Ballandean Estate wins Queensland Winery of the Year for third year running, adds Winemaker of the Year
Ballandean Estate Wines has been named Queensland Winery of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Wine Awards for the third year in a row, with head winemaker Boxi Zhen also taking out Winemaker of the Year. The double honour marks another chapter in a remarkable story for Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery, nestled in the heart of the Granite Belt.
Medal tally best yet
The estate claimed 39 points and 16 medals from 16 entries, medalling every single wine it submitted. The achievement is the first time in Ballandean Estate’s history that every entry has been recognised. Across a competition that drew 141 wines from 18 producers across 15 classes, the result placed the estate just one point ahead of neighbouring Golden Grove Estate. This margin reflects the strength of both wineries and the quality of the terroir, and speaks to the warm, enduring rivalry between the Puglisi and Costanzo families, two of the Granite Belt’s most celebrated winemaking names.
Saperavi steals the show
At the heart of the result were two standout performances from the estate’s Saperavi. The Ballandean Estate Saperavi 2025 took Top Gold at 96 points in the Open Reds class, while the Fortified Saperavi 2025 also claimed Gold at 95 points in the Fortified Wines class.
Chair of Judges Andrew Santarossa praised the wine and the variety, saying:
“A joy to judge. Fantastic bracket of Saperavi. Well done.”
Chair of Judges Andrew Santarossa
Saperavi, a rare red variety with deep colour and bold flavour, has become a signature for the estate. The estate’s 2023 Saperavi, named Wild Card Wine of the Year in the recent James Halliday 2027 awards, adds further weight to the Granite Belt’s reputation for producing wines of genuine national distinction.
Angelo and Mary Puglisi’s legacy
Robyn Puglisi-Henderson, one of the estate’s fourth-generation custodians, reflects on what the achievement means for the family,
“Mum and Dad planted our first Shiraz vines in 1968, and by 1975 we were winning national gold medals at the Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane. To now stand here, more than fifty years on, with medals for every single wine we entered and our third consecutive Winery of the Year award, it is a challenge to find the words to do this justice.
“Moments like this remind us of just how extraordinary their vision was. Angelo and Mary Puglisi set out prove that the high altitude and freezing winters of the Granite Belt could produce premium cool climate wines, and to establish wine tourism in the area, while actively rebelling against two heavy forces: government policy and the entire Australian wine establishment.
“This is their legacy. Every bottle we pour carries faith in their vision, pioneering spirit, and resilience in the face of flood, fire and hail.”
Winemaker of the Year awarded to Boxi Zhen
Boxi Zhen earned Winemaker of the Year for his work across Ballandean Estate and Riversands Wines, amassing five gold medals across his winemaking portfolio.
The recognition builds on a career that has quickly become one of Queensland’s most compelling winemaking stories. Boxi Zhen joined Ballandean Estate in late 2022, bringing with him a Master of Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide, a degree in Food Science, and vintages across Napa Valley, China, and South Australia. His minimal-intervention approach, favouring wild yeasts and a deep respect for Granite Belt terroir, earned him the Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year title at the Royal Queensland Wine Awards in 2024, along with gold medals and trophies at the Royal Queensland Wine Awards and the Australian Mediterranean Varieties Wine Show, and 95-point ratings from James Halliday. With this year’s Winemaker of the Year, Zhen has stepped from emerging talent to Queensland’s leading expression in the cellar.
Wine lovers can explore the winning wines and plan a visit to the cellar door at ballandeanestate.com. Full results from the Queensland Wine Awards are available at queenslandwine.com.au/awards.
About Ballandean Estate Wines
Ballandean Estate is Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery. Located on the Granite Belt, 850 metres above sea level, the estate has been making wine since 1932 and is home to some of Australia’s oldest Shiraz vines and rarest wine varietals. Combining the best of old and new winemaking traditions, Ballandean Estate produces premium cool climate wines and warmly welcomes visitors to its cellar door at 354 Sundown Road, Ballandean.
Ballandean Estate is open daily at 354 Sundown Road, Ballandean. For more information, visit ballandeanestate.com.
