Why you should visit The South Burnett Wine Region

Grape vines at Barambah Cellars

The scenic South Burnett Region of Queensland is directly West of the Sunshine Coast, and an easy 2 hour drive from Brisbane. Once you arrive you will be treated to one of Queensland’s best regional experiences. With the backdrop of the beautiful Bunya Mountains you will enjoy tasting delicious wines and liqueurs from wineries you may never have heard of (but will be delighted to discover).  At night sit back and enjoy a glass of wine and some local specialties under the big skies.

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South Burnett Wineries

Our visits to the South Burnett region have been largely focussed on visiting the wineries of the area. We didn’t really know what to expect but we were delightfully surprised by what we found. On our first visit we particularly enjoyed the sparkling whites and some truly delicious liqueurs, but there is something for everyone in the wineries of this area, and we found more delights on a second visit. You will find some of the less common red varietals like Saperavi, as well as fresh whites and mellow dessert wines.  We tried a few over our two visits, and came home with several bottles as well as a desire to revisit (often). Here are some recommendations. Don’t forget to choose a designated driver before you set off for your tasings!

Barambah Cellars

Barambah Cellars has just reopened after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The cellar door is a cooperative for 3 local wine growing families, namely:

  • Nuova Scuola Wines
  • Lightning Tree Wines
  • Hillsdale Estate Wines

Here you will have the opportunity to sample wines such as Tempranillo, Viognier, Shiraz, Verdelho, Saperavi, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. Yum!

8 glasses of wine for tasting at Barambah Cellars, South Burnett
A flight of 8 wines at Barambah Cellars

The cellar door is open from 10.30 a.m to 4.30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday inclusive and you will find them at 167 Tipperary Road, Moffatdale via Murgon.

You can also enjoy tasting boards of local South Burnett produce at the Cellars, so it is an ideal spot to enjoy a tasting and then share some food and a bottle of your favourite from their selection. Don’t forget to book.

A board of antipasto items at Barambah Cellars
The Italian Board at Barambah Cellars

Clovely Estate

Clovely Estate has one of the cutest cellar doors you can imagine, and on the day we visited we found the cellar door team friendly, professional and engaging. Suffice to say some bottles came home with us. The cellar door is located at Steinhardts Road, Moffatdale.

Old timber building with Cellarl Door signage at Clovely Estate Winery
The lovely old Cellar Door building at Clovely Estate

But you won’t just find wines here; they also offer locally grown produce, either individually or in gift boxes and hampers which might include extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fig paste, honey, verjuice or smoked salt flakes. A great place to find some goodies to accompany your evening glass of wine.

The vineyard offers a broad selection of well priced wines including a Barbera, Rose, Blanc de Blanc, and for those with a sweet tooth, a Liqueur Grenache or a Rack Dried Semillon.

In addition, you can stay at Clovely Estate in one of their 3 Airbnb cottages (see accommodation options below).

Whilst it would be a real shame for you to not visit the lovely cellar door in situ, if you are in Brisbane you also have the option to visit their Red Hill City Cellar Door. But there is no substitute for being in the fresh air and under the big skies of the South Burnett, so why not plan a weekend visit.

Crane Wines

Crane Wines is located 10 kms from Kingaroy at 162 Haydens Road, Booie. The first winery in the region, Crane Wines offers sweet, dry, sparkling and fortified wine styles. Along with a warm greeting from the winery dog, you are likely to meet the winemaker at the Cellar Door, keen to share his knowledge and recommendations with you.

If wine isn’t your thing you can still enjoy the range of home made jams and chutneys, or relax and enjoy a gourmet platter. You might also be lucky to catch some live music, check the website. Wine varietes include a late harvest Frontignac, a Liqueur Cabernet and a sparkling Shiraz, along with a broad selection of other still whites and reds. 

Dusty Hill Wines

Dusty Hill Wines is another of the first established wineries in the region and that shows in the breadth of experience on offer there. Located at 80 Waterview Drive, Moffatdale the winery overlooks the lovely Lake Barambah.

Lake Barambah at Dusty Hill Wines, South Burnett
The beautiful Lake Barambah at Dusty Hill Wines

The Dusty Hill complex includes an Irish tavern and restaurant open for lunch Thursday to Sunday and dinner Thursday and Friday. As well as the tasting room and cellar door, there is also a comprehensive chef and winemakers pantry with local cheeses, jams and relishes, small goods and fudge all on sale. A good spot to top up your Saturday evening dining options.

Your Dusty Hill wine tasting may include Shiraz, Semillon, Verdelho, Merlot and Rose. In our opinion there are better wines to be tasted in other wineries in the area, but Dusty Hill is certainly worth a visit if only for the pantry selections.

Kingsley Grove Estate

Kingsley Grove are located at 48 Stuart Valley Road, Kingaroy. Operating since 1998 this winery offers a broad range of varietals including Sangiovese, Shiraz Viognier and a Merlot in reds, and Verdelho, Semillon in whites, as well as still and sparkling Rose wines. The cellar door is normally open for tasting 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm (but check before arriving). 

You can also enjoy one of their wood fired pizzas and a salad, or a cheese platter, followed by their wine ice cream – what a delicious and refreshing treat.

Make sure you reserve your spot for a wine tasting, or meal, via the winery website.

Moffatdale Ridge

Moffatdale Ridge was the first winery we visited in the South Burnett region and we were not disappointed by our choice. We were warmly greeted and treated to a wine tasting as well as a taste of some of their liqueurs – we particularly loved the Cognac and Walnut liqueur.

Man standing outside Moffatdale Ridge Cellar Door
We enjoyed a tasting and a light lunch at Moffatdale Ridge, with a beautiful outlook to boot.

Your tasting choices also include sparkling rose and a sparkling cuvee, as well as still whites and reds, the liqueur and some fortifieds. The wine options are a little more mainstream than others in the area but don’t overlook Moffatdale on that basis.

Moffatdale is also a great spot for lunch and sitting on the verandah is very pleasant to enjoy good food from their comprehensive menu. 

Look out too for the regular events held at Moffatdale Ridge, with their annual Italian Festival, their monthly Tuscan Feasts and their Sax on the Ridge or Opera on the Lawn music afternoons. You can find all the details on their Events page. More reasons to stay over rather than make a day trip to this Region.

Dining and Accommodation Options

The South Burnett offers much delicious local produce and any number of the wineries offer lovely lunch options. What better than to sit at a cellar door and enjoy a meal produced on the premises, be that a cheese platter or a three course meal.

Dinner options however, are limited to meals in pubs or motel dining rooms. Our recommendation is to make lunch your main meal and stock up on local produce and some bottles (and water) to enjoy at your overnight accommodation (don’t forget to look after your designated driver). Book yourself into one of the lovely self catering cottages – Airbnb offers the best accommodation options to match all budgets, locations and group sizes. The options include some within the wineries, including Clovely Estate.

When looking for provisions for your self catering, you might like to check out the offerings at Olive Branch Spice Traders at 81 Drayton St, Nanango for some delicious olives.

We stayed at Kilkivan on our first visit, which is slightly out of the area but would recommend staying in the heart of the region at one of the options above. At the end of a long and wonderful day it is a good idea to get off the roads before the local wildlife come out to play. 

Find more information on the South Burnett wine region and find more here on our other Travel adventures

or visit this site for the Queensland Wine Journey, a self guided tour that connects more than 70 wineries and vineyards

And how about Canberra as another great Australian destination. And if you are looking for more Australian travel inspiration read about our trip on The Ghan and beyond.

For delicious Tasmanian wines delivered to your door, why not purchase from Wines of Tasmania

 

Retiring not Shy!