A local’s guide to the Granite Belt’s best food and wine

Just as the grapes grow voluptuous and rich in flavour in the Granite Belt, so too does plenty of other fresh produce. You’d be hard pressed to find local cafes and restaurants that don’t take full advantage of what’s available to them straight off the surrounding farms, which means the food scene here is exceptional.

Mornings taste pretty incredible in the Granite Belt. Zest Pastries hand-makes its pastries and bread from scratch every day, and makes a stellar coffee to complement all that buttery, flaky goodness.

Brinx Deli’s mother-daughter team come from Italian heritage, so you know the coffee is nice and strong here. The menu is driven by all the amazing fresh produce in the region, so expect a hearty, flavourful breakfast to fuel you up for the day ahead. Duck into the cafe’s other side - the deli - to pick out a gourmet picnic spread to enjoy later in the evening with one of those bottles of vino you grabbed during your winery tour.

With a ‘grow local, eat local’ food philosophy, Essen in Stanthorpe may be the newcomer, but it’s already earned itself a prized place with the locals. Clarissa and Claudia are a mother-daughter team of chefs who prepare wholesome food with a hint of Austrian heritage that highlights the region’s best growers and artisans. 

Drink

Unlike typical subtropical Queensland weather, the Granite Belt experiences four distinct seasons. The cooler winter climate combined with its high altitude location 1000 metres above sea level and granitic terroir are a recipe for producing premium wines. Naturally, with each visit to the Granite Belt, you’ll want to sip your way through a few more wineries and add some new vintages to your favourites list. 

“Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt is well known for its fine food and wine, with many wineries achieving scores from James Halliday of four stars or better,” explains Michelle. “Golden Grove Estate, Ballandean Estate, and Symphony Hill, are three of the larger wineries in the region, are family owned and operated and all are regarded highly in the group by Halliday.”

“Other wineries such as Jester Hill, Ridgemill, Summit Estate and Heritage Wines continue to impress, while some of the small wineries such as Twisted Gum and Tobin Wines and Savina Lane offer rare insights into small batches of single-vineyard wines,” adds Michelle.

A unique aspect of Twisted Gum’s wines is Michelle and her husband Tim’s commitment to sustainability. The birds living in the native bushland surrounding their three-hectare vineyard keep caterpillars and insects under control so there’s no need for insecticides. Michelle and Tim also refrain from irrigating their vines when they’re producing fruit, which allows the breezes and sunlight to help control disease and fully ripen the grapes for maximum flavour.

Besides popping in for a tasting in their cellar door, Twisted Gum Wines appears on the menu at The Aussie Beef Steak House in Stanthorpe, The Vineyard Cottages and Café in Ballandean, and The Ballandean Tavern.

The diverse array of varieties produced at award-winning Ballandean Estate Wines are a true expression of the Granite Belt region, making this a must-do for the budding wine connoisseur. But if you want to try something new, head up the road to Golden Grove Estate where they specialise in so many alternative varieties you will rethink everything you know about wine.

Another highlight of the region is Bent Road Winery’s La Petite Mort label. It’s a collection of small batch, experimental wines that have had minimal wine making intervention. The result is a raw, non-filtered flavour that has earned La Petite Mort’s winemaker Andrew Scott two Young Gun finalist titles. He was also the sole Granite Belt maker in 2020’s Top 50 list.

Beer lovers aren’t forgotten in the Granite Belt region either. At Granite Belt Brewery, you can try their range of six distinct craft beers on tap and watch how they make their brews from the viewing lounge or on a free brewery tour. The brewery also makes exquisite pretzels and pies, which you can find at the Seasonal Feast markets.

The other nano-brewery in town is Brass Monkey Brew House. Venture inside the blue shed - aka the tasting room - to sample their range of small batch award-winning handcrafted boutique beers. Seek out chief brewer and owner Ernie who is always around and more than happy to talk beers with anyone who shares his passion.

Stay

Michelle’s self-contained three-bedroom cottage on her vineyard is like a home away from home. “The option to stay in and cook up local produce is made easy in our cottage at Twisted Gum with a fully equipped kitchen and even a herb garden by the kitchen door, but it’s also nice to dine out and we’re spoilt with the choice of two excellent restaurants close-by.”

Those planning to spend a lot of their time exploring Girraween National Park should stay at Girraween Environmental Lodge, located right on the boundary of the national park. “[It’s] a wonderful place to relax and truly lose yourself in nature,” says Michelle. Girraween is also located in a cluster of wineries such as Pyramids Road, Girraween Estate and Balancing Rock, so you won’t miss out on tasting your way through the region’s best vino.

If you prefer the warm local hospitality you get from staying in a bed and breakfast, Michelle recommends Brad and Stacey’s Sancerre Estate home in Ballandean. “You will experience country hospitality at its best, with the bonus of being in a vineyard too,” she notes.

For more places to stay, check out our Granite Belt guide to the most unique accommodation. 

Play

“The Granite Belt is famous for its fine wine and food, and national parks. What it is less well known for is the vibrant arts community that resides here,” explains Michelle. “A number of wineries and cafes exhibit local artworks, and at Twisted Gum Wines, we have two artists’ work on permanent show – Tenterfield-born artist Michael Peiper [whose] work often involves found wood or reclaimed wood from local buildings; and Emily Coelli, who has completed a degree in fine arts and creates modern watercolour paintings of people.”

Michelle says the annual ‘It’s a Case of Art in the Mill’ exhibition is the best-kept secret on the Granite Belt. Over the long weekend in May, the old case mill in Ballandean is transformed into an art space where high-calibre local and invited artists showcase their work.

You can also see exhibitions of local and national importance at the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, every Tuesday to Sunday.

From local talent to natural beauty, set your sights on exploring the outdoors, too. While climbing The Pyramid Track in Girraween National Park is a must do, Michelle’s insider tip is to enjoy the easier stroll to the junction. “Following Bald Rock Creek through amazing folds of granite, past shallow pools, and bubbling rapids, the junction track meanders through wildflowers, and twisted gum trees, until you reach the junction, where the immensity of the granite is intense.”

For more outdoor inspiration, check out this Granite Belt guide to the best hiking trails and our list of the top waterfalls and waterholes in the region.

After-dark, the stargazing is exceptional out in Big Sky Country. “There is no better place to stargaze than in the Granite Belt. The clear nights and high altitude give excellent viewing conditions. If you’re staying in a country house outside of the town, you have it made, as there will be no lights from the town to filter the intensity of the stars,” explains Michelle. If you want to see the stars up close, stay at the Twinstar Guesthouse & Observatory and gaze into the sky through the lens of their 46cm reflecting telescope during their complimentary night sky tour.

Shop

It’s all about fresh produce in this region, so don’t leave home without stocking up on supplies.

“Apple juice from Suttons Juice Factory & Cidery is a must-buy for all visitors on the Granite Belt,” Michelle says. In October, the apple trees are in full blossom and brighten up the scenery in spectacular form.

You can pick your own strawberries at Ashbern Farms between October and May, or stop in any time to indulge in their strawberry-packed menu of ice cream, waffles and other berry treats.

Every Friday from 8am, the Farley Street Piazza in Stanthorpe is bustling with locals getting their fresh food fix at the Seasonal Feast street market. Missed the markets? Michelle recommends Sam’s Fresh Fruit and Veg at Cottonvale.

When to visit

Offering something unique with every season, from the possibility of snow in winter to milder summer days, it’s always a good time to visit the Granite Belt. But for Michelle, her favourite time is spring. “The vineyards spring to life after their winter dormancy, and the promise of the new season that comes with bud burst is uplifting. Everything is a vibrant green and perfectly formed. Flowers abound, blossoms create the most beautiful impact in the apple orchards, and the scent is intoxicating. Everything is so beautiful and delicate.”

Thinking about exploring the Scenic Rim next? Read our food lover’s guide to the Scenic Rim.