Darling Downs – click to enlarge
Darling Down Queensland – click to enlarge
The Darling Downs region is an agricultural region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland, Australia. It is vast and comprises the Southern Downs, Western Downs, Toowoomba, and Goondiwindi local authority areas. The name Darling Downs was given in 1827 by Allan Cunningham, the first European explorer to reach the area, and recognises the then Governor of New South Wales, Ralph Darling.
The Darling Downs wine region is far smaller and concentrates around the town of Toowoomba, 125km west of Brisbane, the state capital.
As the region is not an official GI, there is no official “wine map” of it. As such, the map to the right shows the total Local Government Area for Darling Downs. This LGA also encompasses the Granite Belt wine region in the Southern Downs LGA, a part of the broader Darling Downs area.
Wine started to play a role in the region at the end of the 19th century but didn’t make a dent until recent years as the wine industry, and tourism started to gain traction.
This small Non-GI wine region isn’t as popular as the more well-known Granite Belt region 150km to its south (an hour 45-minute drive). Still, visitors keen to experience a wine trip with a difference will love the variety of attractions throughout the Darling Downs, with cellar doors offering unique styles, plus heritage sites and dramatic scenery.
Preston Peak is the most notable winery in the area. Once an open cellar door, the function centre now operates by appointment only. Due to the popularity of weddings and private functions, they can no longer offer wine tastings to the public but sometimes offer ticketed events like Jazz and Shiraz.
Coinciding with the region’s great wines, you’ll find some breathtaking scenery as you encompass your way through the landscape. Check out the Queen Mary Falls, the Main Range National Park, or the many sub-tropical rainforests that litter the area.
The Darling Downs is not an official wine region. As such we have used artistic license to create the region’s borders for the embedded maps, to include the wineries within this region and outside of neighbouring regions.
