Since 2001 winners of 36 Trophies & 26 Gold Medals for chardonnay, verdelho, sparkling, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Robert Channon has long been a master of the dark arts of Verdelho James Halliday 2016...takes the Verdelho to another level of length and intensity altogether James Halliday 2013...arguably Australia s foremost producer of Verdelho James Halliday 2009 Verdelho 2015 James Halliday 94 points Trophy & Gold Medal Queensland Wine Awards Winestate Magazine 5 Stars Agents: Anne Lindsay 0418 737 309 David Schnitzerling 0418 717 979
Address: 766 Amiens Road, Amiens, via Stanthorpe 4380 Robert Channon Wines and Singing Lake Café Size: 40 hectares Zoning: Rural Water Licence: 13 hectare water licence forms part of the property and irrigation is pumped from a 225 megalitre earth wall storage dam on the adjoining property. Property Improvements: Fully netted Vineyards Cellar Door Wine production building/storage areas Storage building/concert Hall The Singing Lake Café Underground pipelines for irrigation Overview Robert Channon Wines was established in 1998 by the current owners Robert and Peggy Channon. Resting on an altitude of nearly 950 metres, the vineyard and winery is one of Australia s highest. This elevation plus the granite soils creates the unique cool climate wine area that is well recognised as the Granite Belt. It has high exposure to passing traffic along a bitumen sealed road. Robert Channon s grapes are grown and hand-picked in their own vineyards and their wines are made in select batches in their winery. Successes Robert Channon Wines was the first Queensland winery to receive 5 stars from James Halliday. Its Verdelho has won the Trophy for Queensland s Best White Wine on an unequalled four occasions, including three years in a row. At national shows it has won Champion Chardonnay at the Royal Brisbane Show (in competition with all of the top Australian chardonnays) and Champion Sparkling Wine at the Australian Small Winemakers Show. It has won Champion Queensland Winery at the Royal Brisbane Show (three times) and the Australian Small Winemakers Show (three times). Robert Channon Wines has won 26 gold medals and numerous silvers and bronzes since its first vintage in 2000. Robert Channon s wines were chosen to be served to Queen Elizabeth II during her last Australian tour and the Verdelho 2009 was chosen as the Queensland Parliament s 150 th Anniversary White Wine. All of these wines are estate grown and made at Robert Channon s winery and vineyard at Amiens in the Granite Belt. Over the years the winery complex has expanded to include a cellar door, 100 tonne winery, wine storage building which converts into the popular concert venue, The Swigmore Hall and The Singing Lake Café with its stunning view.
Brand: Robert Channon Wines is a well recognised brand and its wines are currently listed at approx. 50 restaurants and bottle shops in south-east Queensland. Wines are promoted throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast by an agent on commission and wines have been supplied by request to venues in Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns. Robert Channon Wines has exported wines to New Zealand and China. The name Singing Lake has been used as a second label and more recently for the café. This name could be considered as an alternative to the Robert Channon label. Wine Club: Robert Channon Wines has a wine club of approx. 250 members. Each member receives a 6 pack of wines twice a year for a total of $180.00 Mailing List: approx. 2,000 addressees who receive regular newsletters. Promotions: The winery has a strong promotional presence at major annual events such as: Vineyards: The Good Food and Wine Show and Regional Flavours in Brisbane, The Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba, Gourmet in Gundy and The Apple and Grape Festival in Stanthorpe. The land is developed to approx. 8 hectares in two sections of wine grapes (approx. 7 acres and 12 acres). The grape varieties planted are: Pinot Gris Chardonnay Verdelho Shiraz Pinot Noir Cabernet Sauvignon The vines are entirely protected with permanent bird netting structure covering each vineyard. This permanent netting protects the vines from birds, hail and frost. The latter having little effect due to the elevation of the vineyards. *James Halliday believes the unique quality of the Robert Channon Verdelho grapes is due to the micro climate created by this bird netting system (*see Halliday review of Verdelho 2015.) The vineyards are on a drip irrigation system drawing water from the Singing Lake (on Lot 332) via an electric pump and underground pipeline through an easement over Lot 332. The pump and pipeline are included in the sale. This system can be isolated to individual rows of the vineyards and can also be used for fertigation. Lot 331 has a licence to irrigate up to 13 hectares from the Singing Lake water source there are also suitable areas for expansion of the vineyards.
Cellar Door: This building (sandstone block/iron roof) is a large open plan room with sales and storage. It includes a tasting bench, sink and shelves, an office and male, female and disabled toilets. Winery buildings: The two steel frame buildings offer a storage and wine making area of about 576 m2 (2 X 288m2), fully enclosed and with concrete floors. The winery: This is a functioning winery fully equipped with crusher, press, pumps, tanks, chiller system, bottling line and laboratory for winemaking. A refrigerated container acts as a cold room. Concerts: There is a permanent stage in the wine storage building which becomes the venue known as Swigmore Hall for the winery s classical concert series. There is seating for up to 150 plus gas heaters. The 100 th concert was held in 2016 and there is a regular following for the concerts which also provide good wine sales and a consistent promotional profile for the winery. Outdoor concerts are held in the winery courtyard.
Singing Lake Café : This adjoins the Cellar Door and was constructed by the Channons in 2008, to expand the Winery s business and for a lifestyle appeal as an eatery for the locals and tourists on the Granite Belt. The restaurant offers: Area of approx. 135 m2 Reception area Cafe to cater for 60 covers Commercial kitchen Grassed courtyard area for al fresco dining Superb rural views across the lake The cafe is currently leased and is open for lunches. It is obviously under utilised and would make an ideal venue for weddings, special private functions etc. The nearby courtyard offers seating under the verandah and under umbrellas with delightful views to the lake. This cafe could be operated as a separate entity to the Winery. Dwelling: This is a low set brick veneer home built during the 1970 s in good condition with 3 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, dining room, bathroom and laundry. It has a large double garage/shed with storage and very separate from the Winery and other buildings. Currently it is rented on a periodic lease at $280 per week and would be suitable for an owner/occupier to live in or for an employee to rent or could be converted into tourist accommodation. House Site: Underground power is in place to a potential new site for another house between the upper dam and the existing house. Cattle Yards: These are of timber post and rail with a loading ramp and crush.
Since 2001 winners of 36 Trophies & 26 Gold Medals for chardonnay, verdelho, sparkling, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Summary: Robert Channon Wines on Queensland s Granite Belt is a highly recognised and respected Winery and its reputation has significantly been built on the success of its Verdelho and the reviews of this wine by James Halliday. During the 18 years Robert and Peggy Channon have owned and operated Robert Channon Wines they have broadened its business base and target market. As well as its cellar door for wine tastings and sales, it has become a popular venue for concerts and enjoyment at the Singing Lake Café. Its first wine export order to New Zealand, the ability to increase the capacity of the vineyards for greater production and the opportunity to enhance the restaurant, allows for immediate expansion. The location of the winery is ideal high exposure along a sealed bitumen road on the northern side of the Granit Belt, just 8 minutes to Stanthorpe. Robert Channon wines is to be sold as a profitable going concern so that the next owner will be able to continue vineyard and winery operations and sales, immediately. There is plenty of room for expansion of both vineyards and winery capacity.