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Strange Bird Wine Trail

Granite Belt wineries offer a boutique and authentic wine adventure, the Strange Bird™ Wine Trail. At many cellar doors, the hands that pour your glass of wine are the same that tended the vines and made the wine.   

Love rare and alternative wines?

While other wine regions are known for one or two signature grapes, the Granite Belt produces a unique range of alternative varietals. It's what makes our region one of the most exciting in Australia. This is why the Granite Belt’s wineries banded together to surprise and delight adventurous wine lovers with the Strange Bird™ Wine Trail.

What is a Strange Bird™?

A rare and alternative wine, grown and made on the Granite Belt! 

  • Ballandean Estate owner Angelo Puglisi planted his first Strange Bird™ variety Malbec in 1984.
  • A wine pioneer, Angelo’s vinicultural vision has delivered 13 new Strange Birds™ for the Granite Belt Geographical Indication.

To be called an “alternative”,  a variety must represent not more than 1% of the total bearing vines in Australia as defined by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.

Our Strange Bird™ varietals

Rare delights are flourishing at Ballandean Estate. We love our Strange Birds™! And so do wine judges

  • Ballandean Estate’s 2022 Fiano won gold at the Queensland Wine Awards in 2022.
  • Our Saperavi Strange Bird™ won gold at the 2018 International Saperavi Prize and at the 2017 Australian Alternative Varieties wine competition.
  • Ballandean Estate’s 2019 Nebbiolo was crowned Best Italian Red Varietal at the 2022 Queensland International Emerging Wine Variety Challenge
  • James Halliday Wine Companion awarded our 2021 Saperavi 92 points in 2022.

Friends of Ballandean

Your wine adventure starts here. We’ll share our stories, give you access to exclusive deals, reveal upcoming events and more.
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