CHEAT SHEET: Picnics in the Vineyard Made Easy!
Spend time with a friend, or score romantic ‘brownie points’… Here’s your ‘cheat sheet’ to creating the perfect picnic in Granite Belt Wine Country: Stanthorpe, Ballandean and surrounds.
NOTE: Listed prices current as at June 2020.
Gourmet Picnic Basket at 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: $85 to $100
Includes: Platter for 2, bottle of wine, picnic rug, wine glasses, cutlery and plates. (Can be V, GF on request)
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.
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
Gourmet Picnic Hamper at Ballandean Estate
A picnic in Ballandean Estate‘s vineyards couldn’t be easier… your hardest job is choosing your favourite private spot. Here at Queensland’s oldest operating winery the onsite restaurant The Barrel Room, prepares gourmet picnic hampers laden with fine local foods, a bottle of wine and everything you need for you picnic!
Your picnic at Ballandean Estate starts with a complimentary wine tasting at the cellar door, so you can choose your bottle of picnic wine for your basket. Then collect your gourmet picnic hamper and 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
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
Picnic at Ridgemill Estate
The picnic hampers are prepared to order, packed with specialist deli items and gourmet foods from local suppliers. Have your hamper delivered to your cabin, pull out a Ridgemill picnic rug or enjoy the rustic picnic table setting under the trees over looking the vineyard (pictured above). The goats here are extra friendly and a feeding station allows an unclose encounter.
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
Gourmet Picnic Hampers or BBQ Packs Ready to Pick Up
The Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe makes picnics so easy it’s almost cheating! Phone ahead at least 24 hrs and order either a ready-to-go gourmet picnic hamper, or a gourmet BBQ picnic pack. View cost and what’s in the packs.
If you’re planning a bbq picnic, take it back to your accommodation and picnic outside there, or bring along your own bbq utensils, picnic rug and hamper with plates and the rest and just pop in to the college to grab your bbq pack enroute to your picnic location. Banca Ridge Cellar Door onsite can also help with the perfect picnic wine.
Location: The QCWT, 22 Caves Road, Stanthorpe Qld
Order BBQ Packs ph: 07 4685 5050
Open: 7 Days
BBQ & Picnic Facilities at 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
More Picnic Location Ideas…
Donnelly’s Castle Picnic Tables, Giant Boulders Exploring & Lookout
Girraween National Park with picnic tables near Visitor Centre
Mt Marlay Lookout, Stanthorpe, with picnic tables (no toilets)
Entrance to Donnelly’s Castle
… Find a Romantic Cabin or Villa
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 in the vineyard or tucked away amongst private bushland!
