Your guide to food and wine on the Southern Downs
Southern Downs is not only a mecca for lovers of fresh, seasonal, regional produce, but is uniquely home to the Granite Belt – Queensland’s only cold-climate wine region where multi-award winning hand-crafted wines continue to break new ground both nationally and internationally. Our country drives will take you past sunflower fields, rich farmlands, fruit orchards and vineyards that are an integral part of the flourishing Southern Downs foodie scene.
1. From paddock to plate
While we are famous for our grapes, apple and stone fruit, there is an abundance of fresh produce in the Southern Downs to savour every season. Throw in chefs passionate about food and wine matching, interesting produce like truffles, hand-made artisan cheeses, locally brewed craft beer and country butchers who know where there meat comes from, and you have an unbeatable gourmet escape. Along with a huge number of restaurants that feature local produce in their menus, be sure to include these Granite Belt gourmet providores on your next trip:
Spicers Peak Lodge, Maryvale
2. Pick your own fruit
With 100% of Queensland’s apples grown on the Granite Belt, you can embark on a pick-your-own (PYO) adventure, with stone fruit and berry picking also available.
Working farms open to the public for PYO include:
- Ashbern Farm – PYO strawberries from October to May
- Eastern Colour – PYO apples and strawberries from February to June
- Nicoletti Orchards – PYO apples from February to June
- Sutton’s Juice Factory and Cidery – while you can’t PYO, Sutton’s is located on a real working apple orchard, where you’ll learn all about the process of apple harvesting before treating your taste buds to one of their signature apple pies.
Eastern Colour Farm, Applethorpe
3. Granite Belt Wine Country
Swirl, sniff, and sip your way through Granite Belt Wine Country at some of Australia’s highest vineyards at some 1,000 metres above sea level. The more well known grape varietals such as chardonnay, verdelho, semillon, shiraz and merlot are proven in the Granite Belt, however it’s the more adventurous style of wine that’s getting attention.
- There are more than 40 cellar doors and three craft breweries to explore on the Granite Belt, with a craft brewery now also in Warwick. Drop by to taste wines, meet the winemaker and learn more about the growing process from our local experts.
- Head off on the Strange Bird Wine Trail for sampling of unusual varieties, known as Strange Birds, such as viognier, mourvedre and tempranillo.
- Let someone else do the driving on a personalised bus tour, or join a bicycle tour where you can casually cycle between wineries, orchards and gourmet producers.
- Try your hand at viticulture by attending the ‘Winemaker for a Weekend’ course at Queensland College of Wine Tourism.
- Download QLD’s Wine Country Guide to start planning your winery weekend.
4. Restaurant hit list
Call yourself a foodie? Here’s five must try restaurants featuring chefs passionate about celebrating the Southern Downs’ local produce:
- Essen Restaurant, Stanthorpe: Awarded Australian Good Food Guide’s Readers Choice 2021 and 2022. Enjoy a weekly changing menu showcasing produce from the restaurant garden as well as other Granite Belt producers and artisans.
- The Peak Restaurant, Maryvale: In the elegant mountaintop haven of Spicers Peak Lodge, you’ll discover a dining experience that scales the dizzying heights of contemporary Australian cuisine elevated by the finest regional produce.
- Bluebird Kitchen and Smokehouse, Warwick: This relaxed American BBQ smokehouse is making waves at national and international barbecue competitions with their exceptional flavours and local ingredients. Don’t miss the beef brisket.
- Rupert’s Bar and Grill, Warwick: This modern Australian restaurant, located at the Coachman’s Inn, offers a seasonal menu celebrating export quality local John Dee Angus beef.
- Varias Restaurant, Stanthorpe: Located at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism, this multi-award winning restaurant features local ingredients with matched wines.
There are too many amazing foodie experiences in our region to list here! Check out the whole list of restaurants and cafes.
While You’re Here
Make a weekend of it by checking out these other things to do in the area:
- National Park lover? Check out more information on Girraween and Main Range National Park.
- Want to spend some more time in Stanthorpe? Here’s a local’s guide on spending 24 hours there.
- Prefer to travel in Spring? These 3 spring break ideas will give you all the travel inspo you need.
- If you have the kids in tow, make sure you check out these 20 family activities in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt.
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