay also does very well here, as does Viognier, a variety that has recently been much expanded. Viognier is often added to Shiraz to lighten and perfume this red. While Shiraz itself is the Granite Belt region’s most consistent wine, always dark and strong.