The Sunshine State is stamping its mark on the Australian wine industry and proving there is more to enjoy beyond its iconic beaches, with the launch, on Tuesday, 24 November, of Queensland’s first officially recognised wine journey, The Vine and Shine Trail.
The centrepiece of an overarching ‘Venture In’ campaign, which encourages visitors to venture beyond the Queensland coastline, the self-guided trail connects more than 70 wineries across the state, encouraging domestic and international visitors alike to journey inland and explore emerging varietals that only Queensland has to offer.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Export and Regional Wine Support Package and the Queensland Government, the initiative has been spearheaded by the Queensland Wine Industry Association (QWIA) with support from Wine Australia to support wine tourism development in Queensland.
QWIA President, Mike Hayes, said the trail provides an unrivalled opportunity to showcase Queensland’s mature wine industry and places the state’s wine producers firmly on the map of Australia’s ‘must-visit’ wine regions.
“Queensland’s wineries, wine makers, and viticulturists are redefining vineyards and varietals to meet our state’s unique climate conditions, helping us become known internationally for our emerging varieties and ‘vines of the future’,” says Mr Hayes.
“The idea of the Vine and Shine Trail has been many years in the making. We now have a terrific platform to promote our unique tastes to the world, brought to life thanks to the International Wine Strategy for Queensland grant.
“We’re proud that, after a 160-year-long journey, Queensland wine has truly come of age and is finally being taken seriously on both a national and international level. We look forward to welcoming increased numbers of visitors to our regions as a result of the launch of this trail. Our wines have been a best kept secret for too long. It’s time for everyone to get a taste of excellence, right here in Queensland.”
The launch of the trail comes at the perfect time, as Queenslanders look to explore their own backyard during the Summer holidays and discussions of some international travel restrictions continue to look more positive for 2021.
Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, said, “this is a fantastic initiative for Queensland as it will help our visitors discover the unique wine regions and cellar door experiences on offer right here.”
“They’ll showcase our wineries, the majority of which are small family-owned businesses, and help boost visitors to the region, encouraging them to stay longer and spend more.
“This is the kind of creative thinking that works in perfectly with our economic plan for recovery as we continue to deal with the pandemic.”
CEO of Wine Australia, Andreas Clark, says he believes visitors will be impressed by the calibre of wines on offer as they explore the Vine and Shine Trail.
“The trail is an exciting development for the Queensland wine sector as it leverages the state’s popularity as a tourism destination to promote its exceptional wine, food and tourism experiences.”
“I look forward to seeing local wine businesses and tourists alike embrace this initiative, which promotes wine tourism and grows the sector’s contribution to the economy”.
The Vine and Shine Trail is a self-guided journey encompassing more than 70 unique vineyards and cellar doors across Queensland. To find out more about the trail please visit vineandshinetrail.com.au.
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