The most common grape varieties grown in Queensland are chardonnay, semillon,  verdehlo, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chambourcin. The hefty red and white styles tend to be made in the warmer areas and more restrained and austere styles are made in the cooler regions. Most winery cellar doors offer a wide range of wines, styles and tastes. These may include bubbles, dry and sweet whites, dry and sweet reds and fortified wines. Visiting a cellar door in Queensland can be a truly unique experience as you are often welcomed by the person whom grew the grapes or made the wine.

Regions

There are over 180 wine producers in Queensland’s ten wine regions. Each region has its own charm and character offering visitors a truly unique experience. Some regions are ideal for that long weekend getaway whilst others can provide the perfect day trip destination. What ever your needs Queensland wine regions do offer something for everyone. The regions are: Granite Belt, South Burnett, North Burnett, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Somerset Valleys, Brisbane and Scenic Rim, Western Downs, Darling Downs and North Queensland. Click here for more information on Queensland wine regions.

Wine Tasting

To maximize your experience of Queensland wines and the wine regions, we have included a few tips on tasting and enjoying wine.

Most winery cellar doors offer a wide range of wines, styles and tastes. So you can drink what you like or try something different.

A professional wine taster will review each wine using the following format.

1. Firstly how does the wine look eg. Is it bright, sharp and clear?

2. What does it smell like eg. It could be fruity, earthy or oak dominate

3. And finally how does it taste eg. Is it a smooth and balanced flavour

Some useful tips when tasting wine:

1. Swirl the glass by the stem or base coating the glass surface

2. Put your nose into the glass and take a couple of deep sniffs

3. Taste the wine and enjoy both the taste and aroma of the wine

If you are driving or intend to try a range of wines it is recommended you spit the wine into a spittoon. All wineries provide them and it will not be taken offensively.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant red grape variety in the Bordeaux region of France however today it has wide distribution throughout the world. The wines usually have a complex bouquet and palate of rich capsicum, berry fruit, oak and solid tannins.

Chambourcin

Chambourcin wines will often have very dark purple colour with ripe fruit flavours. They are usually only medium in body; ideal for early consumption however may age reasonably well.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the dominant grape of Burgundy and is well suited to Queensland. It has a bouquet of peaches and melon and a rich soft palate developing with age. Premium wines are often matured in French oak. It may also be blended with other varieties such as Semillon.

Marsanne

Marsanne was first introduced into Australia in the Busby collection of 1832. The vine is generally vigorous, high-yielding and well-suited to warm, dry and stony growing conditions. Wines are often light, crisp and dry.

Merlot

Merlot is a major grape variety of the Bordeaux. Merlot was only introduced to Australia in the 1960s by the CSIRO. The wine is usually medium red in colour, medium bodied, soft and round. Merlot is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, where the softness of the Merlot balances the tannins of Cabernet.

Muscats

There are many different varieties of Muscat. Muscat is used to produce a wide range of different wine styles from dry or sweet whites to rose and fortified styles. All styles have a distinctive Muscat aroma and flavour.

Petit Verdot

Petit Verdot is commonly used to produce either Bordeaux style red wines or straight varietal wines. Petit Verdot wines are usually long-living red wines with great deep colour, tannin, acid and an interesting, often spicy, fragrant bouquet.

Pinot Gris

In Australia it may also be known as Pinot Grigio. The wines are usually dry, full bodied and often have a perfumed fruity palate. Wines labeled as Pinot Grigio will usually be dryer and lighter in the Italian style.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is the dominant red grape variety of the Burgundy. It is not extensively planted in Queensland. In the cooler regions this variety is often blended with Chardonnay to produce premium sparkling wines. As a dry red Pinot Noir is often dark in colour, of medium body with a distinctive cherry/strawberry aroma.

Sauvignon Blanc

Wine produced from the Sauvignon Blanc are usually dry. Often fruity with a tropical and herbaceous nose. This variety is often blended with Semillon.

Semillon

The Semillon grape can be used to make a variety of different wine styles from a dry crisp white to a sweet Sauterne style. Semillon wines usually have a citrus or tropical fruit character and are often blended with Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

Shiraz

This grape variety originated in the Northern part of the Rhone Valley in France. Today it is extensively planted in most regions in Queensland. Wines made from Shiraz are often made light in style to achieve a balance between the tannins, wood and fruit and to aid in early consumption. Shiraz is also often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or used to produce port-style wines.

Tempranillo

Tempranillo appears to have originated in Northern Spain and was only introduced to Australia during the second half of the twentieth century. The wines are usually dry, rich in flavour, dark in colour and often long lasting.

Verdehlo

Verdehlo was first imported into Australia in 1825. Today this variety is widely planted throughout Queensland. Wines are often aromatic with herbaceous and tropical fruit flavours. Queensland is rapidly gaining a reputation for producing the best verdehlos in Australia.

Viognier

Plantings of viognier have increased rapidly over the past five years. White wines are often dry with a fruity, citrus palate. Small quantities of viognier may be added to shiraz to give lightness, delicacy and perfume to the red wine.