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 continues its winning streak with a swag of medals awarded this weekend at a national wine show for boutique winemakers. The Australian Small Winemakers Show is held annually in Stanthorpe, attracting wine entries from across Australia and New Zealand.
Vintage 2022 delivered Queensland’s oldest family-owned winery 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, bringing the tally to 5 medals at one of the most prestigious shows on the annual wine circuit.
Fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi says,
Ballandean Estate is famed for alternative white varietals, our Strange Birds™! This year, our great Italian whites Malvasia, Fiano and GFM (Giallo Fiano Malvasia) were awarded silver medals, which means they had to score greater than 17/20 points; and be considered exceptional on the palate, with freshness and finesse highly prized by the judging panel.
We’ve just released our 10th vintage of Fiano, a wine we’ve won critical acclaim for since 2012, thanks to its richer Italian style with mouth-watering acidity, grippy texture and mineral undertones. We sell out of this varietal every vintage within weeks.
Malvasia is another of our fastest-moving white wines at the cellar door. People fall in love with its big aromatics, richness and complexity. It is the kind of wine that has you excited before even taking your first sip.
Dad (Ballandean Estate owner Angelo Puglisi) is always keen to experiment with Italian varieties. His interest in Italian varieties is not just about the increased diversity of aromas and flavours, but most importantly about structure: and, specifically, acid. Grapes grown for natural acid balance deliver a fresh expression of our granitic terroir and require minimal intervention in the hands of the winemaker.”
Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi
A wine pioneer, Angelo’s vinicultural vision has delivered 13 new Strange Birds™ for the Granite Belt Geographical Indication.
Ballandean Estate’s 2022 Viognier and Bolle Rosa, a refreshing sparkling pink Moscato, were both awarded bronze medals. A remarkably strong line up of wines was presented, with a marked increase in medals awarded for each class at the 2022 Australian Small Winemakers Show, which held its inaugural event in 1987, open to small wine producers who crush less than 500 tonne a year.
Ballandean Estate’s 2019 Nebbiolo took home the Trophy for Best Italian Red Varietal at the Queensland International Emerging Wine Variety Challenge. Angelo Puglisi, founder of Queensland’s oldest family-owned and -operated winery, accepted the prize at the Brisbane awards dinner held at 66 on Ernest restaurant at Southbank, Thursday 26 May 2022.
Wine analysis
- Colour—Pale ruby with orange hues
- Nose—Cherry, tar and roses
- Palate—Medium-bodied with red fruits, strong tannins, high acidity and earthy tones
- Alcohol/Volume—2%
- Cellaring potential—Drink now to 5 years
- Winemaker—Dylan Rhymer
- Viticulturist—Angelo Puglisi
- RRP $42
Estate owner Angelo Puglisi says,
“Experimenting with varieties that fit our unique climate and terroir is what gets me excited. In 2001, I thought it was about time we had an Italian red under our belt. Hailing from Northern Italy’s Piedmont region, this grape is known for producing bold red flavours, grippy tannins, and high natural acidity — all while looking as pale as Pinot Noir.
Nebbiolo was our first Italian Strange Bird™ planting. 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.
Nebbiolo is a finicky variety to grow in Ballandean, but when it’s right, it is so right! Incredibly sensitive to terroir—it needs great drainage and a long, bright growing season,” says Mr Puglisi.
ANGELO PUGLISI
Overcoming low yield with great viticulture
Ballandean Estate’s high altitude, cool climate and granite traprock soils on Bellevue’s slopes saw the vines mature a low yield initially. Angelo Puglisi overcame this by using a different pruning approach that produces more fruit bunches. The fruit is the last to be harvested, as it matures slowly with the cool nights at the end of growing season.
Queensland International Emerging Wine Variety Challenge
The Queensland International Emerging Wine Variety Challenge is in its third year. Queensland-grown alternate varieties take on the best of Europe in this unique event hosted by Queensland Wine Industry Association. The varietals are judged and benchmarked against wines from their place of origin.
Ballandean Estate has released the latest vintage of its much-anticipated single-vineyard Fiano. Could this Strange Bird™ be Australia’s best alternative white wine? Originating in southern Italy, and widely grown throughout Sicily and the Campania region, this is a truly rare varietal. Ballandean Estate’s 2015 vintage took out Winestate’s Top Alternative White award.
The latest Fiano vintage is now available for tasting and sale at the cellar door and for sale online.
Fiano specs
- Alcohol: 12.3%
- Price: $30
- Closure: Screwcap
- Drink : 2019–2020
- Fruit: 100%, Fiano single vineyard from Bellevue at Ballandean, 850m above sea level
- Winemaking: A mix of whole bunch and destemmed fruit was combined into the press. The juice was settled quickly in stainless before yeast was added. Stabilised, no finings added, filtered and bottled, unoaked.
A fresh take
Ballandean Estate winemaker Dylan Rhymer has lent a sophisticated finesse to the varietal.
When deciding if we should plant Fiano here in the Granite Belt, we tasted as many different styles from Australia and Italy as we could.
A lot of the Aussie ones were more fruit-driven, in the style of Sauvignon Blanc, while the Italian examples were more complex at higher alcohols, which we preferred.
Our Fiano is picked at almost 13 Baume. It’s 12.3% alc to build weight in the palate, and was handpicked in April 2019 at optimal ripeness. This gives us delicious stone fruit and biscuit aromas with a touch of honey and citrus.
Ballandean Estate winemaker Dylan Rhymer
Find out what the Puglisi family has to say about Fiano
Fresh and fabulous, our award-winning single vineyard Fiano is a southern Italian classic made modern by winemaker Dylan Rhymer. A Strange Bird™ Wine Trail stand-out, we are famed for our Fiano—Ballandean Estate is the first to produce it in Queensland.
Be seduced by our Fiano‘s intense bouquet with hints of tropical fruit including pineapple. The palate is fresh with an intensity that is created by some innovative new winemaking methods. The outcome is a flavoursome, delicious dry unwooded white that is perfect for summer. It’s wonderfully aromatic with a great weight of palate and long finish.
In a sea of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Fiano is a luscious lighter-bodied alternative for wine lovers wanting to try something new.”
Estate Manager Robyn Puglisi-Henderson
Fiano was first planted first planted in 2009 by Angelo Puglisi, the father of Queensland wine and Ballandean Estate founder. Having seen Fiano in the south of Italy and near his ancestral home in Sicily, Angelo thought he would give it a go.
You should see my Fiano! The vines just love their position and the reach for the sky—beautiful!”
Angelo Puglisi
Taking Provenance Seriously: Will Australia Benefit from Better Legal Protection for GIs? Colloquium at Bond University on Monday 12 February saw the Granite Belt weigh in to a Geographical Indications (GI) debate with EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan. Organised by the Centre for Commercial Law, the event investigated how the European experience can inform the local debate about more effective protection for local brands and rural communities and was attended by over 80 stakeholders. Image credit: Bond University Newsroom
Fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi represented Ballandean Estate and the Granite Belt with her insightful presentation on The experience with GIs: Benefits for wine and other industries in a declared GI region.
“Wine drinkers want to know where their wine comes from, and wine producers want protection against competitors who take a free ride on the hard-earned reputation of their unique products. Australia has yet to adopt the EU’s twin GI model for food and wine—as it stands, only the wine industry has registered Geographic Indicators, around 109 at last count,” says Ms Puglisi-Gangemi.
GIs, or geographical indications, identify a product that originates in a specific region where a particular characteristic is attributable to its geographical origin. In Australia, GIs are only applied to wine regions at the moment: 109 Australian wine GIs are already protected in Europe under a longstanding, mutually beneficial agreement sealed in 1994, The GI system is designed to protect the use of the regional name under international law and is governed by the Geographical Indications Committee, overseen by Wine Australia.
European Union Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan is visiting Australia to lay the groundwork for an EU-Australia free trade agreement.
What is the value of Geographical Indication to Granite Belt wine producers?
One of Australia’s most influential women in wine, Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi gets excited when she talks about the value of the Geographical Indication to Granite Belt wine producers.
“We are the Granite Belt and we are proud! Well, it is our sense of place and most producers in the region are proud of the wines being grown and made in the Granite Belt. So much so, that the Granite Belt Wine Tourism association took the notion one step further with the creation of our Strange Bird™ Wine Trail 13 years ago. It is a kind of appellation with strict rules applying to the wineries if they want their wines to be known as Strange Birds™: Wine to be produced on the Granite Belt, Fruit to be grown on the Granite Belt, Fruit must be alternative—representing less than 1% of the total annual crush as prescribed by Wine Australia.
How has Strange Bird™ benefited Granite Belt wineries?
“Today, the Australian wine consumer is ready and willing to taste wines they have never heard of—the rarer the variety the better. Twenty years ago, this was not the case as Australian wine drinkers were not so brave. Consumers today are also willing to pay premiums for such rare finds.
“If your cellar door does not have a Strange Bird™ on the list you are missing out on sales. And with approximately 75% of all wine produced in the Granite Belt sold directly to tourists, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
“Another benefit of trademarking our Strange Birds™ has been renewed enthusiasm by local producer. Vignerons are on the hunt for new varieties to grow in the Granite Belt. This planting frenzy seen our grape growers searching for new varieties that suit our terroir – grapes that grow well in our unique climatic conditions and soils.
“As a result, the Granite Belt has been winning international awards at an exponential rate. So with the success of Strange Birds™ and the potential of our food trail, the importance of our GI cannot be underestimated.
“I tell our cellar door visitors that we make fantastic Shiraz in Ballandean and have done so for 50 years. But in just 14 short years of growing Saperavi in Ballandean we have been named in the top three producers of the world (outside of its native Georgia). From grapes grown on our Ballandean vineyard in the Granite Belt.
Along the Granite Belt’s Strange Bird Wine Trail with Leeanne-Puglisi Gangemi
GIs loom as a sticking point in FTA negotiations next month with Australian producers concerned they could be forced to give up the right to use certain names such as prosecco and feta.
How can GIs bolster rural communities?
But Mr Hogan said GIs were “not one-way traffic”.
“There is a clear potential to extend GI protection to high-quality Australian food products (in the EU),” the Commissioner said.
“I have been told a number of potential Australian candidates for GI protection are on their way, such as King Island dairy products, King Island beef, Tasmanian whisky, Tasmanian lobster, Huon Salmon and Bangalow pork.
“The price obtained by a producer of a traditional product is two-and-a-quarter times the price received for a comparable non-local product.
Mr Hogan said the European experience showed GIs bolstered rural communities and netted higher incomes for producers.
