Diamondvale Cottages

Excellent review of Diamondvale.

Consistently voted one of the best B&B’s in Australia, Diamondvale Cottages is sure to impress. A pleasant 3 hour drive from Brisbane or 3.5 hours from the Gold Coast, Diamondvale Cottages is about a 3 minute drive from the town of Stanthorpe in the beautiful Granite Belt region of Queensland.

[read more on ilocalised.com]

Southern Downs harvest celebration

SEATED under a 150-year-old pecan tree, with cloudless skies and a crisp autumn breeze, 135 people gathered for the inaugural Southern Downs Harvest regional lunch.
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The menu featured food and wine from local suppliers, producers and growers, including LiraH Vinegars, cheddar from the Granite Belt Dairy, Wendland Olives, Junabee free range eggs, Suttons Farm apples, sourdough bread from Pittsworth’s Chalala Micro Bakery, pink fur apple potatoes from vegetable grower Mal Smith, rib roast of beef from cattle producers Gordon and Ann Goodwin, and wines from Robert Channon, Symphony Hill and Ballandean Estate, to name a few.

[read more at Queensland Country Life]

Boireann Winery named Star Cellar Door for the Granite Belt

Boireann Winery has been named the Star Cellar Door for the Granite Belt in the April/May 2013 edition of the Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine. (Page 106).

Alure Boutique Villas feature

Alure Boutique Villas is featured on the Brisbane Times Guide to the Best Weekend Getaways.

[Read more at Brisbanetimes.com.au]

Temperatures start dipping at Queensland border

THE temperatures are dipping in Toowoomba - but in Queensland's border towns, it's already hitting single digits.

Stanthorpe recorded a temperature below 10 degrees this morning for the second time this year.

[read more at thereporter.com.au]

Granite Belt wine lovers weekend

What happens when a food and wine writer visits a wine and food region?  Well, a lot of eating and drinking, great conversations, a little learning and a lot of laughing and a food coma at the end.

I met some great people (including Ewan McPherson of Symphony Hill Wines pictured above) when I visited the Granite Belt recently and I've written all about it in this fortnight's edition of Bmag.

[read more at eatdrinkandbekerry.blogspot.com.au]

OPERA IN THE VINEYARD: Stanthorpe’s perfect weekend away

The Stanthorpe region is set to shine this May as the stars of Opera Queensland join forces with Ballandean Estate for the annual Opera in the Vineyard. For over twenty years the event has seen locals and visitors alike gather each May to bask in the beautiful sunset surroundings of Ballandean Estate while they mix a little Verdi with their vino, raising almost one million dollars for the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe along the way.

[read more at qnews.com.au]

Alure Boutique Villas, Stanthorpe

Review of Alure Boutique Villas, Stanthorpe from the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Like any good romantic recluse, don't expect to be shown to your room. Rather, it's a private escape; yours for the time you're there. "The world's most luxurious tent," claim the owners. It's a big call, but one which perhaps comes with some justification.

Nestled at the base of a rocky hill and in front of rolling plains, the tented villa looks nice from the outside. But it's inside where the magic happens. Sliding doors reveal the lounge, a double couch, two elegant reading chairs, a large television, sound system and an ethanol-driven fireplace."

[Read more from the Sydney Morning Herald]

GRANITE BELT VOTED A FAVOURITE TRAVEL SECRET

"Granite Belt Wine Country was this week voted a favourite Australian travel secret. It came in at number 32 in Australian Traveller Magazine’s 100 Incredible Travel Secrets of Australia –the third highest ranking in Queensland and the highest ranking wine region in Australia."

[read more at Gram Magazine]

4BC ‘Wine Time’ audio featuring Granite Belt wines

The Wine Punter - audio from 4BC featuring discussion of Hidden Creek Tempranillo ’09 and Pyramids Road Mourvedre ’11, Hidden Creek winemaker Jim Barnes and talking about the up-coming ‘Elevated Taste – Grazing the Granite Belt’ weekend. [listen to the full audio online]

Granite Belt’s tourism up as word spreads

"STANTHORPE streets were thick with visitors over the Easter weekend and Granite Belt Wine and Tourism figures show the region is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination.
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The GBWT website attracted nearly 8000 unique visitors during March, recording a 30% traffic increase and making it the busiest month to date.
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Granite Belt Wine Country has been voted into the 100 Incredible Travel Secrets of Australia by a panel of judges including Pat Rafter, Kate Ritchie, Catriona Rowntree and Sonia Kruger."

[Read more at The Daily News]

Get to know some locals

The Wine Punter, Michael Ellis, Brisbane Times, April 2, 2013


"Australian Wine Month kicks off on April 1st. It is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate great Australian wines, the people who make them and their stories.
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Quality has improved significantly over the past decade as winemakers sharpen their focus on varieties that suit the region’s soils and climate. Greater understanding of how these varieties work on specific sites is resulting in some outstanding wines.

‘Elevated Taste – Grazing the Granite Belt’ is a timely opportunity to get out there to see and taste for yourself. In its second year, this event features the best of the region’s food and wine experiences.

Read more at the Brisbane Times