Some partnerships are business.
This one’s personal.
Ballandean Estate Wines isn’t just a winery we admire - it’s a place that’s been stitched into my life for decades. Friendship. Heritage. A shared respect for craft. And the kind of hospitality that makes you feel like you’ve come home the moment you pull up.
So if you’re new to this name, let me introduce you properly - because you’re going to see Ballandean featured throughout Chef’s Table as our go-to pairing partner.
Ballandean Estate is Queensland’s oldest family-owned winery, with 90+ years of winemaking history behind it — and the Puglisi family are still at the heart of it.
Angelo and Mary Puglisi built something special here on the Granite Belt - and today, daughters Leeanne and Robyn (and the wider family) continue the tradition with passion, resilience, and a fierce commitment to the region.
They’re living proof that:
And if you’ve ever wondered why the Granite Belt doesn’t get the recognition it should… you’re not imagining it. This region produces seriously good wine — and that’s exactly what movements like Strange Bird are helping shine a light on.
I bang on about this all the time:
Great cooking is built on craft, not gimmicks.
And wine is no different.
Ballandean doesn’t chase trends. They chase quality, regional character, and varietals that actually belong here. They’ve been pioneers on the Granite Belt for decades — including championing alternative “Strange Bird” grapes that most people didn’t even know existed.
This is why the pairing works:
Inside Chef’s Table, you’ll see Ballandean pairings appear alongside recipes, menus and special features.
Leeanne and Robyn keep it real-world and useful - no wine-snob language.
You’ll usually get:
Because that’s the point: confidence, not confusion.
We can’t sell or supply alcohol through Underground Chef.
But Ballandean absolutely can - and the best way to get the exact pairing I’m recommending is to purchase direct through their online shop.
If you want the full experience (and the best access), here are the two smart options:
Ballandean’s club is called Italian Cousins, and it comes with perks like free shipping on packs / 6+ bottles, 10% discount, and access to special release + museum wines (plus family events).
This is the easy entry point - you’ll get their stories, deals, and updates (and it includes a 10% discount as well).
(Please enjoy responsibly. 18+ only.)
Growing up, we didn’t always have access to the variety and quality we can enjoy now — and I never take that for granted.
When you stand in a place like Ballandean, you feel what it means to build something over generations: the land, the seasons, the setbacks, the wins, the family turning up again and again.
That’s why I’m proud to welcome Ballandean Estate Wines into Underground Chef — not as “a supplier”… but as an extension to our Underground Chef family.
Chef Ian