By Australia Post via their special wine delivery service. We are able to track the parcel along the way until it is delivered.
Generally, orders are posted from Riversands in St George the next day. Delivery takes aproximately 2-5 working days in Queensland, and 5-7 days to most other states.
Almost half of our wines are sold through the cellar; the balance is split between shows, retail and mail order.
Yes, most certainly! We can also include a message with your gift on your behalf.
Queensland $15/dozen
NSW, ACT, VIC & SA $18/dozen
Tas, WA, NT $30/dozen
$12 per pottery gift item & grape jam product.
The vines at Riversands range between 2 and 21 years of age. We also plant new varieties and replace vines as needed.
The date palms actually came from Eulo, near Cunnamulla. There used to be 181 date palms in the front block. The female palms produce the fruit, whereas the males don't play a major part of production, they're more for looks and pollination! Original ratio of males : females = 1-2 : 15.
Now, most of the date palms have been replaced with Menindee Seedless table grapes.
About 20 inches (500mm) per year.
Although the start of 2010 has been extremely wet!
Our casual staff employed to help with grape harvest and vine work are mostly backpackers from right around the world! We also employ locals and a few permanent staff.
Dylan Rhymer is our tallented wine maker. 2010 is Dylan's ninth vintage at Ballandean.
Ballandean Estate, near Stanthorpe Qld, contract processes our wine grapes. During vintage the freshly picked grapes are transported by refrigerated trucks to Ballandean. They are crushed, processed then placed into our vats or barrels. Ballandean Estate is owned by Angelo and Mary Puglissi and their families.
Current owners David & Alison Blacket purchased the vineyard in 1996. Grapes were first planted at Riversands in 1986.
Table grape varieties are Menindee, Flame Seedless and Midnight Beauty.
Wine grape varieties range from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, White and Black Muscat, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ruby Cabernet and Merlot.
A total of aprox 50 acres (20ha), comprising 38 acres of table grapes and 12 acres of wine grapes.
About 4000 dozen per year.
We crush about 50-55 tonnes of wine grapes per year, depending on the season. 2002 - 70 tonnes. 2003 - 40 tonnes. 2004 - 60 tonnes.
We use drip irrigation to water the vines. We have a water licence of 230 megalitres per annum (eg St George swimming pool holds about 1 megalitre).
In spring, the vines are watered every 2-3 days. In summer the vines are watered daily at approximately 5hr cycle. The drippers apply 2.5L per hour per dripper. The drippers are spaced at 40cm intervals. In summer this equates to about 60L of water per vine per day.
