Sipping the Granite Belt during Covid-19 is still possible. Coronavirus has temporarily changed our lives and is forcing all of us to deal with a new normal. Meanwhile, the Granite Belt has bounced back after a challenging 2019 and is looking spectacular! Unfortunately, non-essential travel is currently not permissible and we are not able to encourage people to visit. This is breaking all of our hearts as the Granite Belt is beautiful in autumn and winter.
What we can do is continue sharing with you spectacular images of our region so that you can dream of your next Granite Belt escape. If you live in the city, it might help to imagine the stunning granite landscapes, the falling golden leaves, the starry skies and the fresh night air of the Granite Belt. Right now, you might not be able to sit in front of a fire while sipping on a local red. However, many businesses are still open, and we are delighted to say that there is a multitude of ways of sipping the Granite Belt.
The wineries of the Granite Belt
Granite Belt is home to some of the highest vineyards in Australia, and the Granite Belt has a growing reputation for producing some of Australia’s top alternative variety wines. You can rest assured that most of our wineries offer online sales so you can still enjoy sipping the Granite Belt.
The Granite Belt has experienced drought and fire, and now more than ever, the community needs your support. It’s still possible to purchase wine online and to support the Granite Belt wineries and the families behind them. Cellar doors are open for sales, or the wineries can arrange contactless pick-up and many of our wineries deliver locally and nationally.
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Sipping the Granite Belt
Following is just a sample of how you can continue to sip the Granite Belt during the Covid-19 crisis of 2020:
Ballandean Estate
Ballandean Estate is Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, and it has been making wine since 1932. It is a unique winery with a history of five generations. You will find their entire range of award-winning wines available online. Ballandean Estate has teamed up with Golden Grove and Ridgemill Estate to create the ‘Adversity Pack’ which is a 6-pack of their best wines, and it is available for only $190 and delivered free to South East Queensland.
Golden Grove Estate
Golden Grove Estate is a family-owned and operated winery situated in Ballandean who planted their first vines in 1976, and they are known for wines with soft, delicate flavours. They offer free delivery within Australia, and they have teamed up with Ballandean Estate and Ridgemill Estate to provide the ‘Adversity Pack’ which represents a discount of $42 on cellar door prices.
Heritage Estate Wines
Heritage Estate Wines receives excellent results every year in the James Halliday ratings. This year, nine wines from Heritage Estate received over 89 points with two wines earning over 95 points. The Australian Newspaper Weekend Magazine included Heritage Estate Wines in the Best of the Best of Australia. You will find their entire range of wines available online. Currently, all wines are available at a discount of 19%, and there is free delivery on all orders of 6 bottles or more. All Heritage six-packs receive a Club Red Mulled Wine.
Ridgemill Estate
Ridgemill Estate usually provides a full winery experience where you can stay in luxury boutique accommodation and taste the wines as you overlook the vines. The mantra of Ridgemill Estate is to ‘produce wines of timeless elegance and finesse’. Their distinctive wines are European styled with the character of the Granite’s Belt’s unique terroir. Ridgemill Estate has joined forces with Ballandean Estate and Golden Grove Estate to create the ‘Adversity Pack’. This pack contains two premium wines from each winery and is only $190 including freight to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Robert Channon Wines
Robert Channon Wines is an award-winning Granite Belt winery that is famous for its series of events at Swigmore Hall and its Verdelho. In 2009 James Halliday said that Robert Channon Wines is arguable Australia’s foremost producer of Verdelho. They have three different specials at the moment. Order 12 wines and pay for 11, the Candlelit Dinner Half Dozen and the Work from Home Half Dozen. There is free delivery to QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC & SA.
Symphony Hill Wines
Symphony Hill Wines is one of the small boutique operations that you can find on the Granite Belt. The beauty of these small operations is that you will often find the wine-maker operating the cellar door. Symphony Hill offers free delivery for all online sales of 6 bottles or more.
Twisted Gum
Twisted Gum is a boutique single vineyard operation that crafts small quantities of hand-crafted wines. Their vines are hand-tended, and their cellar door is in a stylish classic 1920’s Queenslander. They are renowned for their Pink Moscato, their crisp white wines and their inky-purple red wines. Customers receive a 10% discount on all orders of 6 bottles or more. Twisted Gum provides free delivery to anywhere in Australia.
Keep sipping the Granite Belt!
The above list is just a small sample of what is available from our amazing Granite Belt wineries. We want to reassure you that you can still sip the Granite Belt even if you are far away. Order a wine box from the Granite Belt and support our local wineries. Then while you are enjoying some Granite Belt tasting, you can plan your next Granite Belt getaway!
Photo Credit: Cory Rossiter Photography
Lara Flanagan is a writer and vegan food creator who lives in Tenterfield. She is delighted to call the incredible region encompassing the Northern New England and the Granite Belt her home. She is the creator of My Notes From…by Lara Flanagan. Here she writes about her travels, her love of the local area, plant-based food and anything in between!”