The man behind one of Australian wine's '5 Red-Star stories', Witches Falls' Jon Heslop, believes the Granite Belt is starting to achieve the recognition it deserves as a premium wine growing region.
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Heslop started Witches Falls Winery 15 years ago. Based at Mt Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland but sourcing all of its grapes from the Granite Belt region, Witches Falls has achieved incredible growth in recent years and is now widely considered one of Australia's top craft wine labels.
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Heslop says part of his brand's success is a growing appreciation of the Granite Belt, both nationally and internationally, as a producer of premium quality grapes.
"For too long the Granite Belt has been incredibly underrated as a wine region. However, especially over the past decade, the proof is there for everyone to see.
"The Granite Belt is the source of truly international class wines and slowly that recognition is seeping through".
Heslop's award-winning winery has been awarded the significant '5 Red-Star' status in the industry bible's Halliday Wine Companion for the past four years. It sources all its grapes from the Granite Belt, up to 200 tonnes a year.
In recent years Witches Falls has experienced year-on-year growth domestically and an expanding international profile.
"There has been a lot more growth in the last few years, which is pretty exciting because it's a very competitive market," Heslop said.
Despite that growth Witches Falls maintains a strong local ethos, with a focus on south-east Queensland and northern NSW.
An example of this focus is the winery's status as official wine supplier for the upcoming Primex primary industries expo at Casino in northern NSW on May 16-18. Primex attracts numerous exhibitors and plenty of visitors from the Granite Belt and northern NSW each year.
"The region, from Casino north through Tenterfield, Ballandean and Stanthorpe is very receptive to our wines," Heslop said.
"Also, we have always been about supporting local and particularly through this area. Primex gives us the opportunity to offer local liquor outlets something different to what people might find at the major brand outlets.
"These smaller businesses are finding it pretty hard to be competitive, so by us supporting them, they have a unique product that can't be found at a Coles or Woolworths liquor outlet.
"Also, our presence at Primex certainly assists our profile with the many restaurants and bars that are popping up in Northern NSW and through the Granite Belt."
Heslop said Witches Falls would be showcasing a couple of its new release reds as well as its Wild Ferment range at Primex.
"We are about local, and people are embracing local again. Just look at the growth in locally-made whiskeys, gins and craft beers.
"People love the story behind their product. They like to know the how, where and why.
"They like a bit of ownership with it. It gives them some bragging rights when they have a unique beverage that their mates haven't seen. People like to hear that story and why it is being done."
Norco Primex Field Days director Bruce Wright said he was rapt to have a wine label of Witches Falls' status associated with Primex.
"It is an example of the wide appeal of Primex," he said.
"This is an event that has primary industries at its core, so there will be plenty here across the three days for the grape grower from the Granite Belt. But there will also be plenty to see and do for the entire family.
"We anticipate having more than 370 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors for our 35th Primex. We have also instigated a Plan, Play and Stay feature, which urges visitors to not only come to Primex, but stay a couple of days and enjoy the many tourist highlights of this region."
For more information on Primex go to www.primex.net.au.