For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the coast, venture inland into the hills and you’ll discover, hidden amidst the world heritage-listed rainforests of Tamborine Mountain, one of Queensland’s best wineries, Witches Falls Winery.
Established by Chief Winemaker Jon Heslop and wife Kim in 2004, Witches Falls Winery takes its name from the Witches Falls section of the Tamborine National Park, located just up the road.
When asked about his winery’s appeal, Jon says he believes it is a combination of several factors – their unique wines, the winery environment, the passionate and knowledgeable team, and (of course) the tasting experience.
Wine is an expression of both the region where it originates and the winemaker’s style
“We are extremely lucky to have access to an abundance of fresh fruit harvested from the Granite Belt, Queensland’s premier wine growing region.”
Considered a cool climate region by world viticultural standards, the Granite Belt on Queensland’s southern border has similar viticultural conditions to the Rhone region of France.
Sitting at 700-1200 metres above sea level, it’s also one of Australia’s highest wine-producing regions and perfectly suited to growing grapes.
Witches Falls Winery produces three distinctive collections of wines: Provenance, Wild Ferment and Prophecy, each with their own distinct character attributed to the different styles and practices of both viticulture and winemaking.
From crushing the grapes right through to bottling and labelling, every step of the winemaking process is carried out on-site at the Tamborine Mountain winery and meticulously monitored from grape to glass.
As one of the pioneers in the area, we are best known for our Wild Ferment wines which use no commercial yeast, instead, we rely on the indigenous yeast present on the grape skins and in the winery to facilitate the fermentation process
“All the wines in this collection, whether white or red, are matured in oak adding to their structure and complexity.
“We first experimented with Wild Ferments using the chardonnay variety and our Wild Ferment Chardonnay is now recognised as our signature wine.
“Due to its success, we’ve added over 11 different varieties to the Wild Ferment collection.”
Alongside the more familiar varieties of Chardonnay and Shiraz, Witches Falls Winery also produce a number of alternate varieties including Arinto, Verdelho and Vermentino in their whites and Nero d’Avola, Negroamaro, Touriga and Saperavi in their reds – offering a great opportunity for guests to try a variety they may not have experienced before.
For the designated drivers amongst us, the winery has just released Bird Dog, a brand-new collection of alcohol-removed wines which provide everything you want in your evening glass, minus the hangover! The collection includes a Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, and all three wines are available for tasting at the Tamborine Mountain cellar door.
“All of our wines are produced under environmentally sustainable processes, and nothing goes to waste, as we recycle all our materials including the leftover grape skins and stems which are turned into compost for a local farm,” he says.
Jon’s passion and involvement in the wine industry stems back to 1995. After relocating his family to South Australia’s Barossa Valley, he began working as a cellar hand whilst studying Oenology (the science of wine and winemaking) part-time, before quickly progressing to a winemaker’s position in the Hunter Valley.
It was his strong desire to produce unique wines combined with his belief in the incredible potential of Queensland’s Granite Belt as a wine producing region that eventually led Jon to create Witches Falls Winery, which opened its doors in August 2004.
“We are thankful our business continues to grow and develop with each year, as does our wonderful crew, where every member brings something unique and valuable to the table,” says Jon.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard to create a product made for enjoyment, and we believe our wines have a certain personality which attracts people – some are big and bold, some are delicate and sophisticated, and some are spicy and exotic.”
The Witches Falls Winery cellar door is designed to immerse guests in the natural splendour of the environment, with views overlooking the beautiful gardens and estate vineyard creating the perfect backdrop to enjoy a wine tasting experience.
Guests can sample a variety of wines with a personal tasting host guiding them through every pour.
There’s also a wine selection of locally produced gourmet cheeses, pâté, relishes, olives and other morsels from which you can build a grazing platter to suit your appetite and accompany your tasting.
“The goal of pairing should be to elevate both the wine and food to a new level,” says Jon.
“We think the best thing to do is look at the personality and characteristics of both the dish and the wine and endeavour to choose a match that brings out the best in both.”
Witches Falls Winery is open seven days a week from 10am and bookings are essential, especially on weekends. The venue is also pet friendly, so feel free to bring along your fur babies, as long as they are social and on a lead.
Website: https://witchesfalls.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/witchesfallswinery/
