Granite Belt winery combines wine tasting with classic cars, trucks and motoring history

One of the Granite Belt's more unusual attractions is Summit Estate Wines, at Thulimbah, where classic cars, trucks and tractors share the spotlight with wine tasting.

It's a worthwhile stop for road trippers exploring the Granite Belt, particularly those interested in motoring history, regional Queensland stories and discovering experiences that go beyond the usual cellar door visit.

Classic car collection transforms Granite Belt winery

The first thing that catches my eye isn't the vineyard. It's a bright yellow New York taxi.

Parked outside a winery in Thulimbah, it looks as though it has taken a wrong turn somewhere between Manhattan and the Granite Belt.

The taxi is only the beginning.

Inside, there's a Harley-Davidson, a 1966 Mustang convertible, vintage Massey Ferguson tractors, a 1938 6-wheeler Buick, a 1929 Model A Ford truck, a 1976 Ford LTD 351 V8 set up for the Variety Bash and a 1929 Chev custom-built hot rod.

Together, they tell the story of Summit Estate Wines' new owner, Bob McKenzie.

And the reason they're all here is surprisingly simple.

"I bought the winery because I needed somewhere to put my cars," he says.

Bob had been looking at storage sheds in town. His growing collection of vehicles was spread across multiple locations, and he wanted everything together under one roof.

Then he found Summit Estate Wines on the market.

For someone with more than three decades of experience in hospitality, the opportunity made unexpected sense.

The original plan was straightforward: store the vehicles; keep them protected from the weather; pull one out for a drive when the mood struck.

Then the vision began to evolve.

Today, visitors arrive for wine tastings and find themselves wandering through a collection that charts both Queensland's motoring history and Bob’s own life.

Vehicles with personal history

Unlike some collections assembled purely for investment, these vehicles are deeply personal.

Many connect directly to Bob’s childhood on a cattle property.

One of the tractors, a vintage Massey Ferguson, is almost identical to the machine he learned to drive as a boy.

"We had one on the farm," he says. "You spend enough time on them, and they become part of your life."

The 1972 Butterbox Acco truck carries similar memories. The vehicle is fully registered and still driven regularly.

Bob and his 1966 Mustang convertible.

Vintage Buick and Mustang among the highlights

Nearby sits one of the oldest vehicles in the collection, a 1938 Buick. The car's massive straight-eight engine stretches almost impossibly far beneath the bonnet.

"It's a gangster's car," Bob jokes.

Built by General Motors in Adelaide, the Buick represents an era when cars were designed as much for comfort and status as transportation.

Its broad bench seats resemble a lounge room more than a modern vehicle.

Then there is the Mustang.

Painted a rich red and fitted with an electric convertible roof, the 1966 model is one of the most photographed vehicles in the collection.

"It turns heads wherever it goes," Bob says.

It is easy to see why.

The $200,000 hot rod built to fulfil a dream

Every collection has a star.

At Summit Estate, that honour belongs to a custom-built 1929 Chev hot rod. The vehicle took years to complete and cost about $200,000 to build.

With its chopped roofline, suicide doors and modern fuel-injected V8 engine, it combines classic styling with contemporary engineering.

"Owning a hot rod like this had always been a dream of mine," Bob says.

The hot rod has already become part of the winery's wedding offering, transporting brides and grooms and appearing in wedding photos among the vines.

The 'gangster car', a 1938 Buick.

Supporting Queensland communities through the Variety Bash

Not every vehicle here is about nostalgia – there’s a 1976 Ford LTD that serves a very different purpose.

When time allows, Bob takes the Ford LTD on the Variety Bash, the iconic fundraising event that travels through regional Queensland supporting disadvantaged children.

Usually joining the event every couple of years, the car is fitted with extra fuel storage, navigation equipment, spare tyres and even a fridge for the long journey.

The event raises thousands of dollars for children in regional communities across Queensland.

"We visit schools and communities across western Queensland," Bob says. "That's what it's really about."

Wine tasting, food and Strange Bird varieties

Bob’s collection also includes vintage petrol bowsers, Texaco and Mobil signs, automotive memorabilia and additional display areas.

While the cars and memorabilia are the conversation starter, Summit Estate remains a working winery with plenty to tempt visitors to linger.

The vineyard specialises in Granite Belt Strange Bird varieties including Verdelho, Marsanne, Tempranillo and other alternative varieties that thrive in the region's cool climate.

Guests can enjoy self-guided tasting flights, curated tastings by appointment and a menu from Kitchen 925 featuring pizzas, generous grazing boards and seasonal dishes designed to complement the wines.

At Summit Estate, it's possible to arrive for wine tasting and leave talking just as much about the people and the stories as the wines in your glass.

Future plans for Summit Estate Wines

Accommodation is a big part of the future for Summit Estate, with plans for studio-style units that would allow visitors to stay among the vines.

The long-term vision is a destination where travellers can spend the night, enjoy local wines, explore the collection and use the winery as a base for discovering the Granite Belt.

It's an unusual concept.

Then again, so is buying a winery simply because you need somewhere to park your cars.

For travellers exploring the Granite Belt, Summit Estate Wines offers something you won't find at most cellar doors. It's a place where classic cars, regional history and cool-climate wines come together in a distinctly Queensland experience.

Whether you're admiring a vintage Buick, sampling a Strange Bird varietal or chatting with Bob about the stories behind the collection, it's the personal touches that leave the strongest impression. In a region known for its wineries, Summit Estate has found a way to stand apart.

And while the cars may have been the reason Bob McKenzie bought the property, they've become part of a broader vision that's giving visitors yet another reason to discover the Granite Belt.

The distinctive yellow New York taxi at Summit Estate Wines.

What you need to know before you go

• Summit Estate Wines is best for couples, families, classic car enthusiasts, road trippers and groups exploring the Granite Belt.
• The Granite Belt is about a 2.5 -hour drive south-west of Brisbane.
• Allow at least 90 minutes at Summit Estate Wines if you enjoy both cars and wine, or longer if you're planning lunch or a Sunset Session.
• Worth knowing: Read the plaques for the stories behind the vehicles. Many have direct links to Bob’s life, farming background and Variety Bash adventures.

FAQs: Summit Estate Wines

Do you need to be interested in wine to enjoy a visit to Summer Estate Wines?

No. The classic vehicle collection provides plenty of interest for visitors who are more interested in motoring history than wine.

What is the standout vehicle?

Most visitors gravitate towards the 1966 Mustang convertible or the custom-built 1929 Chev hot rod.

Can you drive the cars?

No. The vehicles are privately owned, although some are occasionally used for weddings and special events.

When is the best time to visit the Granite Belt?

The Granite Belt's cooler months are particularly appealing, with crisp days, open fires and red wines well suited to the season.

Other wineries on the Granite Belt wine trail

If Bob McKenzie’s collection inspires a Granite Belt road trip, there are plenty of reasons to linger a little longer.

Ravenscroft Vineyard

Since taking over Ravenscroft Vineyard in 2021, Caitlin and Nick Roberts have focused on small-batch wines made with hand-harvested fruit and a minimal intervention philosophy. Their approach allows the character of the Granite Belt to shine through in every bottle.

New Tricks Winery

One of the Granite Belt's newest cellar doors, New Tricks Winery offers visitors the chance to meet winemaker Craig Robinson, who grew up on one of the region's pioneering vineyards. Alongside the wines, you'll discover innovative sustainability initiatives helping shape the future of Granite Belt viticulture.

Twisted Gum Wines

Set inside a charming Queenslander overlooking the vines, Twisted Gum Wines combines warm hospitality with regenerative farming practices. Owners Michelle and Tim Coelli are passionate about sustainable viticulture and growing grapes without insecticides wherever possible.

Meteora Vineyard

The Granite Belt's newest luxury wine destination, Meteora Vineyard is impossible to ignore. Created by Andrew and Karen Catsoulis, Meteora blends Mediterranean-inspired architecture, estate-grown wines and a sophisticated restaurant experience. With varieties including Fiano, Vermentino, Montepulciano and Aglianico, plus luxury accommodation planned for the future, Meteora offers a glimpse of the region's next chapter.

Balancing Heart Vineyard

Balancing Heart Vineyard pairs award-winning cool-climate wines with sweeping Granite Belt views, creating a relaxed cellar-door experience where visitors can taste, dine and explore the surrounding vineyard landscape.

Tobin Wines

Tobin Wines is a boutique Ballandean winery built on one of the Granite Belt’s oldest vineyard sites, where the focus is firmly on growing exceptional fruit and producing small-batch, limited-release wines.

Ballendean Estate Wines

Ballandean Estate is Queensland’s oldest family-owned and operated winery, with a winemaking history dating back to 1932 and a reputation for premium cool-climate wines crafted from some of Australia’s oldest Shiraz vines.

The writer travelled with the assistance of Granite Belt Wine Country.