How to do a sunset wine tasting around Stanthorpe

A sunset over the vineyard shouldn’t be wasted. When the day of wine tasting is done at most Granite Belt wineries, these locations around Stanthorpe open so you can sip on into the sunset.

1. Summit Estate Wines

Sip away at Summit Estate Sunset Sessions for an afternoon to wind down with wine flights, local grazing platters and say cheers to a big sky sunset.

Great for families, couples, groups and for those who want to bring their pooch along to enjoy the views too.

Take a guided or self-guided tasting and don’t be afraid to take a few bottles home with you.

Bring your picnic blanket and find a spot on their vineyard lawn, or take a seat at the covered cellar door terrace, picnic tables or bean bags. Pack a football, a deck of cards, your own BBQ or even a musical instrument – the evening is yours. During the cooler months, find a spot to snuggle up by the roaring campfire or get cosy inside their cellar by the wood-burning stoves.

When: Friday and Saturday nights until 7pm.

Pet Friendly: Yes.

2. Balancing Heart Vineyard

Fine wine and wood-fired pizzas, say no more!

Make your way to Balancing Heart Vineyard, one of the Granite Belt’s hottest wine tasting spots. Grab a glass, order some pizzas (from 4pm), and sit back to enjoy sunset with valley and vineyard views.

Enjoy the sunset views from: seated inside the cellar door with large glass windows, from the verandah seating or at the picnic tables overlooking the dam.

Take a post-feast wander through the vineyard to the iconic heart-shaped balancing rock, the inspiration behind the vineyard’s name. On weekends, find live music. Check their social media to see who’s playing.

For those with kids or pets in tow, there’s plenty of space to enjoy and farm friends to meet.

Check out their bus service from Stanthorpe, so no one misses out on enjoying their small batch of handcrafted wines. Our pick? The Campfire Red.

When: Friday – Sunday nights until 9pm.

Pet Friendly: Yes.
Bookings essential.

3. Art of Krupinski

Make a visit to Art of Krupiniski, a new family-owned vineyard in the Granite Belt’s Glen Aplin.

This Polish-inspired cellar door, makes for the perfect final stop for the day, staying open until sunset so you can soak up the fresh country air as the sun fades.

Art of Krupinski honours the owners Artur and Natalia’s family traditions where the stories of their Polish heritage shine through at this relaxed cellar door.

 The breathtaking atmosphere here will make you feel right at home as you explore their wines. From their very first vintage, their wine quality has already been recognised at the Queensland Wine Awards (for their Verdelho). Be sure to taste their Cabernet Franc as it’s the only Cab Franc available on the Granite Belt.

When: Saturday and Sunday until sunset.

Pet friendly: Yes.

4. Sunset at Heritage Estate

Heritage Estate‘s POETs Progressive Dinner is an immersive and educational experience held every Saturday from 5pm, taking advantage of the Granite Belt sunset.

This three-hour experience starts with fastening your seat belt for an ATV tour racing down to the vineyard with a bottle in hand. Then under the spectacular sunset, enjoy an entrée with a second group of wine. As twilight falls, you’ll progress inside the cellar door for mains, before enjoying dessert by candlelight in their moody barrelroom and finishing off the evening with an after-dinner digestif.

When: Saturday at 5pm.

Bookings essential.

5. Friday Night Sunset at Bent Road

Every Friday the Bent Road Winery and Distillery Cellar Door stays open through to 7pm, allowing you to start your weekend experiencing the sunset over their vineyard with a glass of wine in hand.

Known as the black sheep of the Granite Belt, indulge in their latest experimental wines from this stylish new cellar door with vineyard views.

When: Fridays until 7pm.

No bookings are necessary. Groups of 6 or more, call ahead and they’ll save you a special spot.

6. Sunset with View Wine

Book in for your own private wine tasting with View Wine by Sancerre Estate overlooking the vineyard and with stunning views across the valley towards Sundown National Park and surrounding Ballandean vineyards in the Granite Belt.  

Meet owners Brad and Stacey for one of the best-tasting sundowners on the Granite Belt.

Want to wake up with this panoramic view too? Stay onsite nestled among the vines which grow 6 different grape varieties overnight in their Sancerre Estate B&B rooms or Shiraz Cottage. Bonus, you’ll find other cellar doors within walking distance too.

When: By appointment.

Bookings essential.

7. Sunset dinner at Varias

From 5.30pm Friday and Saturday evenings Varias Restaurant is open for dinner, just in time to allow you to enjoy a wine on arrival as you overlook golden hour in the vineyard turn to sunset hue. Enjoy your first wine on the verandah looking out over sunset to capture the best view.

Book in dinner on a Friday or Saturday evening at Varias Restaurant at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. Their seasonal menu showcases the local heroes of the region, the farmers and artisan producers of the Granite Belt.

In the warmer months, arriving early to grab a vino and take a seat out on their deck at golden hour overlooking the dam, Banca Ridge Vineyard and Stanthorpe is a must.

Alternatively, order ahead one of their picnic hampers to go out on your own sunset adventure. Check out our guide to picnic spots in the Granite Belt here.

When: Friday and Saturdays, 5.30pm.

Bookings essential.

8. Soirees @ Ridgemill Estate

How do sunsets, delicious food, live music and of course fabulous wine sound for your Friday evening?

Soirees @ Ridgemill Estate are laid-back fortnightly events on Fridays held during summer (until 22 March 2024) from 4pm through to 8pm.

Comfort meets elegance, at this soiree evening. Entry is free so come for sunset and local pop-up food delights, and stay to sip your way through Ridgemill’s diverse collection of wines with great company and as the sky fades to a twinkling night sky.

When: Fridays, Fortnightly from 4pm – 8pm, until 22 March 2024.

9. Sunset with Filippo’s Tours

Start a weekend away in the Granite Belt with a Friday Arvo ‘Quickie’ with Filippo’s Tours.  

Join a small group for a packed afternoon of wine tastings, enjoying local produce and soaking up the stunning afternoon scenery. Tours commence post-lunch at approximately 12.30pm, so your last tour stop of the day will be timed with sunset.

When: Friday afternoons only, approx 12.30pm – 5.30pm.