From the Granite Belt to Georgia – Ballandean
Estate’s Saperavi shines on the world stage

For everyone who loves the Granite Belt and champions Queensland wine, we have
some exciting news! Winning a medal is always worth celebrating. Winning in the
birthplace of the varietal is something else again.

Our 2024 Saperavi has earned a Silver Medal and 90.2 points at the International
Saperavi Competition in Georgia, the ancient homeland of this remarkable variety.
Judged alongside wines from Georgia’s own celebrated producers and Saperavi makers
from around the world, our Granite Belt red held its ground. It finished as the second
highest-scoring Australian wine in the competition.

Leeanne Puglisi-Gengemi summed up the feeling,

“To have our Granite Belt Saperavi recognised alongside some of Georgia’s finest
producers is an achievement we are incredibly proud of.

“We’ve always believed the Granite Belt is a wonderful place to grow Saperavi,
producing the rich, bold and beautifully structured reds we love so much. Not bad for a
little winery in Queensland!

“Come and discover why we are so passionate about this ancient grape variety. We’d
love to share a glass with you.”

Read on to discover what makes Saperavi so special, why it feels so at home 850
meters above sea level, what these scores mean for the 2024 vintage, and how the wine
tastes in the glass.

International Saperavi Competition award results

The International Saperavi Competition brings together producers from across the globe
who work with this ancient grape, with Georgia’s finest among them. Standing out in that
company is no small task.

Here’s how our 2024 Saperavi performed:

• Silver Medal with a score of 90.2 points
• Ranked in the top 15% of all published medal-winning wines
• Ranked in the top 7% of Silver Medal winners
• Second highest-scoring Australian wine in the competition

So what do these numbers mean for you? A score above 90 signals a wine of genuine
quality, balance, and character. Placing in the top 7% of Silver Medal winners shows our
2024 Saperavi sits near the very top of its medal class. It also confirms what we’ve long
known: the 2024 vintage delivered exceptional fruit.

This result builds on a proud history of recognition. In 2018, Ballandean Estate entered
the Saperavi World Prize for the first time and came third in the world with its
2015 Saperavi. Since then, we have had great success nationally and internationally,
most recently earning the title of Halliday’s 2027 Wildcard Wine of the Year for our 2023
Saperavi, a huge national win for a Queensland wine Australia did not see coming.

What is Saperavi?

Saperavi is one of the world’s oldest grape varieties. Its story begins in Georgia, a
country nestled between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and widely regarded as
one of the birthplaces of winemaking. Georgians have grown and cherished this grape
for centuries, and it remains the country’s most important red variety.

The name roughly translates to dye or paint, and once you see Saperavi in the glass,
you will understand why. Saperavi is a teinturier grape, which means its flesh and juice
are red, not just its skin. Most red grapes have clear juice, so this gives Saperavi its
famously deep, almost opaque color.

Beyond its striking looks, Saperavi is prized for:

• Bold, dark fruit that brings richness and depth
• Bright natural acidity that keeps the wine fresh and lively
• Firm structure that allows it to age gracefully in the cellar

Why Saperavi thrives on the Granite Belt

The Granite Belt is a cool-climate island in a warm-climate state. Our vineyards sit 850
meters above sea level, where warm days give way to crisp, cool nights. The swing in
temperature slows ripening, giving the grapes time to build concentrated flavor while
holding on to their natural acidity.

We have granitic terroir. Ancient, decomposed granite drains freely and keeps the vines
working for their nutrients. The result is smaller crops of intensely flavored fruit, which is
exactly what a grape like Saperavi needs to shine on the world stage

Saperavi is also one of the Granite Belt’s celebrated Strange Birds. This regional
initiative showcases alternative varieties that each make up less than 1% of Australia’s
total plantings. It reflects a region that loves to explore, and our family has been part of
that spirit of discovery for generations. As Queensland’s oldest family-owned and
operated winery, we’ve always combined a spirit of discovery with the best of the old and
the new.

2024 Saperavi tasting note from Mike Bennie

Dense and inky purple, this wine that makes an impression from the first pour. Hold it up
to the light and you’ll see just how deep Saperavi’s natural color runs. A bold wine loves
hearty food. Try it with:

• Slow-braised lamb shoulder or beef cheeks
• Chargrilled steak with rosemary and garlic
• Mushroom and red wine ragu
• Aged hard cheeses and charcuterie

“This hits the high notes for the variety. Incredibly inky, potent and rich. Layered
with forest berries, toasty spice and a Christmas pudding mix of fruit, nuts, dried
citrus, brandy, with lashings of cream and nougat in the mix. It’s so powerful, too,
but finds supreme balance of its elements, delivering a massive hit of the
Saperavi, but done so well. Lush and lovely stuff.” Mike Bennie, June 2026

Enjoy it now or pop a few bottles away. Saparavi’s structure gives it excellent
potential in the cellar. It also makes a memorable gift for the wine lover in your life who
appreciates something outstanding.

Like to sample our Saperavi?

The best way to experience our 2024 Saperavi is with a glass in hand at the cellar door.
You’ll find us at 354 Sundown Road, Ballandean. Sit back and relax in the Granite Belt’s
first wine lounge: taste through our range of rare varietals and Opera Block classics, and
hear the stories behind each wine from the family that made them.