Artist Showcase on the Granite Belt

The Granite Belt has long been home to bush poets, painters, sculptors and metal workers of varying styles and abilities all of whom need a place to display their talents and creations.

Autumn and Winter 2011 showcase nature's splendid time of change - the leaves turn golden, wines mature and for beginning this year , Winds of Change blow through. New kid on the block, the talented folk at Nest Gallery have been hosting their own unique display of seasonal works from local artists.  As the curtains draw to a close on an earlier installment, Faces and Places, it is time to reveal their next contemporary collection: Winds of Change.

Opening Saturday 2 April Winds of Change will run until the end of winter with a series of art workshops being held throughout autumn and the Brass Monkey Season. For more information on this and other workshops please see the Nest Gallery website.

Staying in the Granite Belt this Autumn also puts you into the draw to win two tickets to the popular public tasting of the annual Australian Small Winemakers Show in October. For more information head over to our Granite Belt Gold page.

Opera Queensland kicks off the concert year at Robert Channon Wines this Saturday March 26 when their Young Artists kick up their heels with an afternoon of favourite opera and music theatre. These are the rising stars who develop successful careers in opera houses around the world. At just $20/adult for concert and a glass of wine it's got to be the best value this autumn!

Book now 4683 3260 and extend the pleasure with lunch in their  Singing Lake Café and enjoy chef Leisa Gillham's new Autumn menu.

• Head on over to the Granite Belt Gold Accommodation Hot Deals here for bookings online.
• Granite Belt Gold Meals and Attractions here

Take your tastebuds on a tour at South Bank

It is not every day you can take a walk in the park and bump into a Master of Wine, but that's the rare treat for wine enthusiasts at South Bank next weekend.

Andrew Corrigan MW will present four free sessions throughout the day as part of the Granite Belt Flavours event at South  Bank on Sunday 13 March.  Andrew's wine appreciation marquee will 30 others showcasing Stanthorpe's top wine and food producers. Product sampling and sales, plus live entertainment will add to a good day out on the lawns of Little Stanley Street.

Get on your bike, catch a bus or ferry and see you there 10am to 4pm. Check out the full list of participants for Sunday 13 March.

Stanthorpe's James Blundell shares the love in Fab Feb

Fab Feb is the campaign where more than two dozen Granite Belt tourist operators have slashed prices by 30% as a way of sharing the love with Queenslanders during post flood fatigue. The idea is to give yourself a break from flood recovery and escape to the country...Granite Belt wine country in Stanthorpe.

But ....local born hero, James Blundell has gone one better and is giving both his time and his talent as part of the flood recovery activities.  The multi-Aria award winner is this week performing live at a free concert with a twist.

The gig starts at 5.30pm this Thursday at the Texas Town Hall - that's Texas Queensland. It is part of a community thank you to volunteers from Texas USA who came to help the small town beleaguered by recent flooding. Now that's what I call fab!

Record crowds beat a path to the Granite Belt

Attendance at this year's Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show peaked and for 20,000 visitors local wine producers were a key feature. Over the three days one of the most popular destinations was the Granite Belt cluster which attracted a constant stream of visitors creating standing room only!

From 10am Friday 5 November until Sunday afternoon more than 3000 copies of the region's official new Visitor Guide were snapped up.  Granite Belt tasting sessions in the Reidel wine theatre were so popular they were over subscribed.  Interest in the Queensland wine capital has never been stronger and planning has begun for an even bigger group to travel from Stanthorpe in November 2011.

Taste a Queenslander at Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show

The Strange Bird is preening its feathers for its final big outing of 2010. A dozen Granite Belt producers will nest at the Queensland stand at this week's Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show.

The popular annual consumer show kicks off at 10am this Friday and runs through till Sunday at 5pm.   The show attracts thousands of wine and food lovers, key media and the who's who of the industry.

The wine producers from Stanthorpe include Ballandean Estate, Golden Grove, Felsberg Winery, Harrington Glen Estate, Robert Channon Wines, Pyramids Road Wines, Sirromet, Summit Estate and Symphony Hill.  The Bramble Patch and Bella Rosa's will also be showcasing food products from the Granite Belt. See you there!

Southside - A Festival of Flavours

It's brand new and its all about you enjoying great flavours.

Mt Gravatt Showgrounds this Sunday 31 October is the place to be for a brand new festival of top local wines, international flavours, gourmet treats, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment.

Leading Granite Belt wine producers include Ballandean Estate, Golden Grove, Granite Ridge, Ridgemill Estate, Robert Channon, Sirromet, Summit Estate and Symphony Hill plus fabulous gourmet producers LiraH, The Bramble Patch and Vivienne's Cottage Spices.  We're travelling down from Stanthorpe for a special day that really is all about you!  Gates open 10am to 6pm Learn more about Southside Wine & Food Festival

Thai takeaway with a twist

Fancy a drop of Queensland wine with your Thai food by the river? Sharing Brisbane's South Bank parklands on Sunday 3 October are four featured events: Granite Belt Flavours, Thai Culture and Food Festival, the Young Designers Market and South Bank Lifestyle Market. More than 20 Granite Belt wine and food producers invite you to enjoy the aromas and tastes of Thailand with a bottle of your favourite Granite Belt wine while soaking up the river views and live entertainment. 
Entry is free and for one day only - 10am-4pm Sunday 3 October.

Bramble Patch Hat Trick

First it was a string of gold medals in Tasmania, now judges at the Melbourne and Sydney Royal Shows are the latest to laud the gourmet delights from Stanthorpe's Bramble Patch.  Joining the family trophy cabinet this week are:

2010 Royal Melbourne Fine Food Show

• GOLD Bramble Patch Eggplant Kassoundi
• SILVER Bramble Patch Hot Lime Pickle
• BRONZE Bramble Patch Desert Lime and Chardonnay Paste 

2010 Royal Sydney Fine Food Show

• BRONZE Bramble Patch Tomato Kassoundi
• BRONZE Bramble Patch Raspberry Vinegar
• BRONZE Bramble Patch Berry Vincotta

The Bramble Patch was established just south of Stanthorpe by Don and Patsy Stirling in 1994 following their move from Western Australia.  Since that time the former broadacre wheat farmers have developed a popular range of premium quality produce and a loyal customer base.  The Bramble Patch on tour is a regular features of Granite Belt Flavours at Brisbane's South Bank - next showing Sunday 3 October 10am-4pm.

Spring has Sprung Primavera style

September is always a busy time in and around Stanthorpe as the vineyards and orchards on the Granite Belt start to come to life after the frosty winter hibernation.

Today – 1st September marks the start of spring – this is the beginning of three months of special events under our Primavera banner.

Dozens of wine and food events during Primavera bring a steady flow of visitors to the region, and this year is no exception. Across the region trees are in blossom and early budburst has begun on grapevines. Excellent winter rains mean that the wild flowers and nature walks with be spectacular this year, which is a treat for bushwalkers and photographers.


Being close to the QLD/NSW border we benefit from an extended school holiday season so 18 September to 10 October will be a busy time in the Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre as families hit the road.

The name Primavera pays tribute to the many Italians who have settled in Stanthorpe - it's their word for spring.  Come and join the season of wine, food, music and the arts....or just enjoy communing with nature!

Jazz Icons at Ballandean

It's big, it's back and it's gonna be a bumper! Mr John Morrison and the Swing City Jazz Band are coming back to perform at Jazz in the Vineyard 2010, Ballandean Estate.   It happens on Saturday 28 August.

Appearing at the Granite Belt winery with Morrison and the Swing Band is vocalist Jacki Cooper. Ms Cooper has performed extensively throughout Australia and overseas and is a regular feature with Swing City.  All this, plus the Caxton Street band. Like we said it's gonna be a bumper.

For info or bookings visit www.ballandeanestate.com, or for a friendly service by phone, ring the winery just south of Stanthorpe on 07 4684 1226.

Frost one Day - Blossom the Next

In less than three weeks the coolest place in Queensland shrugs off its winter coat and pops the cork on new vintage wines.

Across the Granite Belt spring blossoms and new wines mark the start of the season which resident Italians call Primavera   From 1st September Stanthorpe hosts three months of wine, food and cultural events, plus outdoor and sporting activities.

Tourism Queensland promotes: "Beautiful one day, perfect the next" and while its beautiful here too things are a little different in this corner of the state. And we love it because good winter frosts create the perfect conditions for award winning wine grapes and the crisp flavour of a Stanthorpe apple. 

The coolest place in Queensland is a popular place to take a short break and chill out - just phone 1800 SO COOL.

New Digital Front Door to Granite Belt

Eighteen months after stepping up our digital marketing campaign, we've created a new portal to provide access to all our online activity. type in www.stanthorpe.com and you have the key to the door!

The official website remains www.granitebeltwinecountry.com.au but the portal provides access to four streams of information:

• about the destination
• social media
• media centre
• wikis

Stanthorpe has a reputation for being the coolest place in Queensland - so hop on over to Queensland's capital of cool or phone 1800 SO COOL.

Granite Belt insight into a Dirty Job

In what may be described as a "Bluffers Guide to Archaeology" academics from USQ will be using some simple language to explain what happens when they get down and dirty. It's part of the Inaugural McGregor in the Vines 2010 workshops which are set amongst the vineyards of Queensland's Granite Belt region.

A two-day weekend workshop on 4 and 5 September will begin with a broad overview of archaeological methods and techniques. Day two includes an introduction to practical laboratory analysis where particpants will be actively involved in the prelimary sorting, identification and preliminary analysis of an actual archaeological site. We are assured no previous experience is required.


To learn all about these activities at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism (QCWT) in Stanthorpe email now.

Meet the real regional heroes at South Bank this Saturday...

these are the good food and wine guys from the Granite Belt. 

One day: 80 producers from South-East QLD. Eat, Sip, Cook, Learn and Shop.

If you can't get to South Bank's Little Stanley Street this Saturday between 10am and 3pm - then point your car in the direction of Stanthorpe soon.

Locavores converge on South Bank

If you live in Brisbane, preserve the planet this weekend - eat and drink locally. For one day only on Saturday 24 July South Bank's Little Stanley Street is the site for the second annual Regional Flavours event. 

Quite simply it's your chance to eat and drink your way through Southeast Queensland without leaving the city!

Dozens of the Granite Belt's top wine, food and pamper producers are packing their vehicles and heading down the hill just for you. Sample wines from Ballandean Estate, Golden Grove, Granite Ridge, Pyramids Road, Ridgemill, Robert Channon, Sirromet, Summit Estate, Symphony Hills and Twisted Gum. Be tempted by favourite treats from LiraH Vinegars, The Bramble Patch and Granite Belt Dairy.  Meet the Pesto Pusher, the Sri Lankan spice goddess, Owens Bakery, Mary Norman preserves and the sticky man from Pillar Bee Honey.  Be dazzled by the range of products by Castle Glen, Eyzer's silk designs and Crystal Ridge Lavender.

And from outside the Granite Belt you can be entertained by kitchen celeb Ben O'Donoghue and a couple from Masterchef so come and say hello 10am - 3pm. See programme here.

Masterclass Affair with Granite Belt Wines

The highly acclaimed bi-ennial Hilton Brisbane Masterclass starts again on Saturday 24 July 2010 and amongst the palate pleasers for the fortunate 1000 participants will be four wines from the Queensland wine capital.

The two-day culinary treat showcases the very best in wine and food.  On and each morning next weekend the sell-out Asian Affairs session kicks off at 9am.  Acclaimed restaurant chefs Luke Nguyen (Red Lantern, Sydney) and Martin Boetz (Longrain Melbourne and Sydney) will partner their creations with Granite Belt wines.  The man with the enviable (or unenviable) task of selecting the wines is session moderator and Master of Wine, Peter Scudamore-Smith.  These wines in Scud's selection have just left Stanthorpe:

• Ballandean Estate 2009 Viognier
• Robert Channon Wines 2009 Pinot Gris
• Summit Estate 2007 Pinnacle Premium Red
• Symphony Hill Wines 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir

Clean and Green on the Granite Belt - Sounds like Pure Heaven!

Saturday 9 June 10am-4pm is your chance to clean up at Pure Heaven. It is over this Queen's Birthday long weekend that the Stanthorpe based body care specialists is launching its own Australian certified organic face care products.

And if you want to be green inside and out, stop and enjoy a range of fresh Granite Belt produce at the organic cafe onsite.

There are a range of launch specials and activities, so bring a relative or friend and create your own green team for the day. More information from 4681 0586 or visit them on-line today www.pureheaven.com.au

Stanthorpe's Art in the Woolshed

What do you get when you cross an historic shearing shed with a group of artists?  Art in the Woolshed of course! 

The popular exhibition is held only every two years and is again this Queen's Birthday long weekend.  The Brass Monkey Season is peak tourist time on the Granite Belt so book your Stanthorpe accommodation now.

Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 June the place to be is at the Bendee Woolshed which is about 20 minutes west of Stanthorpe.  Bus transfers will operate from Stanthorpe Visitor Centre - phone 07 4681 2057.

The shed was built in the mid 1920s but the art will be somewhat more contemporary, featuring works from Belinda Perkins, Christine Porter, Di Elsden and Karina Devine.  Each year new talent is unearthed - come and spot the rising stars and share a little country hospitality in the Queensland wine capital.

Peter's Palate Pleasers

Peter Howard has Queensland’s original food and wine matching palate and is an audience favourite. So he will be again at the Granite Belt Flavours event in Little Stanley Street, South Bank from 10am to 3pm.

In a series of five free sessions at South Bank this Sunday, Peter will present classic red and white wine varieties, plus some exciting alternative varieties from the Granite Belt with food suggestions. This forms part of an event that will see almost 30 food and wine producers from Stanthorpe make the trek to Brisbane.

Six lucky members of the public will have the chance to join Peter’s tasting panel in each session:

Sessions 1 & 3 CLASSIC WHITES (10.30am and 12.30pm):

• Sirromet 2007 Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir
• Casley Mount Hutton 2007 Chardonnay
• Robert Channon Wines 2008 Verdelho

Sessions 2 & 4 CLASSIC REDS (11.30am & 1.30pm):

• Harrington Glen 2007 Merlot
• Granite Ridge 2004 Shiraz
• Summit Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Session 5 STRANGE BIRDS/ Alternative Varieties (2.30pm):

• Ballandean Estate 2008 Viognier
• Symphony Hill 2007 Petit Verdot
• Hidden Creek 2007 Tempranillo