Ballandean Estate Wines, Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery, has taken home two prestigious accolades at the 34th Cairns Show Wine Awards, held from 17–20 June 2026. The estate’s 2024 Saperavi earned a Gold Medal, while its 2024 Semillon was awarded a Silver Medal.
Cool climate wines at a national wine show in the tropics
The Cairns Show Wine Awards are unique in their focus on examining wine quality and style within the context of a tropical location, celebrating wines that excel in Far North Queensland’s vibrant tourism and hospitality environment. The awards draw entries from across Australia—including renowned regions such as the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and the Grampians—with celebrated producers like Bimbadgen, d’Arenberg, De Bortoli, and Peter Lehmann among the field. To shine in such esteemed company adds another chapter to Ballandean Estate’s already stellar Saperavi reputation.
The double win reflects Ballandean Estate’s enduring commitment to crafting premium cool-climate wines that span both classic and rare varietals. From its award-winning Saperavi to its elegant Semillon, the estate continues to showcase the exceptional quality of Granite Belt fruit on the national stage. This year’s success builds on a strong showing at 2024’s Cairns Show Wine Awards, where winemaker Boxi Zhen’s wines won Gold and the Trophy for the 2024 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, along with Bronze medals for the 2023 Wild Ferment Viognier, 2023 Shiraz Viognier, and 2024 Rosé. Now regarded as one of the top 10 Australian wine shows, the awards continue to grow in stature.
Fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi shared her delight at the estate’s success:
“We couldn’t be more proud to see our Saperavi and Semillon recognised in the tropical north. Mario and I had the joy of participating at the public tasting, where an impromptu Saperavi masterclass for some of the guests turned into one of the highlights of the event. It’s a thrill to share the story of this remarkable varietal with so many wine lovers.
“We’re also incredibly proud of our Chief Winemaker Boxi Zhen, who served as a judge for the second year running, lending his refined palate to classes Ballandean Estate wasn’t competing in. It’s a wonderful endorsement of the calibre our young winemaker brings to the national stage.
Saperavi finds a second home on the Granite Belt
Originating in Georgia, where winemaking dates back more than 8,000 years, Saperavi has found a remarkable second home on the Granite Belt. Ballandean Estate was one of the first to plant the rare and alternative varietal in the region, with vines first established in its Bellevue vineyard in 2008. The estate’s granite soils reflect heat onto the fruit, speeding ripening during the day while cool overnight temperatures preserve acidity, resulting in mature, intensely flavored grapes. The 2024 Saperavi continues this proud tradition, having also achieved a 95-point Halliday rating.
Cairns soon to host a satellite cellar door
“The warmth of Far North Queensland’s wine community has been overwhelming, and we’re excited to be in negotiations with a Cairns partner to establish a satellite cellar door—bringing a taste of the Granite Belt to the tropics.”
The 2024 Saperavi and 2024 Semillon will soon be available for tasting at Ballandean Estate’s cellar door and for purchaseonline from 1 July onwards. Wine lovers are warmly invited to visit the Granite Belt to experience these award-winning wines firsthand.
About Ballandean Estate Wines
Ballandean Estate is Queensland’s oldest family owned and operated winery, with a winemaking history dating back to 1932. Located on the Granite Belt, 850 metres above sea level, the estate is home to some of Australia’s oldest Shiraz vines and rarest wine varietals. Combining the best of traditional and modern winemaking practices, Ballandean Estate produces premium cool-climate wines to suit all tastes. Visitors are warmly welcomed at the cellar door, located at 354 Sundown Road in Ballandean, open daily from 9am to 5pm. For more information, visit ballandeanestate.com.
Ballandean Estate Wines, Queensland’s oldest family-owned winery, has secured two major trophies for its 2024 Durif at the prestigious 2025 Australian Small Winemakers Show. The accolades celebrate the estate’s commitment to producing exceptional cool-climate wines in the Granite Belt region.
The 2024 Durif scored 96 points from the judges and received the following awards:
· Preben Jacobsen Memorial Stewards’ Choice Trophy
Image: (L to R) Boxi Zhen, Ballandean Estate Winemaker; Chris Doig, President Australian Small Winemakers Show; Robyn Puglisi-Henderson, Ballandean Estate Business Manager
Ballandean Estate’s Winemaker Boxi Zhen, who is building on his reputation as 2024’s Emerging Winemaker of the Year, shared some of the challenges inherent to this Strange Bird varietal,
“Durif is renowned for being both beautiful and challenging in the Granite Belt, with tight clusters that require meticulous care in vineyard and cellar. The effort spent coaxing out its best qualities is evident in this vintage, which offers uniquely Granite Belt fruit profiles and a dark, graphite-like tannin structure—distinctively different from other regional Durifs.
“The 2024 release is marked by harmony between rich fruit and oak, matured in 50% new French barrels that are seamlessly integrated. Expect a wine with balance, structure, and a velvety-silky palate. Pronounced black berry characters, florals, and vanilla cream notes lift the nose in this benchmark Australian Durif.”
According to Business Manager Robyn Puglisi-Henderson,
“Winning two trophies on the night for our 2024 Durif was a great honour. Receiving the Preben Jacobsen Memorial Stewards Choice Award was a special moment for the Puglisi family. Long time family friends and associates, Dad (Angelo Puglisi) and Preben Jacobsen were part of the original committee which established the Australian Small Winemakers Show back in the seventies.
“We purchased our Bellevue vineyard from Preben back in 1996, and 12 years later we planted our Durif vines on that property. It is a fitting tribute to see this varietal flourish on the land we are now custodians of.
“Preben would be thrilled to see a Granite Belt Durif awarded 96 points, scoring ahead of wines from Rutherglen and Barossa.
“Ballandean Estate had an excellent growing season, which allowed us to craft a wine with a distinct Granite Belt character that we are incredibly proud to share. Winning Best Queensland Red Wine of the show was an added reason to celebrate.”
TASTING NOTE AND JUDGES’ COMMENTS
2024 Durif — 96 points
Lovely fragrance of lavender and violet; hugely floral and inviting. Tarry, graphite-edged tannins provide direction and freshness. Harmonious oak integration (50% new French). Velvety, silky palate with pronounced black berries and a touch of vanilla cream. Distinctive Granite Belt Durif—delicious now, with structure to age.
FAST FACTS
Ballandean Estate produced 1929 bottles of 2024 Durif this year, 160 cases, 14% alc v/v
One hectare of Durif is currently planted in the Bellevue vineyard, 850 metres above sea level at Ballandean.
Ballandean Estate harvested 3.9 tonnes harvested in 2024 after two rounds of heavy bunch thinning. Of these, 2.4 tonnes of the best bunches were selected to produce the straight 2024 Durif.
Media tasting samples are available upon request.
Ballandean Estate’s winemaker Boxi Zhen has continued his winning streak at the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland 2024 Australian Mediterranean Varieties Wine Show, held in Toowoomba. Queensland’s oldest family-owned and run winery was awarded Best in Queensland White for its 2023 Wild Ferment Viognier, and Best in Queensland Red for its 2023 Nebbiolo.
A word from our winemaker Boxi Zhen
“These wines reflect the efforts we are undertaking in the vineyard and cellar. To me, the medals are good signs that we are on the right path. I feel honoured and excited that our wines are being recognised by the show judges. It says a lot about how great our Granite Belt wines can be, and just how much potential we can explore from the terroir here.”
Judges praise texture and finish for a gold medal score of 95 points
Estate manager Robyn-Puglisi Henderson says,
“Judges praised the Wild Ferment Viognier for its beautiful texture and finish, awarding it 95 points out of 100, a gold medal score. It’s a real testament to the fresh perspective and minimal intervention approach Boxi is bringing to the Granite Belt. Boxi was recently awarded the Emerging Queensland Winemaker of the Year, it’s so exciting to see him further develop his reputation for winemaking excellence and judging capability.
“Ballandean Estate’s Nebbiolo has an excellent pedigree as our first Italian Strange Bird™ planting and has received ongoing critical acclaim, awarded 92 points at this show. In 2022 it took out the trophy for Best Italian Red Varietal at the Queensland International Emerging Wine Variety Challenge. We call it the Italian version of Pinot Noir at the cellar door. Lighter in body, big tannins, cherry, tar and roses on the nose, ruby and orange hues synonymous with aged Nebbiolo — it’s a real food wine.
“Three of our wines have just been announced as 95-point wines by James Halliday: 2023 Nebbiolo, 2023 Small Batch Reserve Chardonnay, and Angelo’s Vintage Tawny 1987, another ringing endorsement for Boxi’s second vintage as a Granite Belt winemaker. These 95-point wines qualify us to be a five-star-rated winery in the next release of the Halliday Wine Companion.”
Experimental approach in both the vineyard and cellar
According to Boxi,
“Nebbiolo is a hard variety to grow and make. It’s always the first variety to bud burst in the vineyard and last variety to pick at the end of the vintage. Extremely high acid, heavy tannins and light colour while the maturity level, in most of the years, are not enough to climb up to it should be. We are actually undergoing heaps of trials in the vineyard and cellar year by year, trying to boost the quality and quantity of the Nebbiolo, finding the best way to best express its varietal characters while building up its perfect texture during the maturation.
“The 2023 Viognier was part our minimal handling scheme in the vintage of 2023. The harvest was of meticulous design, harvested in batches. Winemaking saw 20% percentage of pre-ferment skin contact, wild ferment, lees stirring during the aging period and barrel maturation. The trophy and gold medal awarded to this wine expressed the winemaking efforts that we committed to the wine. ”
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.
Ballandean Estate is blending a new winemaker into the family fold, 32-year-old Boxi Zhen, who will be starting a new chapter in his winemaking career at Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery.
Mr Zhen is enjoying the thriving community of the Granite Belt, the considerably cooler climate, natural beauty and proximity to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“Boxi’s experience at Bird in Hand Wines in the Adelaide Hills and Chateau Nine Peaks in Qingdao is a perfect alignment with our unique terroir and cool climate.
He will continue our delivery of delectable, varietal, regional wines of character — and inject some fresh ideas. As a flying winemaker, Boxi has followed vintages around the world, from the Napa Valley to China, South Australia and now the Granite Belt.
We hope that his minimal intervention approach and fresh perspective 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.”
“It’s good to see so many young people returning to the region, there’s such a good balance between rural life and being close to major cities.
What attracted me to the Granite Belt was the chance to work with the incredible fruit produced here, the high altitude and cool climate delivering intense flavours and such high acid, thanks to the slow ripening seasons and chilly nights. Throughout South Australia, climate change is increasingly more apparent, and producers are having to adapt as it gets warmer and warmer.
I want to bring out the best expression of the fruit and terroir, with minimal intervention and a mix of modern and traditional winemaking techniques.”
Boxi 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.
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