Heritage Estate Winery has it origins in the purchase of a property at Cottonvale by Bryce and Paddy Kassulke in the late 1980’s. Vines, mainly white varieties, were planted on the property in 1987 and so the vineyard was established. The Winery and Cellar Door was subsequently opened in 1992. The considerable talents of John Handy joined the team as resident winemaker in 1995. In 2009 the old Winewood Vineyard, on Sundown Road Ballandean was purchased. This purchase allowed Heritage Estate to add the excellent fruit from 60 year shiraz vines to their products. A second cellar door was opened in 2004 towards the top end of Gallery Walk Mt. Tambourine – 119 Long Road. In 2013 a third cellar door was opened at Thulimbah because the Winery/Cellar Door is no longer on the main highway due to road changes. The cellar door at Thulimbah is a lovely experience, the building is a restored 100 year old church and Heritage Estate have included a cafe. In 2019 Bryce and Paddy sold the winery to the current owners Therese and Robert Fenwick. Bryce and Paddy maintain and active interest by running the Mt. Tambourine cellar door.
Left to right below: John Handy – winemaker; Therese and Rob – owners; Paddy and Bryce – former owners.
John Handy, the son of the original owner Paddy Kassulke is the wine maker at Heritage Estate. John has been making the wines at the estate for many years and remained as the wine maker when the property was purchased by Robert and Therese. He obtained a Environmental Science degree at Southern Cross University and then furthered his studies with a degree in Oenology at Charles Sturt University. Currently John is the chief wine maker and viticulturist at the estate. John has a preference to use wild yeasts; fruit driven wines of considerable power are a hallmark of his style. I recently tried the three wines below and they were all excellent and a testament to John’s skills.
Click on each image to read the relevant tasting note.
Left to right below: Inside Thulimbah Cellar Door; Outside Cottonvale Cellar Door; Merlot Grapes.
The Wines
Red Wines:
• Rosé – Cabernet Sauvignon | • Shiraz Vignoier | • Tempranillo – Single Vineyard | • Rabbit Fence Red – Shiraz/Merlot/Cabernet | • Club Red – a Sweet Muscat/Shiraz blend | • Sparkling Shiraz
White Wines:
• Reserve Chardonnay | • Pinot Gris | • Fiano | • Marsanne | • Sparkling – Chardonnay/Pinot | • Frizzante – Low alcohol, slightly sweet
Others:
• Moonshine Madness – Liqueur Port | • Bootleggers Tawny
2019 Vintage Wines Coming Soon
Red Wines:
• Petit Verdot | • Merlot | • Nero D’Avola | • Malbec
White Wines:
• Ansonica | • Vermentino | • Petit Blanc – a Frontignac/Savagnin blend with a light spritz, destined for September
Details
Cottonvale Winery and Cellar Door
Location: 747 Granite Belt Dr, Cottonvale QLD 4375.
Hours: Weekdays 10 – 4pm, Weekends 9 – 5pm.
Call Heritage Estate 
0746852197
Heritage Estate Web Site
Thulimbah Cellar Door & Cafe
Location: 9 Watson Rd, Thulimbah QLD 4376.
Hours: Everyday 10 – 4pm.
Call Us 0746852197
Mt. Tambourine Cellar Door
Location: 119 Long Road, Mt Tamborine Qld 4272.
Hours: Everyday 10 – 4pm.
Call Us 0746852197
