Did you catch Ballandean Estate on Channel 9’s My Way Sunday 18 February 2024? Angelo shares the Puglisi family heirloom story, our true vine to glass tale.
“Queensland’s oldest winery, Ballandean Estate Wines offers award-winning wines made with love on-site, where visitors can enjoy a genuine vineyard experience at the Cellar Door. With the winery now in its fourth and fifth generations, the Puglisi-Gangemi family continues to be wine pioneers in the Granite Belt region.”
Ballandean Estate hosted its first vineyard party in five years to honour Angelo Puglisi, founder of the Queensland wine industry, in a belated 80th birthday celebration on his beloved Opera Block.
In support of the Queensland wine industry
Over 250 supporters of Queensland’s wine industry braved the weather to honour Angelo Puglisi, the Father of Queensland Wine — and the Puglisi family — for an event to remember.
Angelo’s daughter and estate manager Robyn Puglisi Henderson says,
“This event has been a long time coming. The Opera Block is where Mum and Dad planted some of the Granite Belt’s first wine grapes, and our Opera Block Shiraz in 1968.
“It is beyond their wildest dreams what has happened over the course of 50-plus years on this vineyard. From 27 Opera events raising $1.4 million for charity, to Grazing the Granite Belt, Stanthorpe Rocks, Jazz in the Vineyard, weddings, festivals and race days.
“Our last vineyard party was in 2018, held in honour of the 50th anniversary of our Shiraz planting. So many of our customers have returned to celebrate not just Dad, but their lifelong support of Queensland wine.”
Robyn Puglisi Henderson
Wine pioneers
Over the past 80 years, Angelo Puglisi’s family business has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the Queensland wine industry, from modest beginnings to a now multi-million-dollar industry. Queensland’s Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show award is a perpetual acknowledgment to Puglisi’s influence and respect in the industry.
Vineyard party atmosphere
Guests enjoyed a long lunch and party atmosphere under twelve marquees, live music from David & Sarah Hume, bocce and croquet in the vines. Local Italian-trained chef Italian-trained chef Jason Constanzo served antipasto, followed by an assortment of pastas, locally made Italian meatballs and an array of salads. Foxy’s Bakery in Stanthorpe supplied the birthday cake.
Queensland’s oldest family-run winery is getting ready to welcome 1000-plus visitors through its cellar door this weekend. Ballandean Estate is hosting its first vineyard party in five years to honour Angelo Puglisi, the Father of Queensland Wine, in a belated 80th birthday celebration on his beloved Opera Block.
Angelo’s daughter and estate manager Robyn Puglisi Henderson says,
“This event has been a long time coming. Our last vineyard party in 2018 was in honour of the 50th anniversary of our Shiraz planting, some of Australia’s oldest vines. Mum and Dad planted some of the Granite Belt’s first wine grapes, and our Opera Block Shiraz in 1968.
“We’re ready to enjoy a mouth-watering long lunch and party atmosphere. Twelve marquees! Local Italian-trained chef Jason Constanzo, is starting us with antipasto, followed by an assortment of pastas, locally made Italian sausages and an array of sensuous salads. And, of course, Ballandean Estate’s premium wines.
“Our 250-plus party guests will be treated to live music from David & Sarah Hume, bocce, croquet, Giant Yahtzee, and of course, birthday cake, thanks to Foxy’s Bakery in Stanthorpe.
“We’re kicking off festivities at 11am. Ballandean Estate will also be welcoming Grazing the Granite Belt punters through our cellar door and into the Barrelroom Wine Lounge over the day. All hands on deck!.”.
Robyn Puglisi Henderson
Over the past 80 years, Angelo’s family business has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the Queensland wine industry, from modest beginnings to a now multi-million-dollar industry. Queensland’s Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show award is a perpetual acknowledgment to Puglisi’s influence and respect in the industry.
Join Angelo Puglisi, the Father of Queensland Wine — and the Puglisi family — for an event to remember.
Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery today announced it has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travellers’ Choice award winner. The coveted award celebrates businesses that have consistently received great traveller reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months, placing these winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.
Ballandean Estate Wines stood out by consistently delivering unforgettable experiences to cellar door visitors. For almost a century the family business has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the Queensland wine industry, from modest beginnings to a multi-million-dollar industry.
“We live and breathe wine! Our passion shines through in all that we do. When people walk into our cellar door, we just want to show them the best time – and of course, our sensational wines.
“Our cellar door is an extension of our Italian hospitality. Over the years, we’ve welcomed hundreds of thousands of people through our cellar door. The massive increase in visitation to the Granite Belt has given us the opportunity to innovate with our visitor offering.
“In June 2022, we opened the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge. It’s a place for you to bring your friends and family, sink into a leather lounge, indulge in a wine flight of your choice, a Strange Bird varietal, or a glass of our 50th Anniversary Opera Block Shiraz.
“We’re so lucky to have Graeme Haynes managing the Barrelroom Wine Lounge. Finesse! Style. Charm. Depth of wine knowledge, elegant service and a gifted storyteller – and born and bred in Ballandean! Under his guidance, our staff consistently delivers a five-star visitor experience.
“Graeme brings 20-plus years of fine dining experience with Melbournes’s most prestigious catering business, taking care of events such as the Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup and long table degustation luncheons. It’s such a great learning opportunity for our staff, who he continues to mentor,” says Ms Puglisi-Gangemi.
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi
“Congratulations to the 2023 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice winners.
“The travel resurgence we’ve seen throughout the past year has even further heightened the competition. Earning a Travelers’ Choice Award demonstrates that you have provided great experiences to those who matter most: your guests. With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am continually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt. Cheers to another successful year!”
Ballandean Estate took out top accolades last night at the Queensland Wine Awards, held at the Star Hotel in Brisbane. Queensland’s oldest family owned and run winery was awarded Most Successful Exhibitor and Best Viticulturalist (Angelo Puglisi and Robyn Robertson) on the night.
Ballandean Estate was awarded 4 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze medals, bringing its individual medal tally to 14 for the winery.
Young winemaker Boxi Zhen has well and truly cemented his place in the family fold at his first showing since starting the next chapter of his winemaking career. In January 2023, Boxy was handed the reins from Chief Winemaker Dylan Rhymer, who has shaped Ballandean Estate’s reputation for excellence and innovation over 20-plus years.
“We are ecstatic! Every single wine we entered this year was awarded a medal. It’s been a few years since we showed our premium cool climate wines. Drought and fires, we just did not have the volume. Since 2021, however, production has been bouncing back – 2023 is shaping up to be one of our best yet.”
“Boxi’s first foray in Rose saw our 2023 vintage awarded gold, and his small-batch 2023 Viognier was awarded the Stewards Choice prize.”
“Our 2021 Opera Block Shiraz by Dylan took out gold, as did the 2022 Viognier and 2022 Chardonnay –created by Dylan and coaxed by Boxi into the bottle – now that’s what I call a dream transition!”
“We produce wines for Riversands also – each of the five wines they showed were awarded medals too.”
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi
Shocked and delighted, winemaker Boxi Zhen says,
“These awards are a great honour. The recognition from our peers and Chief Judge Jim Harre is testament to the incredible fruit produced at Ballandean Estate, the high altitude and cool climate delivering intense flavours and such high acid, such a pleasure to work with.”
“After tasting the brilliant wines showcased at the awards, I am even more determined to experiment and finesse our wines further. Watch this space! We’ll be releasing some small batch minimal intervention wines shortly.”
Boxi Zhen
Angelo Puglisi, the Father of Queensland Wine, celebrated his 80th birthday Saturday 29 July at Ballandean Estate.
The founder of Queensland’s oldest family-run winery has spent his entire life on Ballandean Estate. For almost a century Angelo’s family business has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the Queensland wine industry, from modest beginnings to a now multi-million-dollar industry.
Wine pioneers
“We knew that wine tourism would follow once there was wine to sell and some more cellar doors in the region. When we opened the cellar door four years after planting our first the Shiraz in 1968, there were only 300 wineries in Australia — now there is over 3300!”, says Mary Puglisi, Angelo’s wife of 50-plus years.
You’ll still find Angelo on his red tractor most days at Ballandean, tending his beloved vines, although he isn’t shy of a post-lunch siesta.
“If I drop dead at 104, this is where you’ll find me, propped up against a fence post, tractor wheels still turning.
“I live and breathe these vines and wines. We opened our cellar door back in 1972. Through the years Mary and I have welcomed tens of thousands of visitors per year to taste wines and enjoy the hospitality. Mary and I, we’ve had 55 years together as a team, and we’ll keep on working as a team. I couldn’t have done any of this without her.
“One of my proudest achievements is Opera in the Vineyard. It raised over $1 million for charity in partnership with The Rotary Club of Stanthorpe over 27 brilliant events.
“Our greatest achievement by far though is our daughters, Robyn and Leeanne. How many wineries in Australia are run by a sister act? Movers and shakers, be it on the Australian Grape and Wine Association board, lobbying government, organising community events, they represent the Puglisi fighting spirit — and love of a yarn at the cellar door!”
Rebel with a cause
Estate manager and daughter Robyn Puglisi Henderson says,
“Dad’s always been a rebel! He and Mum took over the farm back in 1968 with big dreams, a vision to develop a viable wine industry in the Granite Belt region. They planted some of the Granite Belt’s first wine grapes, and our Opera Block Shiraz in 1968, some of Australia’s oldest vines. The vines whispered their secrets to him, igniting a lifelong passion that would shape his destiny.
“Angelo wasn’t shy of stopping traffic in his twenties, when trucks rolled down the main street of Stanthorpe laden with his massive barrels from Penfolds, spectators agog.
“Mum and Dad were presented their first winemaking gold medal 45 years ago at Royal Queensland Wine Show (RQWS) Awards. Back then, Angelo was swaggering about wearing Elvis Presley sideburns and a purple safari suit.
“Since then, his passion and dedication have shaped the renowned Ballandean Estate Wines, inspiring countless others to make wine on the Granite Belt.”
Influence and innovation
“Dad’s influence will continue to shape the future of the Granite Belt. He’s been instrumental in establishing the Granite Belt’s as an alternative wine destination. Experimenting with varieties that fit our unique climate and terroir is what gets him excited. We have over 13 Strange Bird varietals planted by Dad at Ballandean Estate, says Robyn.
In a nation where most producers pulled up their vines in the late eighties at government behest, this is a remarkable achievement, and testament to the vision of Angelo and Mary Puglisi, pioneers of the wine industry in Queensland. Queensland’s Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show award at the Brisbane RNA is a perpetual acknowledgment to Puglisi’s influence and respect in the industry.
Angelo’s fighting spirit has seen him repeatedly triumph over adversity. According to Granite Belt winemaker Mike Hayes, “Angelo has been a real battler for his family. For that he has been rewarded with a rich life. He inspires me. I have got nothing by the highest respect for that family and what they have achieved.”
Friends of Ballandean
Your wine adventure starts here. We’ll share our stories, give you access to exclusive deals, reveal upcoming events and more.
