Robert Channon Wines

Robert Channon Wines is a cool-climate cellar door at 45 Tadpole Lane in Amiens, about 15 minutes north-west of Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt wine trail. It overlooks its own Singing Lake, pours some of the country's best Verdelho, and is one of the most reliably dog-friendly stops on the route: dogs get the lawn and the undercover veranda, water dish and tie-up point included.

Dogs at the cellar door

Dogs are welcome across the lawns and on the undercover veranda, where most of the casual seating sits anyway. A water dish and tie-up point are provided at the veranda, and the resident wine dog, JS Bark, often does greeting duty, so a sociable dog will settle right in. A reactive dog may find the shared veranda trickier, and the indoor tasting room is generally humans-only, though staff sometimes bend that for a quiet dog when it is not busy, so ask on arrival rather than assuming.

The vibe

The estate is best known for Verdelho, backed by chardonnay, pinot gris, pinot noir and cabernet. The Singing Lake Cafe serves lunch built on local produce, and there is plenty of open space, including a pair of miniature horses on the property to keep the dog's interest. On concert days, when the property's Swigmore Hall hosts classical and jazz sessions, the grounds fill up, so a regular tasting day is the calmer option with a dog in tow.

Getting there and parking

The cellar door sits at 45 Tadpole Lane off the Amiens road, with ample gravel parking right beside the tasting room, so there is no circling for a spot. It runs 11am to 4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm on weekends, and closes Wednesday and Thursday, so check the day before you plan the drive.

Pair it with

Chain a proper Granite Belt dog day together: Hidden Creek Winery at Ballandean has a deck over a dam, Summit Estate Wines at Thulimbah keeps lawn space and a dog menu, and Ridgemill Estate at Broadwater takes leashed dogs on the deck and has pet-friendly cabins if the day turns into a weekend.

Pepsi: lake views, a water dish that did not move, and a resident dog to negotiate lawn etiquette with.

Arrive hungry at lunch service, keep the lead handy around the cafe tables, and check the open days first. More stops are in other dog friendly wineries in QLD and the Amiens guide.