Ballandean Estate was awarded a plethora of trophies at the 40th Annual Queensland Wine Awards Presentation Dinner, held at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe Thursday 31 October. The event was attended by 100-plus vignerons, international critics and dignitaries.
A winning trajectory
Queensland’s oldest family-owned and run winery was awarded:
Winery of the Year
Winemaker of the Year – Boxi Zhen
Viticulturalist of the Year – Angelo Puglisi and Robyn Robertson
Champion Wine of Show – 2024 Fiano
Champion Mainstream White Variety – 2023 Chardonnay
Champion Mainstream Red Variety – 2023 Shiraz Viognier
“This is one of Ballandean Estate’s biggest wins, on a par with taking out the first major national trophy for a Queensland winery as Most Successful Exhibitor in the early nineties at the Australian Small Winemakers Show, and our gold medal at the 2018 Saperavi World Prize.
“Yet another ringing endorsement for our young gun Boxi Zhen in his second vintage as a Granite Belt winemaker. He is really making his mark as Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year.”
Congratulations to the winners
“We congratulate our friends and neighbours from Sancerre Estate Brad and Stacey Allen, Ridgemill Estate, Sirromet, Riversands Wines and Tony Hassell from Just Red Wines, who received the Samuel Basset award for his significant contribution to the Queensland wine industry.”
“It’s great to see the work we do in the vineyard recognised. It’s the quality of our fruit that sets us apart, high altitude and cool climate delivering intense flavours and such high acid. Big thanks for the tender loving cultivation of our vines by vineyard manager Robyn Robertson, and Dad, the Father of Queensland wine, Angelo Puglisi, and to our vineyard and winemaking teams.”
James Halliday 95-point wines
“We’ve just had three of our wines announced as 95-point wines by James Halliday: 2023 Nebbiolo, 2023 Small Batch Reserve Chardonnay, and Angelo’s Vintage Tawny 1987, which we’ll be releasing as an exclusive limited edition in a few weeks’ time. These 95-point wines qualify us to be a five-star-rated winery in the next release of the Halliday Wine Companion.”
Ballandean Estate’s winemaker Boxi Zhen has continued his winning streak at the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland 2024 Australian Mediterranean Varieties Wine Show, held in Toowoomba. Queensland’s oldest family-owned and run winery was awarded Best in Queensland White for its 2023 Wild Ferment Viognier, and Best in Queensland Red for its 2023 Nebbiolo.
A word from our winemaker Boxi Zhen
“These wines reflect the efforts we are undertaking in the vineyard and cellar. To me, the medals are good signs that we are on the right path. I feel honoured and excited that our wines are being recognised by the show judges. It says a lot about how great our Granite Belt wines can be, and just how much potential we can explore from the terroir here.”
Judges praise texture and finish for a gold medal score of 95 points
Estate manager Robyn-Puglisi Henderson says,
“Judges praised the Wild Ferment Viognier for its beautiful texture and finish, awarding it 95 points out of 100, a gold medal score. It’s a real testament to the fresh perspective and minimal intervention approach Boxi is bringing to the Granite Belt. Boxi was recently awarded the Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year, it’s so exciting to see him further develop his reputation for winemaking excellence and judging capability.
“Ballandean Estate’s Nebbiolo has an excellent pedigree as our first Italian Strange Bird™ planting and has received ongoing critical acclaim, awarded 92 points at this show. In 2022 it took out the trophy for Best Italian Red Varietal at the Queensland International Emerging Wine Variety Challenge. We call it the Italian version of Pinot Noir at the cellar door. Lighter in body, big tannins, cherry, tar and roses on the nose, ruby and orange hues synonymous with aged Nebbiolo — it’s a real food wine.
“Three of our wines have just been announced as 95-point wines by James Halliday: 2023 Nebbiolo, 2023 Small Batch Reserve Chardonnay, and Angelo’s Vintage Tawny 1987, another ringing endorsement for Boxi’s second vintage as a Granite Belt winemaker. These 95-point wines qualify us to be a five-star-rated winery in the next release of the Halliday Wine Companion.”
Experimental approach in both the vineyard and cellar
According to Boxi,
“Nebbiolo is a hard variety to grow and make. It’s always the first variety to bud burst in the vineyard and last variety to pick at the end of the vintage. Extremely high acid, heavy tannins and light colour while the maturity level, in most of the years, are not enough to climb up to it should be. We are actually undergoing heaps of trials in the vineyard and cellar year by year, trying to boost the quality and quantity of the Nebbiolo, finding the best way to best express its varietal characters while building up its perfect texture during the maturation.
“The 2023 Viognier was part our minimal handling scheme in the vintage of 2023. The harvest was of meticulous design, harvested in batches. Winemaking saw 20% percentage of pre-ferment skin contact, wild ferment, lees stirring during the aging period and barrel maturation. The trophy and gold medal awarded to this wine expressed the winemaking efforts that we committed to the wine. ”
Boxi Zhen moved to Adelaide from China at the age of 24 to complete his prestigious Master of Viticulture & Oenology at the University of Adelaide. He also has a degree in Food Science, which places him in excellent stead to continue the R&D science-based approach employed by Ballandean Estate’s previous winemaker of 22 vintages, Dylan Rhymer.
Ballandean Estate has announced a vineyard party on Saturday 30 November 2024, celebrating the end of spring and the excitement of the new harvest to come. Wine lovers will be joining Angelo Puglisi, the Father of Queensland Wine — and five generations of the Puglisi family — for a soiree to remember. Angelo’s daughter and estate manager Robyn Puglisi-Henderson says,
“Our 2023 vineyard party was in honour of Dad’s 80th birthday and lifetime contribution Queensland’s wine industry. Over 250 people gathered on the Opera Block from far and wide, feasting on a long Italian lunch, dancing in the vines and enjoying Ballandean Estate’s world-class wines. It was heartwarming to celebrate with our amicis.
“This year, we’ll be mixing up the festivities, kicking up our heels and seeing out spring with a splash of sensational wines and a mouth-watering long lunch. “We can’t wait to see what Italian-trained chef Jason Costanzo will be thrilling our senses with this year. We have a long Ballandean connection with Jason, who is the son of Golden’s Grove’s Sam and Grace Costanzo. “Our party guests will be revelling to live music from No Relation, lucky door prizes, bocce, croquet, and more. We’ll have a charity raffle in support of Rotary Stanthorpe, for whom we’ve raised more than $1.6 million over the years, thanks to Opera In the Vineyard and charity race days.”
Robyn Puglisi-Henderson
Festivities kick off at 11am and continue until 4pm. Tickets are strictly limited, $80 per person including a glass of sparkling on arrival, Italian buffet lunch and an optional shuttle bus.
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.
ENDS For all media enquiries please contact: Robyn Puglisi-Henderson Ph: (07) 4684 1226
Ballandean Estate’s winemaker Boxi Zhen has just been announced Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year by the Royal Queensland Wine Awards, testament to the fresh perspective and minimal intervention approach he is bringing to Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery.
“We’d like to thank the RNA and Treasury Brisbane for giving our young winemaker Boxi such a great opportunity to further develop his reputation for winemaking excellence.
“He’s really looking forward to having his wines featured at Treasury Brisbane outlets, and the privilege of being an Associate Judge at 2025’s Royal Queensland Wine Awards.
“We blended Boxi into the family fold at the start of 2023, when he started the next chapter of his winemaking career, after working across the Napa Valley to China, South Australia and now the Granite Belt.
Critical acclaim for young winemaker Boxi Zhen
“Boxi’s first showing was in 2023’s Queensland Wine Awards, where his foray in Rosé saw our 2023 vintage awarded gold, and his small-batch 2023 Viognier awarded the Stewards Choice prize.”
“In late June 2024, Boxi’s wines won Gold and the Trophy for the 2024 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc at the Cairns Show Wine Awards, where we also took out Bronze for his 2023 Wild Ferment Viognier, 2023 Shiraz Viognier and 2024 Rosé.
“He’s humbled be recognised by a prestigious national wine show in his second vintage as a Granite Belt winemaker. RQWA awarded a Silver for our 2022 Saperavi, and Bronze for the 2023 Wild Ferment and 2023 Shiraz Viognier, our high altitude and cool climate delivering intense flavours and such high acid.
“We hope that Boxi’s minimal intervention approach will underpin the Granite Belt as a region that continues to build on its momentum for new, exciting wines that suit our ever-changing climate.”
Boxi Zhen moved to Adelaide from China at the age of 24 to complete his prestigious Master of Viticulture & Oenology at the University of Adelaide. He also has a degree in Food Science, which places him in excellent stead to continue the R&D science-based approach employed by Ballandean Estate’s previous winemaker of 22 vintages, Dylan Rhymer.
Ballandean Estate is pleased to announce it has been recognised in Tripadvisor’s® Travellers’ Choice® Awards for 2024, making this the third consecutive year for Queensland’s oldest family-run winery. The award honours businesses that consistently earn great reviews, placing these winners placing these winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.
Trailblazing family legacy
Ballandean Estate Wines sustained its reputation for excellence through consistent delivery of memorable cellar door experiences. It continues the Puglisi family’s trailblazing legacy as outstanding advocates for Queensland’s wine industry and as some of Australia’s most influential people in wine: Winemakers Federation Board memberships, Samuel Basset award winners, and export market innovators for Shiraz trade to China. With the winery now in its fourth and fifth generations, the family continues to be wine pioneers in the Granite Belt region.
“Our family has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the Queensland wine industry for almost 100 years. And we are thrilled to take out this hat trick with Tripadvisor’s® Travellers’ Choice® Awards. Such an honour!
“Ballandean Estate may be Queensland’s oldest family-run winery, but we built our reputation on innovation and a splash of rebellion. The Barreloom, which is the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge, is going from strength to strength. We’ve just released our its first minimal intervention wine series, thanks to young gun winemaker Boxi Zhen, who is literally shaking things up in his second vintage here.
“Ballandean Estate is soon to release some fresh new wine styles.
“We’d like to thank our 60,000-plus visitors who came through our cellar door over the year, and especially those who took the time to leave a review. We are deeply grateful to our cellar door dream team, the people that bring their passion for wine to work and share it every day. We will continue to expand Ballandean Estate’s visitor offering.”
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi
As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travellers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of great places to visit.
“Congratulations to Ballandean Estate on its recognition in Tripadvisor’s® Travellers’ Choice® Awards for 2024,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor.
“Travellers’ Choice honours businesses that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence. This means you have made such a memorable impact on your visitors that many of them took the time to go online and leave a great review about their experience. People rely on Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice seal to help them navigate the myriad of things to see, eat and do across the globe. We hope this recognition continues to drive business to you in 2024 and beyond.”
Ballandean Estate has released its first minimal intervention wine series, thanks to young gun winemaker Boxi Zhen, who is literally shaking things up at Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery.
Inspired by 2023’s best-in-a-decade Malvasia vintage, Boxi’s love affair with Granite Belt fruit is a beautiful expression of terroir. Ballandean Estate’s 2023 Minimal Intervention Series includes a Wild Ferment Viognier, Malvasia and Wild Ferment GFM (Giallo Fiano Malvasia).
Winemaker Boxi Zhen explains his minimal intervention inspiration
“Ballandean Estate may be Queensland’s oldest family-run winery, but it built its reputation on innovation and a dash of rebellion,” says Mr Zhen, who started a new chapter in his winemaking career last vintage.
“The fruit produced here is spectacular, the high altitude and cool climate delivering intense flavours and such high acid.
“I treat these grapes as a best friend, try to bring the best out in them, love them with loyalty and the utmost respect for where they came from – terroir!
“Wild yeast is nature’s gift to the winemaker. It is a chance to express your personality, creativity and showcase the unique characteristics of the varietal. Vitality, vigour and fun!
“Minimal intervention protects the highly-prized acidity, gives exotic flavours a chance to breathe, and delivers creamier textures. Complex wines and layered flavours that are unique to the vineyard and the vintage,” says Mr Zhen.
Winemaker Boxi Zhen
Master of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith speaks to innovation
“These are innovative wines, with great appeal for the emerging under-thirties market.. As we say, untouched — or few additives — so that the wine evolvement takes its own trajectory, rather than be controlled by its winemaker who underwrites its destiny.
“I am impressed by a cloudy-style Malvasia; finding its natural dryness.
“The Viognier builds on Chardonnay techniques of today’s Australian winemakers: use of multiple harvests, harvest choice that lowers alcohol, short new barrel fermentation; texture extension from harder press fractions, lees aging and skin ferments.
“All point to a multiple input blend getting to be the standard process to make decent textural whites.
Wine critic Steve Leszczynski from QWine says of Ballandean Estate’s 2023 Malvasia,
“Boxi Zhen gives this cloudy Malvasia time on lees with regular stirring to build texture, bottled without fining or filtration. A new style of wine from this iconic Granite Belt producer, it was harvested in batches and fermented with wild yeast, turning what was done prior on its head.
“The techniques used are consistent with the other new releases in the range and as a result, there is a fine veil of spice running through the core. It opens with scents of candied ginger, arrowroot biscuits, canned pear, white nectarines and baked apple.
“The veneers of interest keep coming with cut parsley and an ever so soft cinnamon and white pepper spice. Ribbons of fine spices sit at the core of this wine with a delicate creaminess framed by a squeeze of lemon juice. A fine layer of texture is seemingly painted on leading to a long and persistent finish. Considered, curious and delicious – nicely done.”
Boxi Zhen moved to Adelaide from China at the age of 24 to complete his prestigious Master of Viticulture & Oenology at the University of Adelaide. He also has a degree in Food Science, which places him in excellent stead to continue the R&D science-based approach employed by Ballandean Estate’s previous winemaker of 22 vintages, Dylan Rhymer.
For all media enquiries please contact: Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi
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!”
