Centered around the town of Stanthorpe the Granite Belt has a long history of viticulture and winemaking. It is one of the highest wine regions in Australia, with vineyards at more than 1000 metres above sea level. Queensland’s capital of cool, the  Granite Belt, is just over two hours drive inland from Brisbane and three hours from the Gold Coast. Served by the New England Highway, this is the only place in Queensland that offers four distinct seasons.  This distinctive region has been protected through recognition as a “Geographical Indication”.  A GI defines an area of viticultural significance that includes particular geographical and topographical characteristics.  This means its name can only be applied to wines made from fruit grown within specific boundaries.

The Australian Geographical Indication “Granite Belt” was entered in the Register of Protected Names on 25 March 2002 in response to a direction received by the Registrar from the Presiding Member of the Geographical Indications Committee acting under Section 40Z of the WAC Act 1980.

The very dry textual description of the Granite Belt GI is as follows:

The Geographical Indication “Granite Belt” is located within the State of Queensland, Australia.
The beginning point of the boundary is located on Map Stanthorpe (Sheet 9240) at grid reference LN956998, being the intersection of the New England Highway and the Queensland / New South Wales border in Wallangarra, then proceeds generally westerly and then south westerly along the Queensland / New South Wales border to grid reference LN826970 on the Roberts Range, then proceeds generally west of northerly in a straight line crossing Ballandean Creek, Kelvin Grove Creek, Back Creek and the Severn River to grid reference LP782190, then proceeds generally northerly in a straight line to Mallow on the Stanthorpe Texas Road at grid referenceLP790312, then proceeds west of northerly in a straight line to grid reference LP780380, then proceeds north easterly in a straight line to grid reference LP840450, then proceeds generally east of northerly in a straight line to the edge of the map at grid reference LP844468; On to Map Allora (Sheet9241) at grid reference LP844468, then proceeds generally east of northerly in the same straight line to the unnamed road at grid reference LP850499, then proceeds generally easterly in a straight line to grid reference LP903500, then proceeds south of easterly in a straight line to the New England Highway in Dalveen at grid reference LP991478, then proceeds generally south westerly along the New England Highway to the edge of map at grid reference LP988469; On to Map Stanthorpe (Sheet 9240) at grid reference LP988469, then proceeds south westerly along the New England Highway to grid reference LP982458, then proceeds southerly in a straight line to the Queensland / New South Wales border at grid reference LP982450, then proceeds generally southerly along the Queensland / New South Wales border to its intersection with the Stanthorpe to Amosfield Road at grid reference MP021319, then continue south easterly along the Queensland / New South Wales border to the edge of the map at grid reference MP023316; On to Map Drake (Sheet 9340) at grid reference MP023316, then continues south easterly along the Queensland / New South Wales border to its intersection with an unnamed road at grid reference MP086253, then proceeds generally southerly along the Queensland / New South Wales border to the edge of the map at grid reference MP025017; On to Map Stanthorpe (Sheet 9240) at grid reference MP025017, then continues generally south westerly along the Queensland / New South Wales border to the New England Highway in Wallangarra at grid reference LN956998, being the descriptor starting point.