HEY MELBOURNE!
Let’s face it, it’s been a long time coming for this year’s Pinot Palooza – and given it’s our 10th anniversary, we wanted to make it a big one.
With more than 200 wines on pour from over 70 producers, our Melbourne leg is set to be a cracker. Plus, this year’s dedicated TASMANIAN precinct will showcase the wares of 20 Tasmanian producers who are all making the trip to the mainland, exclusively for Pinot Palooza.
As always, you can expect to find an awesome lineup of food, drinks, merch, chats and more.
Our big tip? With so much on offer, it pays to study up ahead of time so that you can get the most out of your session.
ONE EPIC LINEUP
More than 200 wines from over 70 producers, you say? Numbers like that take some planning. To make the most out of the day, we recommend you scan our list and note your favourites before you come.
To make life easier, we’ve developed an online wine list where you can create a “playlist” of all your favourites, rate individual wines, vote in the people’s choice, and email your favourites to yourself (for later). To create your playlist, simply scan the QR on your lanyard (you’ll get one on your way into the event). No paper. No waste. More pinot.
Note: link will be live a few days prior so you can start to mark your favourites!
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
The people’s choice vote is always a highlight of the festival –– and this year, we’re going full digital. As we just mentioned, voting is done via smartphone this year (so simple!). Just scan the QR code on your lanyard, note which city you’re in, vote, and punch in your details.
You’ll immediately go in the draw to win a whole year’s worth of pinot noir from our soon-to-be-launched Pinot Palooza subscription service.
Pinch me purple – that’s a pretty prodigious platoon of pinot! Yep, we’re giving away 10 x 12-month subscriptions that will see you recieve a dozen bottles every month for a whole year.
WHHAAAAaaattt!
But ya gotta be in it to win it!
TASMANIAN
Want to drink like a Tasmanian? Easy – visit the #TASMANIAN precinct at this year’s festival and Get the Hard to Get.
Thanks to our friends at Wine Tasmania, we’re offering Palooza punters the chance to win the ultimate Tasmanian wine cellar – a total of 24 bottles, with wines coming from each of the Tassie producers joining us on this year’s tour.
To enter, simply “check-in” at Pinot Palooza’s dedicated #TASMANIAN precinct using the QR codes provided at each of the stalls. Local winners will be announced after events in each city.
PINOT CHATS
Keen to get your geek on? Join us for Pinot Chats with the movers and makers behind some of the best pinot on the planet. This is your chance to get some one-on-one action with some of your favourite winemakers and wine people with their finger firmly on the pinot pulse; including local legend Sommelier Leanne Altmann (Cutler & Co) and Dan Sims (Founder Pinot Palooza).
Best bit? All sessions are FREE. But it’s first in, best dressed. Just head to the talks areas (on the way to the main hall, opposite Gippsland) to grab your seat.
Session times are …
FRIDAY MAY 6: 6pm and 7pm
SATURDAY MAY 7: 12pm & 1pm then 5pm and 6pm
Friday evening Session:
Hosted By LEANNE ALTMANN, Beverage Director, Trader House (Cutler & Co, Marion, Gimlet, Builders Arms, Cumulus & more)
6pm: TASMANIAN
Get to know the amazing wine of the gourmet isle.
7pm: PINOT FUTURES
Pinot has changed irrevocably since Pinot Palooza started in 2012. What does the future of Pinot hold and how is it being received in restaurants?
Saturday 11am – 3pm Session:
Hosted by DAN SIMS, Founder of Pinot Palooza
12pm: 10 Years of Pinot Palooza
It’s hard to believe the festival ha turned 10 this year. This session is a little look back of the wines that were there from the start, throughout and to today.
1pm: #GIPPSTER
Gippsland is more a zone than a region. It’s big and diverse as the wines, and makers, within. But you need to know more about Victoria’s dark horse region as the wines will surprise you.
Saturday 4pm – 8pm Session:
Hosted By Leanne Altmann, Beverage Director Trader House
5pm: TASMANIAN
A wine trail tour of Tasmania
6pm: PINOT FUTURES
Pinot has changed irrevocably since Pinot Palooza started in 2012. What does the future of Pinot hold and how is it being received in restaurants?
PALOOZA EATS
Because we understand that one cannot live on pinot noir alone, we’ve gone all out on the food front – bringing in some of Melbourne’s top guns for the ride, along with a couple of our favourite Tasmanian cheese producers.
Here’s a taster of who’s on board for 2022:
NAMA
Beef tataki – W. tare, aonori pangrattato, spring onion $14
Rolled rice noodles – W. peanut butter hoisin, sesame, spring onion, crispy wonton $12
Pork belly yakitori – W. gochujang, red shiso daikon pickle $8
TACO TRUCK
TACO PLATE
2 X TACOS WITH HOUSE MADE CORN CHIPS – $16, WITH GUACAMOLE $21
FISH TACO PLATE – CRISPY FISH TACOS W. SLAW, LIME SQUEEZE & POPPY MAYO
CHICKEN TACO PLATE – GRILLED CHICKEN TACOS W. SLAW, CHIPOTLE MAYO, TOMATO CHILI SALSA & PICKLED RADISH
BURRITOS – WITH GUACAMOLE $21
CHICKEN BURRITO – $16 – CHICKEN, RICE & BEANS, QUESO, SLAW & CHIPOTLE MAYO & TRINITY SALSA
BEAN BURRITO – $16 – BEAN, RICE & BEANS, CHIPOTLE MAYO, SLAW & TRINITY SALSA(VEG)
SNACKS
CORNCHIPS, SALSA & GUACAMOLE – $10
FREDDY’S
Marg (v) – san marzano, bufala mozzarella, basil $14
Danny Zuko – san marzano, fior di latte, soppressa, olives $15
Joe’s Backyard (v) – san marzano, fior di latte, grilled veg $15
Cacio e Pepe (v) – fior di latte, parmigiano, pecorino, black pepper $14
gluten free base +4
vegan cheese +3
BURN CITY SMOKERS
Duck and Celeriac Remoulade Roll $17 – add fries $21
Classic Brisket Burger $16 – add fries $20
Crumbed Eggplant Burger (V) $16 – add fries $20
Fries $7
DRINKS
Any dedicated pinot taster is gonna need a hard-earned palate cleanser – it’s just the way these things go. Thankfully, those champions from Maidenii, Curatif and Brick Lane Brewing will be on hand with some delightfully refreshing bevs to get your taste buds back on track.
Plus, in our TASMANIAN precinct, you’ll find some terrific Tassie tipples from Hartshorn, Pagan Cider, Ironhouse Brewery and Taylor & Smith.
STAY HYDRATED WITH DASH
Have you dabbled in some Dash yet? Like us, Dash is proudly Melbourne made. They do things a little differently, taking wonky fruit and turning it into deliciously refreshing sparkling drinks. Dash has partnered with us to keep this year’s Palooza hoards hydrated – so keep an eye out for the team on the day.
A bit disappointing that there isn’t any representatives from Mt Macedon area. I think it is Victoria’s best region for Pinot.
There was. Lyons Hill from Macedon. We’d love them to join us but with a tough couple of vintages, many didn’t have enough stock for the event>
they are always welcome!
But I’m sure we made up for it with the other amazing wineries!