Golden Grove Estate was initially a fruit growing farm established when Mario and Nita Costanzo settled the property in 1946 to supply table grapes to fruit markets. Wine grapes were first planted in 1975 and many varieties have been planted on the property since. 
Commercial wines were made by Sam Costanzo and eventually Sam handed the baton over to his son Ray.
Rays’ mother once told me that the only thing Ray ever wanted to do for a career was to make wine, so Ray studied hard and practiced harder and nurtured great alacrity in the art of wine making. Today Ray is one of the most talented wine makers on the Granite Belt consistently producing high quality wines.
I finished my last of Ray’s 2009 Tempranillo’s in 2018, it was still drinking very well. I have enjoyed Ray’s Tempranillo’s over the years, he began making the Tempranillo’s in a joven style a few years ago and they are beautifully crafted for Queensland weather and accompany food in a well matched marriage. Although I’ve yet to try one, I have read some very big raps on Ray’s 2018 joven Tempranillo which is made with the inclusion of 13% whole bunch.
Golden Grove Winery produces a large number of single varietal wines many of which have Mediterranean origins. Besides Tempranillo you will encounter Barbera, Durif, Mourvedre (often called Mataro in Australia), Nero D’Avola etc. You will even be able to purchase and enjoy Sangiovese if you are a wine club member. If you also drink white wines then perhaps acquaint yourself with Ray’s Vermentino as Golden Grove consistently produces one of the best examples of this variety in Australia.
A trip to the Golden Grove Winery cellar door is something all Granite Belt visitors who enjoy wine need to add to their bucket list. Here you can taste through a huge number of wines and converse with knowledgable people while trying to decide what your favourite Golden Grove wines are – it’s quite a task and likely to occupy you for awhile. If you are lucky you may even encounter Ray who strolls in on occasion but is often being ‘hands on’ in the winery and elsewhere.
Golden Grove also runs some events each year and most notable among these are dinners in their barrel area. Once such dinner is a degustation hosted by Ray and his brother Jason. Jason is a chef who spent an amount of time in Italy learning and assembling recipes and returning to Australia to delight us all with the results. He and Ray match the food and wine for these dinners which is something everyone really should experience at least once.
The Wines
Red Wines:
• Malbec | • Barbera | • Mourvedre | • Shiraz | • Durif | • Nero D’Avola | • Tempranillo (Joven style) | • Tranquillo Rosso (and easy drinking blend of Durif, Malbec, Nero & Barbera) | • Cabernet Merlot | • The Little White Box GSM
White Wines:
• Chardonnay | • Sauvignon Blanc | • Semillon | • Vermentino | • Tranquillo Bianco (a soft drinking blend of sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Chardonnay, Semillon, White Muscat
Others:
• Sparkling Vermentino | • Rosé Brose (dry style blend of Shiraz, Sangiovese, Grenache | • 2009 Vintage Fortified | • NV Marnita Muscat | • Muscadean
Details
Location: 337 Sundown Road, Ballandean 4382.
Hours: Open 6 days 9 to 4pm, closed on Wednesdays.
Call Golden Grove Estate 
0746841291
Golden Grove Estate Web Site
