Big changes are afoot at Ballandean Estate, Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery. After 22 years at the helm, star winemaker Dylan Rhymer will be wrapping up vintage 2022 in the next few weeks. Next stop, Brisbane, as he moves to be closer to family and pursue a career in the bicycle industry.
Fourth generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi says,
“Dylan has underpinned Ballandean Estate’s industry accolades for almost a quarter of a century. He’s our longest-serving winemaker. We’ve survived drought, bushfires, hailstorms and floods – he’s family”, says Ms Puglisi-Gangemi.
Ballandean’s winemaker Rhymer considers his legacy to be the birth and continuance of the estate’s signature wine, Generation 3.
“This premium wine is only made when the vintage is exceptional. No compromise, winning a swag of national gold medals since the first release in 2002.”
“Starting in the vineyard with a blend of science and years of experience in the Granite Belt growing grapes, to bring in our Shiraz and Cabernet fruit in optimal condition. Then there’s the winemaking. Premium barrels are hand-selected. We coax that fruit into releasing everything it has to offer, constantly striving to make something different and wonderful to show you, but still respecting its integrity,” says Mr Rhymer.
Rhymer led the development of an internationally acclaimed Saperavi style on the Granite Belt. In 2018, Ballandean Estate entered the Saperavi World Prize for the first time and came third in the world with its 2015 vintage. His commitment to premium wine saw Ballandean Estate convert to Procork, flying in the face of widespread screwcap adoption.
Over his tenure at Ballandean Estate, Rhymer’s legacy includes delivering the 50th Anniversary Edition 2018 Shiraz. Ballandean Estate’s award-winning single vineyard premium Shiraz is sourced from the Opera Block’s oldest vines, planted in 1968, some of the oldest in Australia.
As a “Flying Winemaker”, Dylan has followed vintages and wine seasons around the world, from Marlborough, Hawkes Bay, Bulgaria, Spain, to South Australia and the Granite Belt.
Dylan was working in Spain when he saw the opportunity to be part of the growth and development of the Queensland wine industry in the late 1990s. In the time Dylan has served at Ballandean Estate, he has supported the Queensland wine industry as it has grown in leaps and bounds.
The symbiotic relationship that exists between Dad’s (Angelo Puglisi) experimentation with rare varietals and Dylan’s R&D approach to modern winemaking has helped position the Granite Belt as a region that continues to build on its momentum for new, exciting wines that suit our ever-changing climate”, says Ms Puglisi-Gangemi.
Ballandean Estate opened the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge on Friday 15 July 2022. Signature restaurant The Barrelroom has been made over into a snug and sophisticated space, designed to make you feel like you’re walking into the Puglisi family cellar.
Fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi says,
“I’ve been wanting to do this for years! The ultimate space for Ballandean Estate wine-lovers.”
“We hope to provide a first-class, relaxed, extended tasting experience here. Visitors can sit back and indulge in fine wine and local produce from 9am to 5pm each day.
“Our signature grazing platters are accompanied by a tasting of premium wines, of your choice. You can expect to be served wine several times as you enjoy your platter.
“Showcasing our Italian heritage and local artisan producers complements our award-winning wines. We are working with Stanthorpe Cheeses, New England Larder, the Bramble Patch, Ballandean Bakery, Foxy’s Bakery, The Folly Truffles, Cypress Ridge Garlic, Lirah Vinegars, Italian producers Sandhurst and Borgo Brisbane for our traditional Italian salamis.
“Over the last two weeks, the venue has undergone a significant renovation into an intimate moody space, accented by lighting, leather and luxury, with a roaring fire as its heartbeat.”
“Sink into a leather lounge beside the fire, indulge in a wine flight of your choice, a Strange Bird varietal, or a glass of our 50th Anniversary Opera Block Shiraz.”
“The massive increase in visitation over the pandemic has given us the opportunity to innovate with our visitor offering.
“This has been years in the making, and the first time in 30 years we have stepped back from having an onsite restaurant.
“As a family, we live and breathe wine. We want the wine lounge to be an extension of our Italian hospitality, a place where we can share our stories, heritage and of course our world-class wines,” says Ms Puglisi-Gangemi.
Reservations for the wine lounge are now open. Walk-ins will be welcomed. Bookings are recommended. Add The Barrelroom to your must-do list during a visit to the Granite Belt, just over two hours from Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.
Ballandean Estate has been recognised by Tripadvisor today as a 2022 Travellers’ Choice award winner. This award celebrates businesses that have received great reviews from cellar door visitors on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, Ballandean Estate Wines stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to cellar door visitors.
Fourth generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi says,
“We aim to make sure every Ballandean Estate experience is unforgettable. Ballandean Estate is thrilled to be announced as the Granite Belt’s 2022 Best Tour.
The massive increase in visitation over the pandemic has given us the opportunity to innovate with our visitor offering. As a family, we live and breathe wine. Our cellar door is an extension of our Italian hospitality, a place where we can share our stories, heritage and of course our world-class wines!
We are about to open the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge. It will be place for you to bring your friends and family, sink into a leather lounge beside the fire, indulge in a wine flight of your choice, a Strange Bird varietal, or a glass of our 50th Anniversary Opera Block Shiraz.”
LEEANNE PUGLISI-GANGEMI
“Congratulations to the 2022 Travellers’ Choice Winners,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor.
The Travellers’ Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: your guests.”
To see Ballandean Estate’s reviews, visit Tripadvisor here.
Ballandean Estate is preparing to convert its much-loved signature restaurant into the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge. Slated to open late July 2022, The Barrelroom will evolve into an atmospheric, cosy venue where visitors can sit back, relax and indulge in fine wine and platters of local produce.
The venue makeover is the brainchild of fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, who is beside herself with excitement as she prepares for her role as chief storyteller.
Now that we can travel freely again, we saw an opportunity to enhance our cellar door experience with the ultimate space for wine lovers.
This has been years in the making, and the first time in 30 years we have stepped back from having an onsite restaurant.
The massive increase in visitation over the pandemic has given us the opportunity to innovate with our visitor offering. As a family, we live and breathe wine. We want the wine lounge to be an extension of our Italian hospitality, a place where we can share our stories, heritage and of course our world-class wines!
Bring your friends and family, sink into a leather lounge beside the fire, indulge in a wine flight of your choice, a Strange Bird varietal, or a glass of our 50th Anniversary Opera Block Shiraz. The ambience will be rustic, moody, and a just a little bit quirky. Think leather and luxury, the oaky gurgle of our port barrels, a roaring fire, ambient lighting and mirrors. Decadent platters will be yours to graze upon.
“If you can’t imagine a Granite Belt visit without a meal made with love by Matt and Bobbi Wells, never fear! You can find them at their new venture in Stanthorpe, Marley’s Little Kitchen”, says Ms Puglisi-Gangemi.
Reservations for the wine lounge will open in May 2022 for bookings in July. Walk-ins will be welcomed. Bookings are recommended. Add The Barrelroom to your must-do list during a visit to the Granite Belt, just over two hours from Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.
ENDS
For all media enquiries please contact: Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi
Ph: (07) 4684 1226 Leeanne@ballandeanestate.com
354 Sundown Rd Ballandean 4382 www.ballandeanestate.com
Let us take you on a wine adventure! Be the first to try Taste Ballandean, an intimate wine and food tasting experience.
Ballandean Estate Wines continues to tantalise palates with an all-new visitor offering, Taste Ballandean. This is the Granite Belt’s first elevated tasting room experience. It’s your chance to discover the history, winemaking, people and passion of Ballandean Estate, broadening your wine horizons with new varietals andmuseum wines.
Taste Ballandean will showcase the rich tapestry of tradition, winemaking, terroir and storytelling at Queensland’s oldest family-owned and -operated winery.
Fourth-generation vigneron and estate manager Robyn Puglisi-Henderson says,
“We have seen increased interest in tasting our limited release wines from cellar door visitors and our wine club members.
“Our elevated tastings will be intimate and interactive, so you can ask all the questions you’ve always wanted to know about wine. Taste Ballandean is hosted by our wine educators: our most experienced cellar door staff and family members.
Immerse yourself in the world of wine
“Autumn is the perfect time for visitors to experience Taste Ballandean. Your wine adventure begins with an intimate tasting in our Cellar Tasting Room. It’s a seated premium tasting of six limited release wines paired meticulously with seasonal, creative small bites.
“Sample award-winning Strange Birds ™ such as Saperavi, Fiano, Malvasia – or a limited edition 50th Anniversary Opera Block Shiraz.
“We’ll be complementing your elevated tasting with decadent individual tasting platters. Think house-made delicacies, Granite Belt cheeses and local produce.
Hear the stories
“Our family has been making wine on our Granite Belt estate since 1932. There is no better way to experience the real Ballandean Estate than an immersive, interactive elevated tasting.”
Make sure you add Taste Ballandean to your must-do list during a visit to the Granite Belt, just over two hours from Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast. Taste Ballandean launches 1 April 2022.
Generational growers at Ballandean Estate, Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, are hailing vintage 2022 right on track to make up for years of drought, bushfire and hail.
Fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi says,
We’ve had the wettest year in over 30 years on the Granite Belt. Combining that with an exceptionally cool spring and summer is delivering an abundance of beautiful fruit. We are lucky to have escaped the heavy rainfall hitting much of southeast Queensland.
In 2020, we harvested just 7.5 tonnes of fruit in 2020, a vintage heavily impacted by the end of drought and a hailstorm. In 2021, Ballandean Estate was fortunate enough to bring in 90 tonnes of fruit. This year, we are seeing our vines, some of which are amongst the oldest in Australia, well on their way to a full recovery from drought with a harvest of 100 tonnes expected.
In 2023, we expect to return to full production of 150 tonnes when our baby Shiraz, Chardonnay and Merlot vines begin producing fruit.”
White varietals outperform expectations
Today we picked and crushed 9 tonnes of viognier, making that 30 tonnes of white varietals processed since the start of 2022.
Semillon is a surprise performer, we were expecting 2 tonnes and harvested 6 tonnes. Our white varietals are golden and clean, just magnificent this vintage, especially our much-loved Malvasia.”
A lucky escape and unexpected blessing
We’ve managed to escape the disease pressure the region has been under. This wet weather has seen our vines as happy as Larry, thanks to strict vineyard management and the many years of combined grape growing experience between Dad (Angelo Puglisi, estate founder) and Robyn Robertson (Ballandean Estate vineyard manager).
The western escarpment of the Granite Belt has a unique microclimate. Our grapes have a very different rain requirement to the apples and stone fruit grown in other parts of the Granite Belt. This rain has been perfect timing for our red fruit’s last growing spurt before harvest in three weeks’ time. Bloody good news here!” says Ms Gangemi.
Queensland’s oldest family-owned and -operated winery will be hosting the launch of podcast series Beyond the Crown at The Barrelroom this Saturday at 5pm, a rich tapestry of stories from the former Queens, Princesses and Young Ambassadors of Stanthorpe’s Apple and Grape Harvest Festival.
Podcast producer Lou Bromley says,
Raise your glass to the Queens as we gear up to celebrate 150 years of Stanthorpe in 2022,” says Ms Bromley.
“Beyond the Crown is part-oral history, part-documentary and part-photographic essay that seeks to tell the stories behind the people of Stanthorpe’s Apple and Grape Harvest Festival. Season one features ten podcast episodes with bonus interviews, and a digitised collection of images and videos of previous festivals from private collections.
“Ballandean has a strong tradition of winning Southern Belles, from Queens to Young Ambassadors, all helping to raise funds for charity and to support the festival.
“One of the first Queens was Dorothy Papagallo, Miss Orchardist 1957. Her family grew apples, stone fruit and vegetables in the Ballandean area, a property which now hosts Accommodation Creek Cottages and Granite Ridge Wines.
“Robyn Puglisi-Henderson was crowned Queen in 1992, and her sister Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi entered in 1990. They continue the Puglisi family’s trailblazing legacy as outstanding advocates for Queensland’s wine industry and as some of Australia’s most influential women in wine: Winemakers Federation Board memberships, Samuel Basset award winners, and export market innovators for Shiraz trade to China.
“Since 1954, Stanthorpe has hosted Australia’s longest-running apple festival—originating as ‘Back to Stanthorpe Week’, then the Apple Blossom festival in 1955, finally evolving into the Apple & Grape Harvest Festival, a biennial event that has been crushing it since 1966 and now draws over 60,000 people to Stanthorpe.
“I wasn’t expecting to discover that the smallest apple growing district in Australia hosts the longest continuous running apple festival in our country. It’s a wonderful birthday surprise for Stanthorpe turning 150 in 2022.”
“Mayor Vic Pennisi has secured archival footage of the fashion regatta at Storm King Dam from 1955 to 1964, which we hope to share at the launch of Episode 1, Dorothy Papagallo’s story, at The Barrelroom on Saturday.
Lou Bromley has a property in Ballandean and works as a podcaster and writer, and previously produced content for ABC Radio. She is looking forward to completing her novel, her Harvest Festival Queen, in 2022 as a writer-in-residence with Queensland Writers Centre for their Fishbowl Residency.
Want to listen? Here’s how to find Beyond the Crown
The podcast launches on Saturday 8 January with one episode released each week up to mid-March. To find ‘Beyond the Crown’, you can listen online here: https://feeds.captivate.fm/beyond-the-crown/ and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Episodes will also be available on Spotify, Apple and your favourite podcast app.
A non-fiction book is now being planned for 2026 to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival, bringing all the interviews, photos and additional ephemera into one publication. The podcast will continue to release new episodes after 2022 in the lead up to the book launch.
Beyond the Crown is funded by Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Southern Downs Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Listen to Episode 1, Dorothy Papagallo, ‘Sputnik and the Festival Queen’ here:
https://beyond-the-crown.captivate.fm/episode/sputnik-the-festival-queen-1957-dorothy-pappagallo
Guest blogger: Louisa Duval (alias) | Australian Romance Readers Association
‘Let’s get sashed’: How my romance novel research turned into a podcast
I write small town, contemporary romance, inspired by my local rural fire brigade at Ballandean, a small village south of Stanthorpe in Queensland where we have thirty-five acres on the Severn River. I was outlining my novel about a heroine sentenced by the…https://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/2022/01/02/guest-blogger-louisa-duval/
Interstate travel restrictions continue to deliver an unprecedented tourism boom on the Granite Belt, as Ballandean Estate, Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery, reports over five hundred through its cellar door over the weekend.
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi, fourth-generation vigneron and wine industry leader, says:
“Queenslanders have relished in their relative freedom over the pandemic, and really got behind supporting regional areas. So many have embraced a cool climate wine country getaway. What we are finding is that the last 18 months have brought thousands of people to the Granite Belt for the first time. And they are coming back! Last week, we had a young couple form Brisbane at the cellar door who first visited the region last July. Since then, they’ve returned four times! This is not unusual, we have so many new amicis!”
“The distance from Brisbane and the Gold Coast is a blessing in disguise, as people are coming out to stay and play for longer.
“This is in stark contrast to what we witnessed at some of McLaren Vale’s biggest wineries a few weeks ago. Vineyard restaurants were buzzing, but cellar doors were almost empty when we visited, even on the weekend! This made for a luxurious tasting experience, undivided attention. Operators told us that being so close to Adelaide made McLaren Vale more of a weekend day trip destination.
“Now that COVID restrictions have lifted for events, I can see our visitation increase continuing, as we prepare to host the third Granite Belt Art & Craft Trail over the upcoming long weekend, an event that injected over $900,000 into the local economy last year. (source: Southern Downs Regional Council economic modelling)
“In just a few weeks the Stanthorpe Berry Festival will be up and running.
“Early December we have the Merry Muster bus convoy coming up form Brisbane and the Gold Coast, another event which injected over $100,000 into our local economy.
“If you are looking at visiting the Granite Belt before the end of 2021, get online and book as soon as you can, as many accommodation houses are fully booked every weekend until the new year. You can also try the visitor information centre, as they are keeping track won who still has availability.”
Our Fiano has high acidity, a hint of nut and an almost honeyed texture — a bit of sting to it! It’s a lighter bodied, rich and textural dry unwooded white, with a blend of tropical and stone fruits on the palate, blessed with a honey, biscuit and floral bouquet.
Ballandean Estate sells out of Fiano every vintage, our last release was in 2020. This year, we’ve made just 235 cases.
“When we were deciding where to plant Fiano here, we tried many different styles from Australia and Italy. What we found was that most Australian Fianos are fruit-driven and reminiscent of sauvignon blanc. Italian Fianos, on the other hand, are much more complex at higher alcohols, which we preferred. We pick our Fiano at around 13 Baume to build weight in the palate. This year, we were able to pick 3 tonnes from the half a hectare we have planted.”
Robyn Puglisi-Henderson
Master of Wine Peter-Scudamore-Smith says,
“Winemaker Dylan Rhymer continues to finesse Ballandean Estate’s Fiano, building sophistication as it evolves to a stylish and savoury tasty style with fruit-driven aromas. The 2021 vintage has the tell-tale hints of ripe melon sweetness, lifted by sweet mint and white flowers, a result of the high ripeness of the fruit when picked at 13 Baume.”
“There’s restraint and sophistication here. This comes with whole bunch pressing, as it extracts some savoury stem and skin flavours also. So the palate is more sublime and savoury than the previous vintages of juicy fruit, sweet mouth flavours. The commendable lengthy finish: always the higher crispy acid, such a clean expression of Granite Belt’s terroir and cooler climate.”
A Strange Bird™ Wine Trail stand-out, Ballandean Estate is famed for its Fiano. The 2021 Fiano vintage is now available for tasting and sale at the cellar door and for sale online. Fiano was first planted in Queensland in 2009 by Angelo Puglisi, the father of Queensland wine and Ballandean Estate founder.
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Price: $32
- Closure: Screwcap
- Drink: 2021–2022
- Fruit: 100%, Fiano single vineyard from Bellevue at Ballandean, 850m above sea level
- Palate: Dry, unoaked, tropical and stone fruits, hints of honey
- Weight: Light to medium bodied, similar weight to viognier, pinot grigio and unoaked chardonnay
- Winemaking: A mix of whole bunch and destemmed fruit was combined into the press. The juice was settled quickly in stainless before yeast was added. Stabilised, no finings added, filtered and bottled, unoaked.
Ballandean Estate’s annual Gamekeepers Dinner is going ahead on Saturday 25 September, with a second round of tickets released because of border closures. This culinary event sells out every year within days and has a culinary pedigree of thirty-plus years.
Ticket Release
Ballandean Estate’s annual Gamekeepers Dinner will be held at 6:30pm on Saturday 25 September at Ballandean Estate Wines, 354 Sundown Rd Ballandean.
Tickets to the all-inclusive degustation are $140 per person, with a courtesy bus available to and from the event for $15 per person round trip.
Bookings are essential; please call (07) 4684 1226 or book tickets directly via https://www.trybooking.com/BPNMM.
Estate manager Robyn Puglisi-Henderson says:
“People just keep coming back for the Gamekeepers Dinner, it’s a feast fit for royalty and chance to experience a mouth-watering array of game served up degustation style, matched with a museum tasting from the Puglisi family cellar.
The Barrelroom is serving up five spectacular courses, starting with Chinese-style Quail Consommé short soup with Quail Dumplings.
“Second and third courses feature Smoked Kangaroo Carpaccio served with potato confit and a garlic saffron crème; followed Wild-shot Goat Ragu tossed with handmade potato gnocchi.
“For the first time we’ll be plating up a Kangaroo Island Duo of Pheasant, oven roasted supreme stuffed with truffled butter; and a Coq au Vin Maryland with golden shallots, local button mushrooms, braised cabbage, crispy prosciutto, confit garlic pomme puree and a chicharron crumb.
“Dessert will be a Stanthorpe Apple Tarte Tatin with vanilla bean gelato and white chocolate nougat, exquisite.
“This year’s tickets sold out on the 28 March, the day of release. A number of our return guests come from over the border and have withdrawn due to lockdown uncertainty, freeing up a very limited number of tickets. Last year was a sold-out intimate event with 70 guests. Decadent food, museum wines and the ambience of The Barrelroom delivers a must-do feast to remember.”
Robyn Puglisi-Henderson
