Granite Belt: life by the seasons

Driving two and a half hours south west from Brisbane along the New England highway, after a while you'd be forgiven for feeling like you've turned off from the busy Ipswich Motorway and onto a serene European countryside lane.

With autumn in full swing the leaves have turned shades of auburn gold, the weather is crisp, and the countryside is rich in colour and life.

Located high on the Great Dividing Range, and about 1000m above sea level, the Granite Belt experiences four distinct seasons, and a climate unlike anywhere else in Queensland.

During the cooler months, you'll need to pack a scarf and coat, as the terrior creates a climate which is, on average, about five degrees cooler than Brisbane.

It has even been known to snow in places.

Dotted along the highway to the north are villages like Applethorpe, Amiens, Pozieres, Thulimbah, Cottonvale, The Summit and Dalveen, and to the south lies Severnlea, Glen Aplin, Ballandean and the border township of Wallangarra.

The Granite Belt region has been one of the country's leading fruit and vegetable producers since the 1860s.

Apples and pears are some of the biggest fruit crops produced in the region, as well as 70 percent of the state's stone fruit is grown on the Granite Belt.

Summer is a gastronome delight with an abundance of fresh seasonal produce available in the multitude of local cafes, restaurants, delis and farm gates, but it's the winter months that really draw the big crowds to the area.

Visitors are lured to the Granite Belt region with the promise of friendly pubs, cellar door tastings, crisp Winter days, spectacular sunrises and tranquil scenic walks, hearty home-cooked food and the promise of a crackling fire in a cosy B&B or family-owned motel at the end of the day.

There are more than 55 vineyards in the Granite Belt region, about 40 boutique cellar doors and about 530 hectares of vineyard plantings.

This makes for perfect cellar-door hopping for a multitude of wine tastings.

The area boasts a versatile growing region which is due to varying elevation, of 700m up to more than 1200m above sea level.

Within the Granite Belt, about 65pc of planting are shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and merlot vines. Verdelho represents 5pc of all plantings, but has already achieved significant success.

The Granite Belt wine industry has come in leaps and bounds in the last decade, and is finally getting some global recognition for its products, which is largely thanks to an idea by some clever winemakers to create a mapped and coordinated wine trail for visitors to follow during their stay in the region and educate their palate to alternative wine varieties.

About 21 participating cellar doors feature on the trail, where you can chat personally to the winemakers, learn how to pronounce Gewurztraminer or discuss the perfect food match for a bottle of Tempranillo.

Heading south from Stanthorpe, along the New England Highway, start by sampling up to 35 homemade jams, preserves and relishes At Jamworks of Glen Alpin where flavours include cape gooseberry jam, fig and chilli paste, and the famous zucchini relish, made by owners Sue and Peter Ingall.

Drive on to Bramble Patch, a berry farm and tourism centre, set on 150 acres at the end of windy Townsend Road. The stunning rose-filled driveway welcomes visitors who pile in to pick up some of Don and Patsy Stirling's award-winning raspberry vinegar and sample their famous blackberry and apple pie.

Time to start swivelling vino at Jester Hill Wines with owners Michael and Ann Bourke.

Their idyllic location and rustic cellar door tasting spot will have you settling in all afternoon. The crispy skin salmon or hearty winter soup is a must for lunch at the Jester Cafe. From Glen Alpin north to Ridgemill Estate at Severnlea, you are met by cellar door coordinator, Jill Merritt who will take you through some of the winery's finest drops. Ridgemill's shiraz is a big seller, and their 2009 Caberbet Malbec recently won a gold medal at the 2012 Australian Small Winemakers Show.

If you're spent for the day, retire to one of Ridgemill's four individual, luxurious studio style cabins nestled away in the vineyard, complete with wood fire, kitchenette, and breakfast basket.

And if you've sipped on enough shiraz and your culinary senses have gone into overdrive, there are so many other enjoyable activities try.

There's a plethora of walking tracks, bike trails, fishing spots, camping, markets, shopping, and the opportunity to pick your own apples at Suttons Farm, at Thulimbah, that all await the traveller.

But if you're searching for a cosy dinner spot, head south to the Granite Belt's oldest family-owned and operated winery, Ballandean Estate Wines.

Set on 105 acres, the winery has stayed in the Puglisi family for five generations, first originating in 1932 and opening the cellar door to the public in 1970. Ballandean Estate crushes over 350 tonnes of grapes each year and owners Angelo and Mary Puglisi and their daughters and son-in-laws, can lay claim to having some of the oldest working barrels in the state, which are filled with aging port and muscat.

Visitors can find these in the Barrel Room Café. Run by Matty and Bobbi Wells, the restaurant offers exceptional locally sourced dishes, and excellent customer service. You cannot leave without trying the organic Mallow (local) lamb shoulder ragu with handmade gnocchi; a deliciously rich winter dish that simply melts in your mouth.

WHERE TO STAY

Stay for the weekend or longer and experience the sincere hospitality of the region. In the heart of Stanthorpe, you can't pass through without laying your heads to rest at the Boulevard Motel on Maryland Street. Located on picturesque Quart Pot Creek, the motel is peaceful, comfortable and impeccably kept by owners, husband and wife Linley and Alison Maddick. The service is excellent here thanks to their warm welcome, friendly service and impeccable upkeep. The rooms are uncomplicated, spacious and well-appointed, with a dash of sophistication. Small touches like the electric blanket, or the T2 breakfast tea, make for an appreciative traveller experience here. Waking to the morning birds and a stunning view of the creek is a superb way to start the day. The Boulevard has a homely feel with generous beds fitted with comfy linen, spacious bathrooms and perfectly kept rooms that have a touch of sophistication. You just can't beat the location of this charming and budget-friendly motel, with access to the centre of town a stroll away and surrounding Granite Belt villages a short drive. Out of Stanthorpe, but also set along the Quart Pot Creek is the award-winning Granite Belt's Diamondvale B&B Cottages. Set on 30 acres of bushland, it is still a comfortable stroll to shops and eateries. Diamondvale offers four individually designed cottages suited to couples and a larger for groups. A perfectly peaceful and private spot to camp for the night.

The Granite Belt was recently voted as number 32 in Australian Traveller's 100 Incredible Travel Secrets of Australia, receiving the third highest listing in Queensland and was the highest ranking wine region in Australia.

Granite Belt Wine and Tourism marketing manager Sarah Reeves said it was an honour to be ranked so highly amongst some of Australia's most outstanding regions.

"It's amazing to see that savvy Australian travellers are recognising Granite Belt Wine Country as the most nationally significant up and coming wine tourism region.

"In Queensland, we were only outranked by Swimming with Minke Wales in the Great Barrier Reef and Mossman Gorge in the Daintree."