If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that our travel plans are probably best made close to home for now, and that wine is essential.
Luckily, the Queensland Tourism industry has cottoned on to this. As well as encouraging us to explore our stunning state, they want us to show our wine regions some love.
While we’ve long been told that Queensland is “Good to Go”, we shouldn’t forget to “Venture In.”
Tourism chiefs want to remind us – and any lucky visitors – that the Sunshine State has more to offer than just our gorgeous coast and we should make time to travel inland. Which is, fortunately, home to our unique vineyards.
The “Vine and Shine” wine map will help you navigate more than 70 wineries across the state in a self-guided trail. That means when you take part you can visit and taste as much, or as little, of our wineries offerings as you like.
As well as familiar vineyards like Sirromet, there are dozens of family-owned and emerging wineries dotted across the state, waiting to delight our palates.
Queensland Wine Industry Association President, Mike Hayes, says he hopes the trail will put Queensland’s wine producers firmly on the map.
“Queensland wine has truly come of age and is finally being taken seriously on both a national and international level,” he says. “Our wines have been a best kept secret for too long. It’s time for everyone to get a taste of excellence, right here in Queensland.”
If you’ve never been wine tasting close to home you might be surprised to find there are wineries everywhere.
As well as producers on the Sunshine coast and in Greater Brisbane, vineyards on the Vine and Shine trail can be found in the Granite Belt, Scenic Rim, Gold Coast Hinterland, South Burnett, Wide Bay and the Darling Downs.
The fact they’re close to home isn’t the only enticing element either. Our climate means these vineyards are growing wine varietals found nowhere else in Australia And, let’s not forget, that by visiting these producers you will help our state get back on it’s feet.
Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, says, “this is the kind of creative thinking that works in perfectly with our economic plan for recovery as we continue to deal with the pandemic.”
So if you want to do your bit check out the Vine and Shine self-guided journey at vineandshinetrail.com.au.
After 20 years in London, Alex is now based in Brisbane where she works as a journalist and media consultant. As well as acting as a spokesperson for RSPCA Queensland, Alex now leads clients through media training preparing them for their time in front of the camera and helping them tell their stories through the media.
