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Granite Belt Wine RegionThe Granite Belt Wine Region, stretching along the New England Highway near Stanthorpe in South Eastern Queensland is a rapidly emerging wine region. It is really an extension of the New England Tableland just across the border in New South Wales. It comes as a surprise to most people that the Sunshine State should have a serious wine industry. The popular image of Queensland is of a warm to hot climate with beaches, rainforest, holiday islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Or else we think of the hot interior and cattle country. But in the Great Dividing Range a couple of hundred kilometres south west of Brisbane there is an area eminently suited to wine. Because of the altitude, 800-1000 metres, the winters are quite cold, and the summers are not as fiercely hot as the plains in the interior. Spring frosts are the main viticultural hazard of this region as well as damaging hailstorms over the summer months. It can be argued the area should be regarded as a cool climate rather than warm climate wine region.
The Granite Belt abuts the New South Wales border to the south, where there is some pioneering vineyards in The North West Slopes Zone.The main commercial centre is Stanthorpe. The area has had some vineyards for many years, however serious commercial production really only started in the 1980s. There are about forty wineries in the region and just over half of them are growing alternative varieties. Much experimentation is still needed, but it seems that varieties which are traditionally associated with cooler areas will do well here. Granitic soils are typically sandy and well drained, which is good for viticulture. Some enthusiasts claim that the mineral composition of the soil gives the wines a 'flinty' character. Visiting the Granite BeltThe Granite Belt is easily accessible by car from Brisbane, Towoomba or the Gold Coast. There are plenty of accommodation choices in Stanthorpe and the smaller centres such as Severnlea and Ballendean as well as on some of the vineyards. The Granite Belt offers hotels, motels, apartments, cottages, B&Bs and caravan and camping parks. There are restaurants and shops which proudly feature the local produce. Rather than present you with a list of links to Granite Belt accommodation sites I suggest that you use the Google box below to check out some Granite Belt accommodation options. That way you will get the latest info and will be able to make an informed decision about accommodation and restaurants. The choice is yours.
This a new and developing area. As well as wine produced from the classic varieties you will be able to find some growers and wineries who are pioneering new and alternative varieties. In other words producers with attitude. People who are passionate about wine and want to share the fruit of their labour. A list of the grape varieties grown in the Granite belt and the names of Granite Belt wineries where you may be able to find wine. The links are to other areas on this site which describe these varieties. The usual caveat applies... this page will always remain a work in progress. Please send me feedback about errors and omission, using the contact form at the left.
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