Emerging Winemaker of the Year awarded to Boxi Zhen at Ballandean Estate

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.

Star Entertainment Group’s Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year award recognises emerging talent and craftsmanship.

Emerging winemaker to undertake wine assessement scholarship

Fourth generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi says,

“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.

“Boxi is thrilled to be undertaking the Australian Wine Research Institute’s Advanced Wine Assessment Course.

“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.