Australia — wine

Granite Belt GI

Australia's most unusual wine region, located in the subtropical highlands of southern Queensland near the New South Wales border at 800–1,000 meters elevation. The Granite Belt is Australia's highest wine region, with granite boulders and sandy loam soils producing wines of remarkable freshness and mineral character. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and increasingly alternative Italian and Spanish varieties (the 'Strange Bird' movement) are winning critical acclaim.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Balanced vintage with excellent alternative variety expression.
2022 Record recognition; Granite Belt wines listed at Brisbane fine dining restaurants.
2021 Strong recovery vintage; Queensland wine tourism rebounded strongly.
2020 Bushfire smoke affected some lots; granite belt less impacted than other Australian regions.
2019 Best vintage in region history; Strange Bird movement gained international recognition.
2018 Strong vintage; alternative varieties gained significant national media attention.
2017 Some drought challenges overcome by granite subsoil moisture retention.
2016 Outstanding vintage; Granite Belt wines won national show awards in all categories.
2015 Cooler than average subtropical summer; excellent balance in whites and reds.