Our Region

Jester Hill Wines is located only 10 minutes from Stanthorpe, in the beautiful Granite Belt region. The Granite Belt is one of Australia’s highest altitude wine regions and with a climate similar to France’s Rhone Valley it produces elegant cool-climate wines.

The lowest point is 700m above sea level, with peaks at 1,200m. With many of the wineries at around 1,000 metres elevation, the Granite Belt is almost 900 metres higher than Bordeaux in France or the Napa Valley in the USA.

Stanthorpe is Queensland’s coolest town and at these cool high altitudes Granite Belt grapes enjoy a longer growing season.

Cool nights year round, spring frosts, sub-zero winter nights and low humidity all contribute to outstanding growing conditions.

The result is premium cool climate wine that are medium-bodied, fresh and focused, with refined tannins, impressive flavour intensity and moderate alcohol levels. With grapes ripening slowly, we achieve steady tannin development and flavour accumulation.

Growing season temperatures are comparable to Clare Valley, the northern Rhone (Hermitage and Cote Rotie) and south west France including Bordeaux.

SOIL

Soils consist of decomposed granite, are generally well drained and naturally acidic making them ideal for wine production similar to those of the Hermitage region in France which is the home of the Shiraz (or Syrah) grape.

ALTITUDE

The Granite Belt is one of Australia’s highest altitude wine regions and with a climate similar to France’s Rhone Valley we produce elegant cool-climate wines. Our lowest point is 700m above sea level, with peaks at 1,200m. With many of the wineries at around 1000 metres elevation, the Granite Belt is almost 900 metres higher than Bordeaux in France or the Napa Valley in the USA.

CLIMATE

Stanthorpe is Queensland’s coolest town and at these cool high altitudes Granite Belt grapes enjoy a longer growing season. Cool nights year round, spring frosts, sub-zero winter nights and low humidity all contribute to outstanding growing conditions.

GRAPE

While other wine regions are known for one or two signature grapes, here on the Granite Belt it’s our ‘non-signature’ that defines us. We have a reputation as one of Australia’s top producers of alternative variety wines. Strange Birds is what we call our many alternative (or emerging) wine varieties. View the Strange Bird Wine Guide.