Australia, Brisbane, Sirromet Winery

Queensland has a small but growing wine industry. Although the climate represents a challenge for viticulturists, the state appears to show promise, particularly for red wines. There are currently 170 wineries in ten wine producing regions growing grapes on 1,500 hectares (approximately 3,700 acres)

The state of Queensland itself is a designated wine zone. Within the state there are two official regions, the Granite Belt covering 790 hectares or approximately 2,000 acres and South Burnett with 420 hectares or approximately 1,000 acres under grape cultivation. The Granite Belt is approximately three hours south west of Brisbane in the mountains on the border between Queensland and New South Wales, South Burnett is two hours north west of Brisbane on the rolling hills of the Great Dividing Range. There are several other smaller growing areas that produce unique wines.

Sirromet Winery is on 560 acres on Mount Cotton just a short drive from Brisbane's Central Business District. The winery buildings, a restaurant and tasting room sit on top of Mount Cotton surrounded by grape vines. Moreton Bay and the sand ridges of North Stradbroke Island can be seen in the distance. The grapes grown on Mount Cotton are used exclusively for producing fortified wines, the climate is not suitable for grape varietals used to produce table wines. The grapes for their award winning red, white and sparkling wines are produced at the Sirromet owned Seven Seas and St Jude's vineyards in the Granite Belt.

This is a link to the winery web site. On the site there is more information on Club Sirromet. Membership in the club entitles the holder to 15% discount on wine purchases and at the restaurant, but requires one to purchase a case of wine per quarter. There is also more information on the restaurant, Luraleen's recently voted 'Australia's Best Restaurant in a Winery' The restaurant was fully booked on our visit to the winery so we were unable to sample the food.
http://www.sirromet.com/index.html

We tasted fifteen different wines and though the memory is a little bit fuzzy, the scribbled notes indicate that the 2005 Seven Seas Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot, produced from grapes grown in the Granite Belt, was enjoyable. It was light and fresh on the nose and fresh and clean on the palate with hints of strawberry and apple, retails for $25 at the winery. Jacquelynn liked the 2006 820 Above Rose, also produced from Granite Belt grapes, this was a little flowery on the nose for me, and the palate followed the nose with hints of strawberry and rose but little residual sweetness. $15 at the winery. My favorite was the 2005 Seven Seas Cabernet, which had a rich chocolate and cassis nose and lovely firm fruit flavors and soft tannins on the palate. An intense, rich red wine that will go perfectly with the steak on the barbie we will have tomorrow. $25 at the winery.

After the tour and the tasting we sat outside and enjoyed a shrimp sandwich and a very nice cheese plate for an early afternoon lunch. I enjoyed a glass of cabernet with the cheese, then Jacquelynn, Chloe and I napped in the car while Colin, our designated driver, piloted us home safely.