Our second trip to the Granite Belt region, we decided to take a different approach to wineries. Opting out of the half day wine tour that we did last year, we decided to follow the the Strange Bird wine trail. Strange Bird Wines, alternates to the usual were fun and complex. Tasting wines such as Tempranillo 9named after the grape) and Barbera just to name a few.

Rovers Rest 

20 Fletcher Rd, Glen Aplin
www.roversrest.com.au

Our accommodation at Fletcher Road, Fletcher, just outside Stanthorpe was the perfect stay for 6 people.


A cosy, basically renovated Queensland cottage sits quietly in the bush up a dirt road. Country house charm with old comfy furniture to make you feel at home.A well equipped kitchen with a cosy fireplace was all we needed for out weekend away. The host was at beckons call for all our issues, not that there were any. Firewood was provided, as were towels and lovely comfy bedding.


Saturday - Tenterfield, Sparkling Wine and the Hunt for Lunch  

Waking to a lovely, fresh chilly 1oc, eating a warm breakfast, we decided to head to Tenterfield for the day.


A truely gorgeous, heritage country town.


Having been to Tenterfield previously we decided to have tea and the beautiful Bohemian Tearoom. A whole house walking distance on the main road south of the CBD (yep!) Other people run this teahouse, serving delicious, sumptuous apple pie, rhubarb pies and hot piping tea and coffee. A number of rooms to sit in including outside in the garden. The service was brilliant.


Warm from our homemade treats we started our wine tour at 11am. While this is early to start tasting wines, it was a little late to start as we found it very difficult to find lunch places as we had not booked anywhere.

Wineries 

Girraween Estate (Strange Bird)
Cellar Door 41
Hickling Ln,
Wyberba QLD



Well known for their sparkling wines and part of the Magnificent Seven Boutique Wine Makers Group. We were not disappointed, with the sparkling unique, clean and delicious.

Golden Grove Wines (Strange Bird)
Cellar Door 337
Sundown Road
Ballandean, Qld 




Ventured here last year and decided to return due to the quality of these wines. Expensive but beautiful. A lovely cosy cellar door to taste in as well.


Hidden Creek Wines (Strange Bird)
2271 Eukey Road,
Ballandean, QLD 



Hoping to eat here, we were disappointed to find a 1 hour wait for food, so didn't try any wines. 


Ballandean Estate Wines (Strange Bird)
354 Sundown Rd
Ballandean, QLD 

Came here for their award winning food, but was booked out as well. 


Mason Wines 
27850 New England Hwy
Ballandean, QLD 


Finally, lunch at 3pm. Could only get some shared platters but were sumptuous and well prepared. Didn't buy any wine here but did buy Olive oil and relish. Probably because we were starving by now, so ate all they sample bread tasting Olive oil and tapenade! 


Sunday - Wineries, Lunch at a Brewery and Homeward Bound 

After an evening of fun and laughter playing Cards against Humanity, talking family and drinking our spoils from the day we woke to -1c. Frosty and fresh, we looked around the grounds of our cute house, and packed up ready to go. 


Rumbalara Wines (Strange Bird)
137 Fletcher Road
Ballendean, QLD 


We did part of our wine tour here last year. A very modest priced wine owned by South Africans, we returned to pick up a bottle of Port for a friend. 
 


Tobin Wines (Strange Bird)
34 Ricca Rd
 Ballandean, QLD 



This was the best winery by far. The owner was so passionate and interesting to talk to. His wines were very expensive but just incredible. These are a cellar keepers.


Robert Channon Wines (Strange Bird)
Bradley Lane, Amiens Rd,
Amiens QLD 


A pretty place to taste wine. I din't love any of the wines nor the person at the cellar door. He wasn't really interested and seemed bored with the whole process. 


Granite Belt Brewery
146 Glenlyon Dr,
Stanthorpe QLD 



Strange place. A scattering of cottages with a huge strangely decorated place, with corny joke posters scattered over the lovely wooden wall. Let me get me hands on this placed to put a bit of class into. Exceptionally friendly staff. We enjoyed the beer tasting platters. We were able to eat lunch here but were very underwhelmed. The food seemed like it had be refrigerated and heated up the next day. $28 for sausages that were dried out isn' really appreciated. Lucky the staff were so nice.


Homeward Bound 
Full from our lunch we took our 2 2/1 hour journey back to Brisbane. The road was full of roadworks without people actually working on them (typical Queensland) . Maybe next year they will be complete, but I doubt it. A pretty drive home as always. See you next year Stanthorpe.