Stanthorpe Midweek - Let's Do It
Ok, so we know there are a few places that are not open on some days during the week, which can be a little frustrating (especially if you go to a couple in a row) and it would be easy to think ‘nothing is open’ on a Monday but that is not true. We have put together a little guide to all the best places to go for your midweek holiday to the Granite Belt
Arriving on Monday at about lunchtime, no problem. You can get lunch at Vincenzo’s, otherwise known as the Big Apple. Or, across the road there is Suttons Apple Juice and Cidery. While your in the neighbourhood you could also visit Stanthorpe Cheese, Heritage Winery, do a little walk at Donnelly’’s Castle.
A little further South you could grab lunch or dinner and a cold Craft Beer at the Granite Belt Brewery, Wine Tasting at Ridgemill Estate and Jester Hill Wines a Burger at Blue Topaz Diner, and then make you way to Sancerre Estate ensuring you leave enough time to just sit and Enjoy the View with a glass of View Wine in hand.
YES this is all on a Monday. There are lots of Cellar Doors open 7 days across the region. Check out this link to the Strangebird Wine trail Map for all the opening hours
And, of course Girraween National Park is open 7 days for walking, hiking, picnics, swimming
Now, since you have already stopped at Stanthorpe Cheese and Vincenzo’s you will have enough supplies to put together a Dinner Picnic (assuming you need more food). How amazing, to sit outside under the stars grazing on our amazing local produce enjoying a glass of wine - I know what I’ll be doing tonight
Tuesday’s are all about lunch at Varias Restaurant at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. The Signature Lunch Dish ‘Medley of Mains’ is a selection of the Chef’s signature dishes matched with wines from their own Banca Ridge wine label. Check out their full menu here:
Lunch-Menu-June-2021.pdf (qcwt.com.au)
Tuesday afternoon you can pop into a couple of fabulous cellar doors in Ballandean including Symphony Hill Wines, Bungawarra Wine, Granite Ridge Wines or Tobin Wines and finish the day with a cold drink and meal at the Ballandean Tavern. For some retail therapy you could visit Washpool Soaps or Annas Candles.
If you are on the Granite Belt on a Wednesday you can do all of the above AS WELL AS Jamworks and the Truffle Discovery Centre. If you are looking for a slower paced day you could do a walk at Girraween National Park followed by a Pizza or Mezze Plate at Balancing Heart Winey. Head to the QLD / NSW boarder and get your picture taken at the QUEENSLANDER sign and then stroll over to the Wallangarra Train Station for Coffee / Lunch / Afternoon Tea. Make sure you walk through the free museum and have a giggle at the reason why the train station has two different roof lines, ahhh the politics!
Note: if you do stop at Jamworks you might consider ordering the Curry of the Day takeaway to heat up for dinner later
On Thursday you might want to book lunch at the Barrel Room at Ballandean Estate. Open Thursday to Monday for Lunch and Friday and Saturday for Dinner. Click on this link for the current menu:
It would be a bit silly to book lunch at the Barrel Room and not first stop at the Ballandean Estate cellar door for a wine tasting, they are at the same location after all! Just across the road you have Golden Grove Estate. How lucky are we to have some of the founding wineries of the Queensland Wine Industry just down the road from us.
All details are correct at the time of writing. Of course, some businesses may change the days and hours they operate to suit the season, or may have an emergency and have to close unexpectantly, or even just close to have a little holiday themselves. Whichever day of the week you choose to visit, you will always get the best experience if you book ahead, not just for meals but for wine tastings as well.
Lets Talk About Wine
Have you heard about WSET???
Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is an internationally recognised wine tasting and evaluation course that is run in over 70 countries around the world. Over the past month we have completed level 1 and 2 (chewing on my nails waiting for the exam results, which are sent to London for marking) and have started Level 3. Let me give you an example of an exam question from Level 2
Q: Which of these wines would you recommend for a customer or friend who wishes to purchase a simple, fruity red wine for immediate drinking.
a) Tokaji Aszu
b) Chianti Classico Risera
c) Barolo
d) Cotes du Rhone
Answer in the comments
Other than studying for our WSET exams we have been busy at the winery getting ready to filter the 2021 wines and CRAZY busy in the vineyard slashing, spraying and putting wires up and tucking in loose canes. The vines have been loving the spring rain (so have the weeds) and we have seen vigorous growth across all of the varieties. If Mother Nature is kind to us for the rest of the growing season we are in for a ripper vintage!
Insiders View Wine Club 6 packs will be sent at the end of November / start of December. We will be sending a letter to all our members so you will be able to personally select the wine you would like in your pack this year or let us make the choice for you with a selection of our new wines.
It is not too late to become a member for this years pack. $150 for 6 wines delivered. This makes a great Christmas gift! Members also get 20% off all additional wine purchases. Complete the Membership application and we will call you for your payment details Insider's View Wine Club - View Wine, Sancerre Estate — Welcome to View Wine
This is a bit of a long blog, but I just want to quickly say there is a stack of events coming up in November and December. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for all the details.
The best wines are the ones we drink with friends. Cheers Brad and Stacey