Angelo Puglisi – The Father of the Queensland Wine Industry

Tom McSweeny

No one would have believed it possible to grow grapes and produce wine in Queensland. The South Australians, New South Welshmen and Victorians laughed and scoffed at the idea. Even many a businessman and politician in Queensland joined the chorus of doubters from the south.

However, Angelo Puglisi not only held his head high, copped the criticism and just got down to work just like his Italian heritage told him to do. After all Ballandean, near Stanthorpe, had the cool climate and fruit trees grew there for decades.

Many a trial and tribulation followed. “There were many setbacks,” Angelo recalled. “You just had to pay the bills, feed the family and continue work as hard as possible to get the results.”

Join Angelo as he tells the story of what seemed impossible to now exporting wine around the world from a region thought to be just too hot and arid — that is, Queensland.

LOOK INSIDE