Daisy and Jim Chatto love pinot so much that it’s all they grow down at their tiny Huon Valley vineyard. This, plus their tagline “making serious pinot fun”, is one of the reasons we fell in love with them when they first joined us five years ago.
The other reason is that they make bloody good pinot! It’s so good, in fact, that our founder Dan Sims has a standing order with them. Need more proof? Chatto Wines came in 6th on the National People’s Choice competition in 2017.
But this shouldn’t come as any surprise as Jim Chatto is a downright winemaking legend.
Aside from his day job as Chief Winemaker at McWilliams / Mount Pleasant (no small task mind you), he is one of the most respected wine show judges in the country with previous chairman roles at the National and, currently, the Royal Melbourne Wine Show to name only two.
Yes, say hello to them. You can also keep up with them on Facebook and Instagram and make sure you join their mailing list as their tiny production pinot noir sells out super quickly.
As we say, Dan has a standing order!
How was Pinot Palooza 2017 for you?
2017 was our fifth year of PP participation. We love this event so much and it’s the only promotion thing we do. This year was our first Brisvegas trip and it did not disappoint (except when I got to the after party and everyone had gone home already!)
How does it feel to make the top 10 nationally?
What we LOVE about Pinot Palooza is the opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of everything pinot noir can be. Such a sassy grape. To end up in the Top Ten is massive stoke – Feeling the love!
Tell us something really cool about your wines?
Can you get much ‘cooler’ than Southern Tasmania’? (There’s still snow on those mountains down our way..just)
Also, intriguingly our winery shed was once used to build a racing yacht called the Intrigue…
What style do you think characterises the pinot of your region?
Unmatched intensity of flavour in a light to medium profile.
Tell us three things we need to know about your region?
1. Most southerly wine region in Australia – Longest sunshine hours during ripening of any wine region in Australia. Climate is very very cool yet moderated by maritime influence.
2. Purist and most intense fruit flavours of any region in Australia.
3. Still largely undiscovered.
What’s the one thing we simply must do in your region?
Embrace ethical hedonism as your new religion.
And try your luck with Aurora Australis.
When no one is watching, you drink…
Margaritas.
Your pinots are best for…
Sexy times!
Your pinots are best paired with…
Charcuterie particularly iberico de bellota.
If not you, who else should people try?
Sailor Seeks Horse
What song should we listen to when driving to the winery?
What song should we listen to when driving away and onto the next one?
The one song that makes you dance when the beat drops…
If your pinot was a musician, who would they be?
We’d have to say if the Chatto Pinot were a musician it’d be Ziggy Stardust. Such androgynous beauty.
What year was your first pinot noir vintage and what song best represents it?
1994 and it was Sabotage (not that any wine was sabotaged…)
What are you listening to when you’re…
Making Pinot |
Drinking Pinot |
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