A taste of Etna’s legacy: Volcanic wines at Barone di Villagrande
Nestled on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, where ancient vines cling to volcanic soil and clouds dance with smoke from the crater above, you will find one of the oldest vineyards in the volcanic area of Sicily - Barone di Villagrande.
The laid back arrival at Barone di Villagrande
This historic winery is a family-run estate with centuries of winemaking tradition. The vineyard was officially founded in 1727 when the current owner’s ancestor, Don Carmelo Nicolosi was given the title of Baron of Villagrande. The vineyards have been cultivated by the same family ever since.
After arriving through the winding roads up the mountain, ash piled up where it has floated down from the famous volcano above, the views at Barone di Villagrande take your breath away. You can see the Ionian Sea shimmering in the distance, framed by the dark, fertile slopes of Etna. The vineyards cascade down the hillsides, orderly yet wild.
Acres of vines
There are two options to taste wine here and in typical Sicilian style, neither of them are fast!
You can indulge in a full four-course lunch with your tastings, or as we did, opt for finger foods to match the wines.
Both are guided tastings starting with a visit to the ancient cellars on the estate and include the opportunity to try the dishes of the Etnean kitchen paired with the wines. Menus are entirely seasonal, but they do cater to dietaries.
Tasty morsels
Our host, charming and unhurried, began the tasting with a full glass of the Salina Bianco and left us to enjoy it. We sipped slowly, enjoying sitting in the warm outdoors and the light breeze on a hot summer day.
The wines that followed were the Etna Bianco (my favourite), the Etna Rosso, made from Nerello Mascalese. Pale garnet in color, it looked almost too delicate for its earthy aroma.
Enjoying the Etna Bianco
The finish we had a sweet wine, the Malvasia which matched our snacks perfectly.
All in all we spent at least two hours enjoying one of the oldest vineyards on an active (very active) volcano. We spent a little time in the shop on our way out, buying a couple of bottles of the Etna Bianco and some olive oil to enjoy on our travels.
Little pieces of history everywhere
Barone di Villagrande isn’t just a winery. It’s a quiet slice of paradise where history and love of good food and wine come together. It’s worth a visit.
If you wanted to linger a little longer, you can stay right here on the estate – there is even and outdoor pool overlooking the mountain vines.
Dog-friendly vineyards of Stanthorpe
In the middle of winter (or any time of year really…), does anything beat a high-altitude winery tour to warm your insides?
The Granite Belt – or Stanthorpe specifically – is one of the few wine regions in Queensland but it sure packs a punch. Even better, there are a load of vineyards that will welcome both you and your pup!
We tasted a lot of wine on our recent visit when we stayed at Merlot Mountain Retreat, but the best ones were where we could experience it together with our furry friend.
Ridgemill Estate
This was our first stop on arrival – just around the corner from our accommodation and with a wine club called Top Dogs, you just know these guys are dog-friendly!
Some more interested in wine tasting than others…
The vineyard at Ridgemill itself is amongst the highest altitude wineries in Australia at some 840 metres above sea level so we were so happy to be allowed inside to do our wine tasting with Falcor as the outside was definitely getting cold as the sun was setting.
Onto what we came here for – the wine!
Along with some old Aussie faithful varieties, we tasted a Saperavi that we just had to bring home with us – one glass was not enough.
Don’t forget to say hi to the very friendly goats that will race up to the feeding station near the cellar door!
Falcor meeting th friendly goats.
If you want to stay longer here, you can. Ridgemill has eight onsite cabins that are dog friendly and a pet-friendly 3-bedroom house for families as well.
Summit Estate
This was by far my favourite vineyard on this trip.
There’s a sign at the door at Summit Estate letting you know that they’re ‘fur baby friendly’ and to bring them in, AND a sign with dairy-free cheese tastings – perfection.
All made on-site!
Add to this, the staff here could not be friendlier and will want photos of your dog at the vineyard – even down to the chat we had with the guy trimming the vines out the back!
Welcome inside at Summit Estate!
There’s a $7.50 charge of wine tasting, which is waived in return for purchasing a bottle and we certainly nabbed a couple – along with some of the cashew-based cheese.
On Friday and Saturday nights, the estate stays open to let visitors enjoy the incredible sunsets over the vines. After our tasting, we sat our here and let Falcor sniff around while I warmed up with a mulled wine.
Falcor posing.
Balancing Heart Vineyard
Think wine tasting with sunset views and woodfired oven pizzas and there you have Balancing Heart Vineyard.
The cellar door is also the starting point for a stroll through the vines – dog in tow - taking in breathtaking views of the local area and, of course, the famous rock that gives the winery its name.
Dogs are welcome inside the cellar door but it was a little too busy in the small space for us so we spent the most of our time out on the verandah. There are picnic tables under the trees outside for those who want space and fresh air.
It is important to note that there are two (very) friendly German Shepherds on site so your dog needs to be ok with that. They were a bit too into playing for our fur baby at times.
There are seven wines on offer, and we tasted them all.
As the sun sets, the air cools down but these guys have you covered with outdoor heaters and blankets to borrow. The perfect end to a long day of tastings.
You will need to make sure you book to get a spot with the sunset dinners only running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
That is a just a small taste of the vineyards in the area – and there are also more dog friendly options like Hidden Creek Winery and Café, Jester Hill Wines and Symphony Hill Wines.
Something you will see and hear a lot as you visit the wineries of the region is Strangebirds. This is marketing term that was developed around ten years ago, it’s now become synonymous with the alternative varieties grown in the Granite Belt. To be called a Strangebird there must be less than 1% produced in Australia. It does mean you get to taste varietals you will never see in your average bottle shop!
If beer is more your speed, you can hang out at the Granite Belt Brewery. Dogs on a lead are allowed on the veranda of the brewery and restaurant – perfect for lunch or dinner.
Book a Stanthorpe stay of your very own here or book in for a full day private wine tour including lunch if you don’t feel like driving!
A beer tasting paddle at Granite Belt Brewery.
Wine tasting at Dingo Creek Vineyard
Wine among the vines, a grazing platter and space for my dog? Sign me up!
The cellar door at Dingo Creek Vineyard in the Noosa Hinterland offers just that – and all with a picturesque view of Mount Cooroora.
The tasting here isn’t free but for $20, you get to try six wines and take the glass home as a souvenir as well.
Tasting experts and a photographer
The vineyard stocks 14 different wines and the team there are knowledgeable and very involved in your tasting – no being left to your own devices here.
Aiden loved the Chardonnay but the star of the show for me was the Black Cockatoo Sparkling Shiraz. Some bottles of that definitely made their way into the car to be enjoyed again.
Enjoying an extra glass of the sparkling shiraz.
In addition to wine, these guys are also putting out tasty fortified drinks and we scored a bottle of their delicious port to take home.
There isn’t a full kitchen here, but we enjoyed a full glass of wine and a robust grazing platter out in the sunshine with Falcor by our side – the end of a fantastic day out and about.
A grazing platter fit for a King!
The grazing platter was brimming with salami, prosciutto, ham, cheeses, vegetables, fresh bread, spreads and even chicken wings!
The location is divine, you really feel like you are away from it all and the rustic deck doesn’t intrude on the natural location at all. I can imagine it looks amazing all lit up after dark.
The open deck catches a nice breeze on a warm day.
To ensure you nab a spot (and don’t drive all the way without tasting the wine), make sure you book in advance. I know we will be when we visit again to restock the cellar…
Grounded Woombye
There are cute coffee shops all over the Sunshine Coast but we found one that we will be visiting on repeat in a very unassuming spot.
The adorable tiny café, Grounded, is found in Woombye, a small township just past the Big Pineapple.
This place not only looks cute, it delivers on the coffee front too.
You can’t miss Grounded in Woombye with its fresh white paint job and outdoor seating area complete with straw umbrellas and some water bowls around for your four-legged friends. There are a couple of tables inside should the weather make you want to hide.
On the all-day menu you’ll get everything from an old-fashioned burger to a Japanese pancakes. Sit on the street out front and admire the slow-paced countryside. You might even spot a few horses casually strolling by.
For those that need it, there are dairy-free and gluten-free options, and a kid’s menu too.
What caught my eye was the incredible – and we mean incredible – array of baked goods on display inside as well. If it could have managed it after devouring the black rice porridge for breakfast, one of those bee sting pastries or a doughnut pretzel would be in my belly right now.
Luckily for me, Woombye is now my local and I have been back for a rich coffee on the way to work a couple of times.
Grounded Woombye is petite so you wouldn’t want to come with a massive group of friends but its size is part of its appeal.
Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, this is a great, out of the way spot to check out. They also do regular special nights with live music if you keep and eye out!
Craft Beer & Cider Festival
When I heard that the Sunny Coast was getting a new beer festival I was pretty happy. Then I heard that it was going to be ON my birthday and my excitement levels really peaked – what could be more perfect?
The Sunshine Coast has a slew of craft breweries and this festival gave me a chance to sample them all – plus a few more from around the country – in one spot.
Despite a rainy forecast, the Saturday dawned hot and sunny (possibly next time a little more shade might be required…it is HOT in Queensland at the end of November peeps!)
Gates opened at 1pm and the day promised more than 160 beers and ciders from Australia and New Zealand available for tasting and with our tiny sample pots, I am sure I made a fair dent in that number!
Local brewers represented included Eumundi Brewery, Your Mates, Moffat Beach Brewing, Bargara, Brouhaha and Buderim Ginger.
You didn’t have to worry about cash on the day which was nice. Your entry wristband could be loaded with whatever money you wanted to spend and you just scanned it at the stands around the stadium for your food and drinks. No chance of losing it and at the end of the event (which finished up at a very respectable 9pm) any unused funds on your band could be refunded to you.
If the sample pot wasn’t quite big enough for you, or you found a tipple that really took your fancy, you could purchase larger drink sizes as well.
There really was a beer, or cider, or ginger beer, for everyone. I tried everything from heavy, malty flavours to lager-style, easy drinking brews and I probably missed a few as well. A girl can only drink so much!
In addition to the many drinks on offer, there were plenty of food trucks (think mexican, donuts and kebabs!), giant TV screens (for the cricket fans…) and live music.
There was room to set up your own picnic rug on the grass or if you were lucky, grab a free hay bale to rest your weary beer-drinking feet.
This was pitched as a family-friendly event and while there was a little for the kids to do and food for them to eat – I am not sure it is the right space for children – especially later in the day as a few of the beer taps ran dry and people got a little rowdy.
The icing on my birthday cake was that there was a lucky door prize and I happened to be one of the winners – definitely a first for me.
If I have one complaint, it actually started before we entered the Sunshine Coast Stadium – the queue was at least 20-25 minutes long and we had all pre-paid for our tickets and ‘express entry’. A more streamlined entry system should be looked into for future events.
Given this was the first year, there is room for growth and I will be back in 2018 to check it out all over again.
Brouhaha Brewery
Many people visit Maleny in the Sunny Coast Hinterland for its lush and scenic spots but this little enclave has a lot to offer in the food and drink department too.
Brouhaha Brewery gives you the best of both worlds!
Nestled amongst the rolling hills of Maleny, here you will find an on-site boutique brewery plus a restaurant/cafe and a nice sun deck for the warmer months and fireside couches inside for when the chill sets in.
There are also long communal tables inside for those epic Sunday sessions with all your friends and you can even check out the row of giant stainless steel tanks at one end nursing the beers you’ll end up drinking.
Founded by locals just over a year ago in mid-2016, this spot is a must-visit for any beer lover!
These guys are brewing with such an enthusiasm for the craft, constantly changing and evolving their 10-tap menu, one which is always left for a cider.
Basically each week you can expect to find something new on their white-tiled bar-front.
Given the options, the obvious choice was to order the tasting paddle so I could sample a range of what Brouhaha has to offer.
The paddle comes with four beers – all your choice – so you can customise your experience. I filled my board with a dry hopped saison, a blonde ale, a pale ale and a Russian imperial stout to finish it off. All were very different and interesting. I actually loved the stout even though it was super rich and heavy – I probably wouldn’t be drinking a lot of them in one sitting at 8.3% alcohol content anyway!
Don’t just take my word for it that the beer here is worth trying, the brew house has managed to pick up a Best Brewer award at the inaugural Queensland beer awards (The Beeries), as well as two silvers and four bronze medals at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards.
If you don’t fancy a beer, there is also a range of spirits, wine and soft drink to keep you hydrated.
Given I had just arrived from downing a bucket load of cheese, I wasn’t up for ordering a meal and just got some pork scratchings with apple sauce to soak up the drinks. I will definitely be back to taste more of what looks like a tasty menu made from locally sourced produce.
This local approach is what the folks at Brouhaha like to think of as a ‘circle-of-life’. Grain is the classic byproduct of the brewing process and rather than throwing the bulk of this straight in the bin, Brouhaha instead donates it to the farmers at Maleny Wagyu cows, who then allow the Brouhaha kitchen to hand select their own fresh beef – perfection!
Black Bunny Kitchen
UPDATE 2026: Unfortunately Black Bunny Kitchen is no longer open.
Just across the road from the surf club at Alexandra Headland, this unassuming kitchen throws up plenty of welcome surprises.
First impressions are that Black Bunny Kitchen is pretty laid back but could get rowdy given the right crowd.
One of the things I liked is that not only is it across from the beach, it backs onto the resort pool – adding to the laid back vibe.
Before settling down to explore the menu, I spent some time staring at the vast selection (100+) of craft beers on offer. There is not a drop of XXX in sight at this trendy spot.
As my visit was timed the day before my half marathon, I will have to come back and actually taste some!
If you wander around, you will notice a custom built wood smoker – this where the magic happens. Slow cooked BBQ anyone?
Once you have decided if you and your friends are going to share some plates or you want that brisket all to yourself, order at the bar before picking your spot in the sunshine.
My friend and I shared some calamari, bean salad and some slaw as it was a hot day and in the mood for a lighter lunch. The portions were so big though that even that ended up with a doggy bag!
The meat smelled so amazing though that I will definitely be back again - especially after seeing the burger and dawg of the day on the specials board…
I have it on good authority that it isn’t just the beers and smoke that are worth visiting Black Bunny for but the coffee is spot on and the brekkie menu is delish too. Might have to make this a regular eating out spot as this is one of a growing number of consistently good restaurants up here on the Sunny Coast.
Every weekend they have some fantastic local talent showcasing their awesome skills, from chilled blues and indie rock to reggae funk.
Strawberry Fields
Right now it is Strawberry Season and there is nothing better than being out in the winter sun picking your own to take home and devour.
Luckily for Sunny Coasters, you can definitely PYO (pick your own) down at Strawberry Fields – and it certainly tastes sweeter.
Located just east of Aussie World, an hour picking some berries is the perfect family activity. Given the sheer numbers of people there on the day we visited, it is clearly pretty popular too.
The plan is simple, grab a tub and wander to the allocated field and get picking – you are charged by weight so it is up to you how much you fill the tub.
The price is a little more expensive than some shops at this time of year - $16 per kg when we were there - but you get the freshest possible berries!
My motto was 'the redder the better! I even managed to take home a whole kilo of goodness. The hardest part was not shoving a sample in my face before paying up!
The farm site offers more than just strawberry picking too. There is shop and café as well as a large playground complete with its own set of swings and a slide, shaded and sunny sitting spots for when the kids get bored of hunting for the perfect berry.
Get your fill of all things strawberry with ice cream and milk shakes galore on offer – not to mention a lunch menu for a savoury break. They also stock a range of local crafts and locally grown produce to complete your picnic.
Picking season runs from June to November each year.
