7 of the Best Dog-Friendly Wineries in the Granite Belt

Queensland’s Granite Belt wine region is very dog-friendly! There are plenty of cellar doors where dogs are welcome to join you, often inside the cellar door. After two visits to the Granite Belt where I’ve visited multiple wineries, these are my top picks for dog-friendly wineries. Make a booking for a tasting at some of these cellar doors…

About the Strange Birds Wines

While wine tasting in the Granite Belt wine region, you’ll look come across some varieties of wine that aren’t commonly grown in Australia. In fact, some of the vineyards in the region may be the only producer of that wine at all.

These alternative, or emerging, wine varieties have now been dubbed the Strange Birds – specifically those grapes grown on the Granite Belt that represent less than 1% of Australia’s vines. Use the Strange Birds guide to map a tasting route across the region, finding out which wineries produce which of the over 50 alternative wines listed.

Dog-Friendly Stanthorpe — Checking out a vineyard with Schnitzel

#1 Summit Estate

On my first visit to the Granite Belt, the first winery that we visited was Summit Estate, located about 10 minutes north of Stanthorpe. There’s a sign at the door letting you known that they’re “fur baby friendly” and to bring them in!

Summit Estate Vineyard — Summit Estate is a fantastic cellar door that permits dogs inside

We enjoyed a tasting of many of their white, rose and red wines, although sadly the sparkling was out of stock on the day. There’s a small charge for wine tasting, which is waived in return for purchasing a bottle. In addition to opening for guided tastings from Friday to Monday, they often stay open late on Friday and Saturday evenings for sunset sessions next to the vines.

Summit Estate Interior — Inside the Summit Estate cellar door

#2 Balancing Heart Vineyard

The Balancing Heart Vineyard is located 25 minutes south of Stanthorpe, close to the edge of the Girraween National Park. Chief winemaker Mike Hayes loves exploring obscure varieties and focusing on sustainability.

You can learn more about both of these facets on a self-guided walk among the vineyard, where you will also spot the “balancing heart” rock that gives the vineyard its name. Dogs are welcome to join – allow about 15 minutes at a leisurely pace and perhaps bring along a glass of wine.

Back at the cellar door, dogs are welcome both inside and outside, with a dog water bowl supplied next to the drinking water for humans. Just keep your dogs leashed and away from the farmyard animals next to the dam! You may also meet the resident dogs.

Outside Balancing Heart — The spacious outdoor area at Balancing Heart

The wines at Balancing Heart are lighter in style and ideally suited for accompanying food. Not surprisingly, they have their own onsite kitchen, with lunch served daily and dinner on selected nights, including wood-fired pizzas. Wine tasting is free of charge, with the option to join Mike for a masterclass.

#3 Ridgemill Estate

Recently celebrating their 20th anniversary, Ridgemill Estate is a very dog-friendly winery in the Granite Belt. You’ll likely be greeted by resident wine dog Angel and given the option to join their wine club, which is suitably named the Top Dogs Wine Club.

Ridgemill Estate Outside Tables — The outside area at Ridgemill Estate

Choose between tasting inside or at one of their outdoor tables, with the cellar door open daily. There’s an extensive range of wines on offer to select between, including many Spanish varietals. One of the most unusual wines that I tasted was called “Stray Dog” – a blend of both shiraz and chardonnay.

It’s possible to stay onside at Ridgemill Estate with your dog. Enquire about their studio cabins overlooking the vines or their Winery Escape House that’s fully fenced.

#4 Symphony Hill Wines

During my most recent visit to the Granite Belt, one of the highlights was a visit to Symphony Hill Wines, who are the exclusive wine sponsor for the Queensland Ballet. Dogs are welcome to join you both inside and at the outdoor tables at the cellar door (especially if Hamish is serving!) You may also meet the assistant winemaker dog, Nala.

Wine Tasting at Symphony Hills — Wine tasting with Hamish inside the cellar door

Symphony Hill creates a diverse range of wines, working both with their own vines and growers right across Australia. One of their most distinctive wines are the amphora wines, aged in traditional large terra cotta vats, known as amphora. An additional tasting fee applies. I also highly rated their Gewürztraminer and Albariño wines. The cellar door is open daily.

Symphony Hills Amphora Wines — The amphora wines at Symphony Hill Wines

#5 Dear Vincent Wines

One of the newest cellar doors in the region, the wines at Dear Vincent are equally fresh and lively, or as owner Adam describes some of them, “fun hipster juice”. Two Pet Nats are amongst the wines produced (a natural style of sparkling), as well as one orange wine. I particularly enjoyed their verdelho called “Sunshine”, perfect for the sunny lunchtime when I visited.

Dear Vincent Cellar Door — The rustic cellar door at Dear Vincent

Dogs are warmly welcome to join at their rustic cellar door, largely open to the elements, or for a tasting underneath the trees. Time your visit for lunchtime between Thursday and Sunday when a fine dining food truck operates onsite. The food truck will be rotated every three months – the next incarnation will be Asian fusion.

#6 Serrena Que Estate

Another relatively new winery in the Granite Belt region is Serrena Que, which only opened in 2023. This winery is also one of the few in the region helmed by a female winemaker, Cindy Longman.

This winery also stands out for being the highest in the Granite Belt and all of Queensland, at an altitude of above 1000m above sea level. That means their grapes ripen slower and later, and are picked later than at other vineyards.

Wine Tasting at Serrena Que — Tasting Sparkling Rose inside the Serrena Que cellar door

One of the highlights of my tasting at the cellar door was the Sparkling Rose, a blend of cortese and mencia. Don’t also miss tasting their Gargenega white wine, while they are the only vineyard growing and producing the red varietal Matutura Tinta in all of Australia. Dogs are welcome to join you, with the cellar door open from Friday to Sunday.

#7 Hidden Creek Winery

During my first visit to the Granite Belt, I also enjoyed our visit to Hidden Creek Winery and Cafe. Visits are currently only by appointment at this cellar door, which is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Schnitzel was welcome to join us for a tasting on the green lawn overlooking the dam.

At the time of our visit, they offered a tasting of four of their wines, your own choice, for a small charge. Enquire whether it’s still possible to order a grazing platter or a picnic basket to be enjoyed on the property, such as on the other side of the dam or amongst the vineyard.

Hidden Creek Wine Flight — A wine tasting on the lawn at Hidden Creek Winery

More Dog-Friendly Wineries

There are plenty more wineries in the Granite Belt region that also welcome dogs. Check out this listing from the local tourism board, which details which wineries allow dogs inside or outside. Or ask your accommodation for recommendations.

Note: The author was a guest of Granite Belt Wine & Tourism on her second visit to the region.

About the Author

Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.