CHEAT SHEET: Picnics in the Vineyard Made Easy

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CHEAT SHEET: Picnics in the Vineyard Made Easy

CHEAT SHEET: Spring & Summer Picnics in the Vineyard Made Easy!

For relax time with a friend, or scoring romantic ‘brownie points’, the go to this spring is a picnic in the vineyard.

Here’s your ‘cheat sheet’ – making it SUPER EASY to create the perfect picnic in Granite Belt Wine Country: Stanthorpe, Ballandean and surrounds.

Gourmet Picnic Baskets: Ballandean Estate

Surprise your special someone with a surprise picnic at Ballandean Estate. The basket of fine food, bottle of fine wine and glorious vineyard are all provided for you – perfection!

Just pre-order your picnic and all the work is done for you! Your picnic at Ballandean Estate starts with a complimentary wine tasting at the cellar door. Here you can choose your bottle of picnic wine (which is included). Then collect your gourmet picnic hamper which is prepared onsite by The Barrelroom restaurant. It will showcase the best of the Granite Belt’s produce. Then all that’s left to do is find a secluded corner in the vineyard, or set up under the shade of the grapevine-clad gazebo.

Pets: Dogs are welcome in the outdoors and vineyard areas of the winery.

Picnic Basket for Two: $80
Includes: Complimentary wine tasting at the cellar door. Bottle of picnic wine. Gourmet picnic hamper with everything you need for a picnic.
Pre-orders & pre-payment required, 24hrs prior: (07) 684 1226 or email info@ballandeanestate.com

Location: Ballandean Estate Wines, 354 Sundown Road, Ballandean Qld
Picnic baskets available: Thursday to Monday

Gourmet Picnic Baskets: Hidden Creek Vineyard

image credit @ashleyseychelle

Dining alfresco is what Hidden Creek Vineyard & Cafe do best, with gorgeous shady trees and lake and vineyard views. The cafe menu is very popular and full of local Granite Belt foods. With a picnic basket option you can take your dining experience anywhere on the property!

Pets: Your furry friends are also welcome to join you for your picnic in the vineyard.

Picnic Basket for Two: $75 to $90
Includes: Platter for 2, bottle of wine, picnic rug, wine glasses, cutlery and plates.
Pre-orders required, ph: (07) 4684 1383 or 0416 182 027

Location: Hidden Creek Vineyard & Cafe, 2271 Eukey Road, Ballandean Qld
Picnic baskets available: Friday to Monday.

Picnic Hamper: Ridgemill Estate

Enjoy a rustic, gourmet picnic in the comfort of your cabin accommodation at Ridgemill Estate Cabins in the Vineyard or venture out and explore the stunning Ridgemill Estate vineyard and grounds.

The picnic hampers are prepared to order, packed with specialist deli items and gourmet foods from local suppliers. Have your hamper delivered to your door, pull out a Ridgemill picnic rug or enjoy the rustic picnic table setting under the trees over looking the vineyard (pictured above).

Pets: Dogs are permitted both in the vineyard and also ask for a dog-friendly cabin when you book.

Pre-order picnic baskets 24 hours prior ph: 07 4683 5211

Location: 218 Donges Road, Severnlea near Stanthorpe, Qld
Open: 7 Days

BBQ & Picnic Facilities: Bungawarra Wines

Bungawarra Wines

Bungawarra Wines in Ballandean is spots that’s a 100% boutique experience and part of the friendly welcome extended by owner/winemaker Jeff Harden is the invitation to use the picnic and barbecue facilities onsite.

The vineyard at Bungawarra was first established over 100 years ago and today you can still see muscat vines that are now over 80 years old – how special! While Bungawarra Wines could boast about their many wine awards, they believe your own tasting of the wines is the important part – so enjoy selecting your favourite picnic wines during a personalised tasting experience with Jeff.

Location: 81 Bents Rd, Ballandean Qld
Open: 10am to 4pm, 7 Days

Summit Estate Sunset Picnic

image credit @the_original_catcat

How does a vineyard picnic in bean bags sound… or even more unique – a cellar door that stays open until sunset! Head to Summit Estate Wines on Friday or Saturday evenings for their sunset sessions and soak up the amazing sunset views across the vineyard.

Pets: Your dog is very welcome to join us on your picnic, both inside AND outside the cellar door!

Grab one of the many bean bags and place them on the lawn, or bring your own picnic rug. Summit Estate truly invite visitors to do sunset sessions their own way and suggest some of these ideas: bring a picnic, order takeaway, have a wine tasting to buy wines to accompany your picnic, set up your portable BBQ, bring a birthday cake to celebrate, bring a musical instrument, bring a football or lawn games, practice your whip cracking, try their locally made craft beers… the sunset sky is your limit!

Location: Summit Estate Wines, 291 Granite Belt Drive, Thulimbah, Qld
We recommend phoning in advance, just to check there isn’t a special event or private function on. Ph: 07 4683 2011. Mobile: 0439 350 848

BYO Picnics Made Easy: The QCWT

The Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe makes picnics so easy it’s almost cheating! Stop in here and find their ready-to-grab picnic takeaways – located in the fridge in the entry foyer, stocked and ready for your easy takeaway!

Satisfy your partner’s sweet tooth with the $6 petit fours pack, or grab the $20 antipasto picnic takeaway for a lovely selection of cheeses, meats, olives and crackers, complete with wooden picnic cutlery.

Due to important research and biosecurity the vineyards onsite are not available for picnics, but you can set up and enjoy a vineyard view from the courtyard outdoor tables and grassy lawns, or skip off to the nearest cellar door of your choice with your takeaway picnic ready to go!

Tip: A 10.30am tour of the college is available Thursday to Sunday, including a chef’s demonstration and tasting experience, plus a Granite Belt wine tasting in the ‘Tastes of the Granite Belt Room. It costs just $10 per person and is a great activity to plan before picking up your takeaway picnic! …Read More about the tour.

Pets: Your dog is welcome to join you in the outside courtyard area.

Location: The QCWT, 22 Caves Road, Stanthorpe Qld
Open: 7 Days

… MORE Love Brownie Points!

Now to choose a romantic location to stay overnight in wine country. While you’re in the business of making dreams come true with the romantic picnic, completely stun your partner with a romantic cabin!