Eighty-three years of Angelo to celebrate

Some legends never slow down. This week, Angelo Puglisi — the Father of Queensland Wine — turns 83, and you’re invited to celebrate with us.

Angelo has spent his entire life on Ballandean Estate. He planted his first Shiraz in 1968, opened our cellar door in 1972, and helped build Queensland’s oldest family-run winery from the ground up. You may find him on his red tractor, tending the vines he loves.

A love that has stood the test of time

Behind every great winemaker is a great partner. Mary has stood beside Angelo for 55-plus years.

When Angelo and Mary Puglisi took over the farm from Angelo’s parents in 1968, they saw the potential for a new industry and began to make wine commercially. Angelo and Mary replanted the vineyard, moving from table grapes to wine grapes. These were some of the first wine grapes to be planted on the Granite Belt, a modest beginning for this now multi-million-dollar industry.

The Cellar Door was opened in 1972 and through the years has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors per year to taste wines and enjoy the hospitality.Today, their daughters Robyn and Leeanne carry the family passion forward — proof that this legacy is in wonderful hands.

Angelo’s love for wine and community

Angelo’s generosity runs as deep as his vines. Through Opera in the Vineyard, he raised over $1 million for charity, sharing his love of wine and community far and wide. Opera in the Vineyard was born of a friendship between Angelo and his neighbour, the late David Pugh. Listening to opera and watching the sunset over the vineyards with a glass of Angelo’s shiraz was a cherished tradition.

Raise a glass to the Father of Queensland Wine

To honour him, we’re pouring out a little celebration of our own. Whether you reach for an elegant Shiraz or a rare cool-climate varietal, every bottle toasts a life devoted to Queensland wine.

Grab your favourites before the clock runs out — and raise a glass to 83 remarkable years.