How to do Gourmet Traveller WINE’s 2020 Top 7 Granite Belt Cellar Doors

A list of the “Best Cellar Doors of 2020” according to Gourmet Traveller WINE has been released for the Granite Belt wine region and we’ve put together some tips for you for how to access these cellar door experiences!

There’s seven on the list, so it’s possible to do them all on your next escape to wine country.

BEST TIP: Let a local cellar doors expert do the driving and the guiding for you.  There are wine tour guides who can customise a tour for you – just enquire when you book Find local wine tour operators. 

Best Small Cellar Door: Symphony Hill

Symphony Hill Wines proves great things can come in small packages, with this little contemporary and funky styled cellar door taking out the gong for ‘Best Small Cellar Door’.

Meet Marty, Ewen or winemaker Abraham at the cellar door and learn about their popular Prosecco, their exciting range of Strange Bird alternative variety wines and ask about their three wines which are currently being served on Qantas Business Class. The team at Symphony Hill are big on spoiling their guests and it feels like every day is happy day here in this little corner of Ballandean, down Eukey road.

Open: 7 days
Location: 2017 Eukey Road, Ballandeam, Queensland

Pictured: Marty, Ewen & winemaker Abraham at Symphony Hill Wines

Best Tasting Experience: Tobin Wines

Tobin Wines‘ has arguably one of the most fervent lot of wine tasting fans on the Granite Belt, all of who are utterly enchanted by Adrian Tobin’s wine passion and all know the joys of sitting down for a tasting session with knowledgeable host, Ian.  Limited edition wines, expertly crafted and delivered in a cellar door experience considered by many as a more than mere tasting, but rather a ‘holy wine pilgrimage’!

Open: 7 Days (bookings essential in these covid-safe times)
Location: 34 Ricca Road, Ballandean, Queensland

Pictured: Adrian Tobin, Tobin Wines

Best Large Cellar Door: Ballandean Estate

Ballandean Estate Wines does it again – second consecutive year they have been awarded Best Large Cellar Door.  It’s all due to decades of Puglisi family wine passion, a family who established Queensland’s oldest operating winery and to this day continue to innovate and introduce new cellar door experiences and rare wine varieties.  A visit to Ballandean Estate Wines has long been a must-do on the Granite Belt wine trial, but this new award is further evidence that the Puglisi family are still leaders in the Queensland wine industry.

Pre-book for a meal at the Barrelroom Restaurant (check open days) or pre-order a gourmet picnic hamper to enjoy in the vineyard.

Open: 7 Days
Location: 354 Sundown Rd, Ballandean, Queensland

Pictured: Sisters Robyn and Leeanne, at Ballandean Estate Wines

Best Accommodation: Ridgemill Estate

Everyone is highly awarding Ridgemill Estate for their cabins in the vineyard… they also won Silver in the 2019 Deluxe Accommodation Category of the Queensland Tourism Awards!  So what’s all the fuss about?  Their 8 cabins are ideal for couples getaways and each offer stunning vineyard views from their deck and even from your bed!  It’s a short stroll to the cellar door, which is open 7 days.

Open: 7 days
Location: 218 Donges Road, Severnlea just south of Stanthorpe

Pictured: Ridgemill Estate Cabins in the Vineyard

Best Additional Experience: Savina Lane Wines

Savina Lane Wines is somewhat an exclusive wine experience… but here’s our tips for how to get on the in for a visit to this cellar door.  Throughout the year it’s only the winery’s Inner Circle club members who have access to the winery, however there are Two Curious Wine Encounter Experiences which can be pre-booked.  …Find out More about Savina Lane & Wine Encounter Experiences.

Open: By Appointment Only – Book a Curious Wine Encounter 
Location: 90 Savina Lane, Stanthorpe

Pictured: Savina Lane Wines

Cellar Door with Best Food: Golden Grove Estate

A popular wine destination for decades, Golden Grove Estate are one of the longest operating Granite Belt wineries and you can wine taste award winning winemaker Ray Costanzo’s exciting and explorative range of wines here 7 days a week.  But it’s for the foodie events that Gourmet Traveller WINE are putting Golden Grove Estate high on the list to experience, so here’s what you need to know…

Golden Grove hosts events, such as Christmas in July and The Winemaker the and Chef Degustation Dinner and keeping it in the family, it’s Ray’s brother Jason Costanzo who prepares the food, usually with a Sicilian twist, reflecting this family’s heritage.

To attend one of their sell out events, you’ll need to get on their mailing list to be sure you are the amongst the first to hear when tickets go on sale. Join the Golden Grove email list via the sign-up form at the bottom of their homepage.

Open: 7 Days
Location: 337 Sundown Road, Ballandean, Queensland

Pictured: Winemaker Raymond Costanzo, Golden Grove Estate

Star Cellar Door – Bent Road Winery

Gourmet Traveller WINE says, “It might seem odd, or perhaps a typically Queensland thing, to name a winery as the Star Cellar Door, when it is not officially open to the public. Fear not, you will be most welcome, though you need to make contact first for an appointment.”  …Read more about visiting this winery

Pictured: Bent Road Wines Cellar Door, open by appointment

Dozens of Cellar Doors in Granite Belt Wine Country

Explore more cellar doors in the Granite Belt.
View the Granite Belt Strange Bird Alternate Variety Wine Trail Map
View all winery listings with Interactive Map
Find a Wine Tour