Two prominent Granite Belt wineries have been recognised in the prestigious Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024.
Ballandean Estate and Ridgemill Estate have both earned accolades for their exceptional contributions to the tourism and wine industries, placing them among the top 10 percent of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.
Ballandean Estate, Queensland’s oldest family-run winery, has been honoured with its third consecutive Travellers’ Choice Award. This recognition highlights the winery’s consistent delivery of memorable cellar door experiences and its commitment to excellence. The Puglisi family, which has been at the forefront of Queensland’s wine industry for nearly a century, continues to innovate and inspire.
“Our family has been at the forefront of developing and promoting the Queensland wine industry for almost 100 years. And we are thrilled to take out this hat trick with Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. Such an honour!” said fourth-generation vigneron Leeanne Puglisi-Gangemi.
Ballandean Estate’s reputation for innovation is evident in their recent ventures, including the introduction of the Granite Belt’s first wine lounge, the Barreloom, and a new minimal intervention wine series by young winemaker Boxi Zhen. The winery is set to release fresh new wine styles, further solidifying its position as a pioneer in the Granite Belt region.
“We’d like to thank our 60,000-plus visitors who came through our cellar door over the year, and especially those who took the time to leave a review. We are deeply grateful to our cellar door dream team, the people that bring their passion for wine to work and share it every day,” Ms Puglisi-Gangemi said.
Ridgemill estate has also been honoured with its first Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for its ’Winery and Cellar Door’ listing. Known for its contemporary, funky-styled cellar door, friendly goats, and pet-friendly atmosphere, ridgemill estate has made a significant impact on its visitors.
“We are all feeling incredibly proud and grateful right now,“ said Ridgemill owner Michelle Feenan.
“This award is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team and reaffirms our commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality and memorable experiences.“
Ridgemill Estate’s dedication to enhancing the guest experience has paid off, reflecting their commitment to providing exceptional service. The winery invites both new and returning guests to enjoy wine tastings, explore the vineyard, attend Friday night soirees, or elevate their wine knowledge through specialist tasting adventures.
As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards are based on genuine feedback from visitors who have left reviews over a 12-month period. This award is a valuable and trustworthy designation, recognising businesses that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.
The chief growth officer at Tripadvisor, John Boris congratulated the wineries.
“Travellers’ Choice honours businesses that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence. This means you have made such a memorable impact on your visitors that many of them took the time to go online and leave a great review about their experience,” Mr Boris said.
“People rely on Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice seal to help them navigate the myriad of things to see, eat and do across the globe.
“We hope this recognition continues to drive business to you in 2024 and beyond.”
