Fledgling winery takes gold

and trophy in its first vintage

A FLEDGLING winery, Bents Road Winery, has taken a gold medal and trophy for the best red wine in its class in the recent Queensland Agricultural Society of Queensland Wine Show and Mediterranean Challenge in Toowoomba.

The winery, in Bent’s Road, Ballandean, is operated by Robert Richter and Glen Robert, both of whom are science graduates.

Glen extended his science degree to be a qualified winemaker through Charles Sturt University at Wagga and has had work experience with wineries in Australia, USA and South Africa.

In its first commercial vintage, Bent’s Road Winery, received its trophy and gold medal for its 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz in the Queensland only red non-Mediterranean varieties class.

The grapes were grown at a high altitude of 800 metres above sea level, in the cool Granite Belt (G.I.) region of Queensland.

Glen said the hand picked grapes were slowly fermented with temperature control and then gently basket pressed.

“The wine matured for 14 months in a combination of new and used French oak barrels and its big fruit flavour and tight tannins will age well under its Stelvin closure,” he said.

Also in the first vintage, Bent’s Road Winery’s 2005 Shiraz collected a bronze medal at the 2006 Small Winemakers’ Festival.

The 40 ha property on the Severn River now carries 4,500 vines, 350 olive trees and a winery.

Glen said the Granite Belt had a long history with quality

grape growing.

"People don't realise the Ballandean area is one of the coldest regions in which to grow grapes in Australia.”

“The cool summers allow for the growing of premium wine grapes, as slow steady ripening allows deep and complex flavours to develop.

“During winter I'm often pruning in the mornings when it is minus three degrees and there is a thick frost on the vines.

“It doesn't take much imagination to make believe I'm in Europe some where.”

Glen said thanks to the hard work of old established family wine businesses such as Ballandean Estate and relative new comers like Sirromet, whose extensive vineyards are located in Ballandean, the Queensland wine industry had developed a reputation for quality.

“The Queensland wine industry has an exciting future and more and more people are discovering Queensland wines and enjoying what they find,” he said.