Winter is calling in Somerset
This winter, take the road less travelled to Somerset. With stylish retreats and campfire comforts, a wonderland of winter inspiration awaits in Somerset.
Thanks to warm summers, mild winters and the rich soils of what was once a site of volcanic activity, the South Burnett region is the perfect landscape for vineyards to flourish.
Did you know the South Burnett region has a similar climate to the Hunter Valley? You do now!
Thanks to warm summers, mild winters and the rich soils of what was once a site of volcanic activity, the South Burnett region is the perfect landscape for vineyards to flourish.
While the region may be small in comparison to the Adelaide Hills or Barossa Valley, it still produces award-winning wines, taking silver, bronze or gold at the Queensland Wine Awards and regularly earning 90-plus-points on the James Halliday list.
Prepare to spoil your palate and taste the tannins of both old and new world varieties, following this guide to the best wineries in the South Burnett.
1. Moffatdale Ridge, Moffatdale
Named after the town where the 360-acre property is located, learn about the family’s century-old connection to this land as you smell the bouquet of their Semillon or Cabernet Sauvignon and taste their tawny or liqueurs.
While the family has lived in the region for four generations, the first vines at Moffatdale Ridge were only planted in 1996, with the first harvest in 2001.
With a strong focus on creating wines that are suited to the Queensland growing and drinking conditions, you’ll find lightweight whites and soft reds on their cellar door list.
Plan your visit for lunch and pair your wine with a cheese platter or locally grown eye fillet at D’Vine Restaurant.
Serving lunch seven-days-a-week, you won’t have to worry about which day you plan your wine tasting adventure.
A: 681 Barambah Road, Murgon QLD 4605
P: 07 4168 4797
2. Kingsley Grove Estate, Kingaroy
Move over paddock to plate, Kingsley Grove Estate has a new movement: Berry to Bottle.
Founded by the Berry family in 1998, after purchasing 192-acres of land, Kingsley Grove Estate has expanded from its first plantings of Verdelho, Semillon and Shiraz to growing nine different varieties of grape.
Producing both traditional and new world varieties, the Berry family have built a state-of-the-art facility to ensure they can facilitate every part of the winemaking process onsite – from growing the grapes to bottling.
With many years of winemaking up their sleeve, in 2016 the family turned their skills to making ice cream and now produce four different ice-creams – wine flavoured, of course.
Collaborating with Brisbane-based ice cream company Lick! to refine the flavour combinations, you’ll want to leave room for dessert with your visit and sample their Dark Chocolate and Fat Fox Port, Merlot and Vanilla Bean, Verdelho and Lemon Sorbet or Shiraz and Raisin.
With an on-site caravan and camping ground as well as a restaurant serving wood-fired pizza and antipasto platters for lunch on the weekend, enjoy a sleep-under-the-stars experience and a short commute after your day of wine tasting.
A: 49 Stuart Valley Dr, Goodger QLD 4610
P: 0414 230 128
3. Nuova Scuola Wines, Moffatdale
If your palate is attuned to old-world varieties of whites and reds, then head to Nuova Scuola in Moffatdale to sample the likes of Viognier, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.
With a desire to revitalise old world varieties while embracing the new world climate (read: the South Burnett region), the husband and wife duo behind this winery have expanded their vineyard to growing five varieties of grape.
To sample their wine, stop by Barambah Cellars – a cooperative style cellar door – where you can savour the wine paired with a tasting platter as you soak up the views of Barambah Valley.
Overnight at the on-site one-bedroom cottage, so you don’t have to fight over who will be designated driver.
A: 167 Tipperary Rd, Redgate QLD 4605 (Cellar Door)
P: 0408 850 595
4. Clovely Estate, Moffatdale
If you choose your wine based on James Halliday points, head to Clovely Estate to sample their award-winning Semillon.
The largest vineyard in the region – spanning 430 acres – Clovely Estate has been in the hands of the Heading family for over one hundred years.
Winning Gold Medals at the Queensland Wine Awards as well as scoring 93 points from James Halliday, Clovely Estate has played an integral role in putting Queensland on the map as a serious wine-growing region.
Open on weekends and public holidays, stop by the vineyard to sample their straight and blended varieties including their flagship wine: Double Pruned Shiraz.
It’s not just about the vino at Clovely Estate either, with olive groves on-site you can take home cold-pressed olive oils, verjuice and local pantry items from your cellar door visit.
While the Vineyard Cellar Door is only open during the weekend, you can soak up the surrounds of Clovely Estate staying in one of their three Airbnb properties – from a traditional Queensland-style cottage to a bush cottage.
Thanks to a Red Hill Brisbane city-based cellar door, you won’t have to travel too far for when you need to replace the bottles in the cellar.
A: 2 Steinhardts Rd, Moffatdale, Qld, 4605
P: (07) 4168 4788 (Winery)
5. Dusty Hill Wines, Moffatdale
You’ll need a full day up your sleeve to explore the Dusty Hill Vineyard and Village if you want to include a lunch pitstop at the Irish tavern, and believe us, you’ll want to.
Dusty Hill Wines was one of the region’s first established wineries and overlooks Lake Barambah in the Barambah Valley.
The team at Dusty Hill Wines have a philosophy that ‘wines must have a sense of place’ so the grapes haven’t travelled far here, all grown onsite by the resident winemaker.
Taste your way through Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Verdelho, Semillon, Merlot and Black Muscat varieties on a Discovery Tasting at the Cellar Door.
Make the short walk to lunch at Prendergasts Irish Tavern, serving classic pub meals, as well as meals with an Irish twist such as the Chicken Tipperary Topper (the Irish parma) and The Sinking Shepherd (slow cooked lamb pie with Irish mash).
No day out is complete without a souvenir to remember the experience, so make your way to The Chef & Winemakers Pantry to explore products and produce from local artisans and growers including soy candles, jams and relishes, olive oil and local cheese.
If you aren’t ready to say goodbye to Dusty Hill just yet (or have perhaps sampled more than one drop at their cellar door), check in to one of their B&Bs for the perfect romantic getaway.
A: 80 Waterview Rd, Moffatdale, QLD, 4605
P: 07 4168 4700
6. Crane Wines, Booie Ranges
To sniff, swirl and sip at great heights, head to Crane Wines.
Set high on the Booie Ranges, this vineyard with cellar door and bed and breakfast offers sweeping valley views paired with a glass of Verdelho, Viognier or Hillside Red.
Relax in the Garden Terrace during your wine tasting experience with a gourmet platter or extend your stay with an overnight in the east wing of the historic homestead.
Enjoy a complimentary bottle of their wine as you watch the sunset over the valley and the night sky turn into a stargazer’s paradise.
A: 162 Haydens Road, Booie via Kingaroy, QLD 4610
P: 07 4162 7647
7. Uncle Bob's Estate, Nanango
Prefer your wine to be organically certified and preservative-free? Stop by Uncle Bob’s Estate to sample organic and preservative-free south-east Queensland wines.
Taste this natural wine movement as you sample their Verdelho, Merlot or Cabernet at their cellar door.
It’s not just the winemaking process that allows Uncle Bob’s to wear the organic hat, the carbon and nutrients have been incorporated in the soil process, with organic fertiliser and mulches used too.
If you’re looking for a place to overnight during your wine tasting tour, Uncle Bob’s offers an on-site bed and breakfast allowing you to enjoy the 18-acre property by bike (BYO) or on foot during your stay.
A: 515 Mt Stanley road, East Nanango
P: (07) 4163 3403
8. Hillsdale Estate, Moffatdale
After gaining years of experience in horticulture and viticulture in the wine industry in South Australia and Victoria, the team at Hillsdale Estate have been restoring and expanding this South Burnett vineyard since 2006.
While the first plantings consisted of Merlot and Verdelho, the vineyard has expanded with new and emerging varieties, such as Tempranillo, Vermentino and Chambourcin.
The vineyard is also home to an expanding fruit orchard producing strawberries, tomatoes and eggplants (to name a few), supplying local cafes with their produce.
Hillsdale Estate is also one of the three winemakers who share a cellar door at Barambah Cellars – perfect for when you want to sample more of the region without the extra travel time.
A: 167 Tipperary Rd, Moffatdale QLD 4605 (Cellar Door)
P: 0412 310 211
9. Lightning Tree Wines, Moffatdale
The team at Lightning Tree Wines bring a fresh, energetic approach to producing dynamic, fruit-forward wines in the South Burnett.
With a combined 40 years’ experience in viticulture, marketing and sales throughout Australia, owners Peter and Vikki Stewart aspire to produce quality fruit-driven, single vineyard varietal wines.
The Lightning Tree stable includes old favourites such as Shiraz and NV Sparkling but also offers different varieties like Saperavi and Tempranillo as well as the cheeky blending of Viognier and Verdelho for their Sassy Lassy label.
A: Barambah Cellars, 167 Tipperary Road, Moffatdale (Cellar Door)
P: 0412 379 347 - Peter
E: lightningtreewines@gmail.com
If you want to sip and swirl your way through the region further, wrap your taste buds around these other blogs:
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