Top Shelf Indulgences in Granite Belt Wine Country

When the most exclusive and unforgettable indulges are called for… here are the places you need to know about in Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt wine region, Southern Queensland.

Pictured: Azjure Studio Retreat 

Azjure – Australia’s Most Highly Awarded Couples Accommodation

Private Wine Tours

Wine Discovery Tours provides a guided wine tour experience for those seeking a personalised couples or small group luxury travel option. Tours typically include lunch at Varias Restaurant, though all aspects of your tour are able to be tailored to your whims, delivering on both a wine and foodie wine region indulgence of your choice.  Be chauffeured in the luxury of a class leading Volkswagen Multi Van with spacious interior.  …More about Wine Discover Tours

Filippo’s Tours also offer an exceptional wine tasting experience for those who want a private, intimate tour of Stanthorpe’s boutique wineries. Visit wineries and places of your choice, dine at Varias restaurant, or any restaurant of your choice. The tour itinerary is your choice!   …More about Filippo’s Private Tours

Pictured: Wine Discovery Tours

Truffles Tour

Hunt for black gold at The Folly Truffles, where French Perigord Truffles truffles are grown amongst French oak trees on a property in Ballandean.  The Egerton family welcome you to book a weekend tour any time of the year to walk the truffiere and have tea with the truffle farmer, or visit during winter months for the full truffle dog harvest experience and gourmet truffle tastings.  …LEARN MORE

…Also check out the Truffle Discovery Centre north of Stanthorpe

Custom Design your own Perfume with a French Trained Perfumer

Sip bubbles or a cup of coffee as Debra takes you on a sensory journey in her Perfumery.  You’ll discover the history of perfume and how french inspired natural perfume is made, plus take home 5ml of one of her signature perfumes.  That will be your experience at Rosetta Homestead in a 30 minute Sip & Sniff workshop, but if you want to delve deeper or even create your own unique perfume, check out their full range of workshop options.

Alpine Lodges

A luxurious and intimate experience exclusively for couples.  A stay at Alpine Lodges envelops you in a cocoon, with pampered attention to detail. Luxury soft linens on king beds and soft lighting, a generous bathroom, heated towels, soft robes and slippers will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised.

This stunning property is nestled on 42 acres of beautiful granite bushland and rolling pastures with spectacular views that you have access to you when you take advantage of the private outdoor spaces.

Varias Restaurant

The Queensland College of Wine Tourism’s Varias Restaurant has won the Best Restaurant in a Winery Category in the Queensland and Northern Territory Savour Australia™ Restaurant & Caterers HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The Award Winning Varias Restaurant, together with the Banca Ridge Vineyard and Cellar Door, is open to the public for lunch from 11am to 2pm, 7 days a week and dinner from 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.  …More about Varias and view menus

Symphony Hill Wines

Treat yourself to a ‘Business Class’ experience at Symphony Hill Wines.  Hosts Marty, Ewen and winemaker Abraham offer an indulgent wine tasting at this Ballandean cellar door, where you may taste all three of the Symphony Hill Wines which are presently being served on Qantas Business Class flights.

• 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (rated 5 stars James Halliday)
• 2016 Reserve Nero d’Avola
• 2018 Gewurztraminer (GOLD 2018 Australian Small Vigneron Awards)

…More about Symphony Hill Wines

5 Senses Degustation Dinners

Five reasons why to book at one of Heritage Estate Winery’s 5 Senses Degustation Dinners…

1. Tastes of ★★★★★ Wines and gourmet, chef prepared dishes

2.Smells of an EXCLUSIVE 54 scent “Nez du Vin”

3. Sights of silent movies

4. Sounds of Strings

5. Touch of Class!

Heritage Estate’s grand cellar door is a sight to behold, with heritage furnishings and tables set for fine dining… with the addition of candlelight and string music this is an evening set to impress.

VIEW EVENTS COMING UP AT HERITAGE ESTATE 

Ridgemill Estate – Deluxe Vineyard Cabins

Silver Deluxe Accommodation Category of Queensland Tourism Awards 2019

Wake up and throw back the curtains to see the vineyard views from in your luxurious bed… Ridgemill Estate delivers a double helping of indulgence, with it’s stylish cellar door serving award winning wines and award winning deluxe cabins in the vineyard.   …More about Ridgemill Estate Cabins in the Vineyard

The Barrelroom at Ballandean Estate

Husband and wife Chefs Matt and Bobbi Wells aptly bring an Italian-Australian dining experience to Ballandean Estate Wines – Queensland’s oldest operating winery. They describe themselves as casual fine dining restaurant offering an eclectic modern Italian-Australian menu showcasing local produce.

Settle in for a mouth-watering meal surrounded by the oaky gurgle of 150-year-old port barrels.  Opening hours are lunches Thursday to Monday AND dinners Friday and Saturday.  See the current menu

St Jude’s Bistro & Cellar Door

Breakfast, lunch, dinner… the new go to spot is trendy St Jude’s Bistro & Cellar Door in Ballandean.   Experienced Chef-owner Robert Davidson delivers an exceptional menu and an atmospheric surrounds.  The cellar door tastings onsite are for none other than Sirromet Wines – a satellite cellar door right in the Granite Belt where Sirromet’s grapes are grown. In fact Sirromet’s St Jude’s Vineyard is right across the road.

Essen Restaurant

Essen is new on the scene in Stanthorpe, an intimate restaurant experience with a whole lot of authenticity.  They were awarded an AGFG Hat in 2021 – so be assured this is dining at its best.  Food and travel expert Eat Drink & Be Kerry recently wrote about their Essen dining experience…

“Essen is one of the new places to eat while you are in Granite Belt Wine Country. Run by a family team of Clarissa, Stu and Claudia, Essen Restaurant serves home-style cooking made with love along with the sort of Stanthorpe food that will excite your palate.

You’ll eat dumplings made to grandma’s recipe, authentic pork schnitzel with the most delicious potato salad and apple strudel that will bring joy to an Austrian’s heart. The produce is straight from the Granite Belt to you, drawing from the best growers and artisans.

The restaurant is located in a cute cottage which has a beautiful garden at the rear. It’s open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner and bookings are strongly recommended.”

This was an extract from the Ultimate Granite Belt Food Lovers Guide.

…More about Essen Restaurant & View Menu

Photo by Eat Drink & Be Kerry

VIP Transfers

Let Wine Discovery Tours be your designated driver.  They offer a return tourist transfer service from your accommodation to any restaurant, tourist attraction or tourist service.  …More about VIP Transfers

Exclusive Savina Lane Wines (Winter Only)

Sink into leather lounges, sipping stunning rare variety wines and look out over the vast vineyard views below at the ‘oh so suave’ Savina Lane Wines.  This spot is quintessential Granite Belt wine indulgence and for most of the year the experience is afforded only to the wineries’ ‘Inner Circle’ members.  However, by appointment the Savina Lane premium wine experience is currently available by visitors by appointment for two exclusive tours: Encounters for Curious Wine Lovers.

…Read more about visiting Savina Lane & Encounters for Curious Wine Lovers

More to LOVE on the Granite Belt

Whiskey Gully Wines’ Saturday evening degustation dinners are incredible and must be pre-booked.

If having a whole sprawling Queenslander House, complete with wide wrap around verandah all to yourself is your style of luxury, indulge on the privacy of acreage that borders Girraween National Park at Loughmore House.