GET READY CHRISTCHURCH. HERE IS YOUR WINE LIST! – with more amazing wines to come!!
Over Pinot Palooza’s 13 city tour, there will be opportunity to taste so many different Pinots from so many producers representing so over 30 regions. The sheer volume alone can be intimidating, let alone trying to pick a favourite.
The best way is to approach it as you would a music festival. Think of the different styles or producers as stages, each one representing a certain genre of music or musician.
Each has its own unique character and what you like or don’t like is all down to how you feel and what you’re seeking at that particular moment in time.
Spend time at the main stage, but make sure you head to the fringe and emerging stages for something new or a little different. Up for a splurge? Hit the VIP stage. Up for something fun? The Dance Tent’s where it’s at. And when you feel like taking it a little easy, the Chill Out Room’s waiting for you.
This is how you pinot, with your hands in the air like you just don’t care!
Main Stage:
This is the headline act which you absolutely have to check out. If you haven’t heard of them, you soon will. This one’s a must.
VIP:
This is one you’ll cough up good dollars for.
Fringe:
A little left field, alternative, unique, intriguing and captivating. Not mainstream and all the better for it.
Emerging Talent:
This is your new, up-and-coming Pinot artist, or one who’s undergone reinvention.
Chill Out Room:
Super chilled, easy going, relaxed and super lo-fi.
Dance Tent:
Wines that are bright, fun and make you want to move.
NEW ZEALAND
CENTRAL OTAGO
Brrr. Did it just get a little colder here? Central Otago sits way down the bottom of the world, and even enjoys bragging rights to some of the southern hemisphere’s most southerly vineyards. It was a wine region established on a collective mad vision, but produces world class, outstanding, powerful, ample pinot noir of mass seduction. Cue the bear skin rug and fireplace.
If you’re after a little back ground reading, check out our profile (and spotify playlist!).
Akarua
Akarua Brut NV $35
RUA, 2018 $25
RUA Rosé 2019 $24
25 Steps 2018 $32
Pinot Rouge 2019 $23
Providore
Providore First Edition, 2018 – $24.99
Providore Rosé, 2018 – $24.99
Providore ‘Luminaire’ Blanc de Noir, 2018 – $24.99
Rockburn
Rockburn ‘The Chosen ‘, 2018 – $65
Rockburn, 2017 – $49.99
Rockburn ‘Stolen Kiss’ Rosé, 2019 – $29.99
Devil’s Staircase ‘Blushing’ Blanc de Noir, 2019 – $29.99
Valli Vineyards
Central Otago and Waitaki, North Otago
Valli Gibbston Vineyard, 2018 – $69
Valli Bannockburn Vineyard, 2018 – $69
Valli Bendigo Vineyard, 2018 – $69
Valli Waitaki Vineyard, 2018 – $69
CENTRAL OTAGO STAND
Domaine-Thomson “Surveyor Thomson” Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015
Domaine-Thomson “Explorer” Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Grasshopper Rock, Earnscleugh Vineyard, Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
Madam Sass Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 2017
NORTH CANTERBURY
You want the authentic, earthy, vibey Kiwi wine region, right? Get in and amongst the farms and flowers and trees and sing Kumbaya? Well, North Canterbury is kind of a bit like that. It’s happy people, small vineyards, totally unique wines, with a touch of earthy savouriness of good measure.
We feature the region in this year’s Magazine. Be sure to check it out here!
Mon Cheval
Mon Cheval Rose’, 2018 – $27.50
Mon Cheval Pinot Noir, 2012 – $50
Mon Cheval Pinot Noir, 2011 – $50
Mon Cheval LeChar Pinot Noir, 2010 – $70
Pegasus Bay
Pegasus Bay ‘Prima Donna’, 2015 – $105
Pegasus Bay, 2016 – $55
Main Divide, 2016 – $27
Main Divide Rosé, 2019 – $22
The Boneline
The Boneline Waimanu Pinot Noir, 2016 – $40.00
The Boneline Wai-Iti Pinot Noir, 2017 – $40.00
Tongue In Groove
Tongue in Groove Pinot Noir, 2015 – $45
MARLBOROUGH
Primped and preened, fancy hair and nice duds, Marlborough has All The Right Stuff – the region’s got mojo for days. Dive into the full flavoured, quietly powerful pinot noirs of deadly seduction, satiny texture and ample, rich fruit character. One slug and you’re hooked. You can’t resist.
Forrest
Forrest Pinot Noir, 2017 – $29
Forrest Rosé, 2018 – $25
The Doctors’ Pinot Noir, 2018 – $25
The Doctors’ Rosé, 2018 – $25
Rock Ferry
3rd Rock Pinot Noir, 2014 – $45
3rd Rock Pinot Noir, 2016 – $45
Trig Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2014 – $65
Trig Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2015 – $45
Te Whare Ra
Te Whare Ra TWR, 2017 – $50
Te Whare Ra SV5182, 2015 – $75
Te Whare Ra SV5096 Clayvin, 2016 – $75
Tohu
Marlborough & Nelson
Kono, 2016 – $21.99
Tohu Awatere Valley Marlborough, 2017 – $24.99
Tohu Whenua Awa Awatere Valley Marlborough, 2017 – $41.99
Tohu Whenua Matua Upper Moutere, 2017 – $34.99
MARLBOROUGH STAND
Envoy Outpost Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015
Jules Taylor OTQ Pinot Noir 2017
Nautilus Opawa Pinot Noir, 2017
Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir, 2016
Spy Valley Handpicked Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2016
Spy Valley Handpicked Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
WELLINGTON WINE COUNTRY
No one remembers the person who came second, or third, and it’s tough when your neighbour (Martinborough) is a pedigree Olympic athlete that seems to come in first with unnerving regularity. That’s ok, Wairarapa goes about its pinot its own fine way, and those in the know know it’s got all the right stuff. Soft, seductive, delicious; a real creeper.
Schubert
Wairarapa
Schubert Marion’s Vineyard, 2017 – $50
Schubert Block B, 2017 – $70
MARTINBOROUGH STAND
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, 2016
Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir, 2017
Grava Pinot Noir, 2016
On Giants’ Shoulders Pinot Noir, 2016
Schubert Marion’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2016
Urlar Pinot Noir, 2017
THE MIX
Pyramid Valley | Lowburn Ferry | Smith & Sheth
North Canterbury, Central Otago, Hawke’s Bay
Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Pinot Noir, 2018 – $45.00
Pyramid Valley Central Otago Pinot Noir, 2018 – $45.00
Lowburn Ferry Homeblock Pinot Noir, 2016 – $50.00
Smith & Sheth CRU Kawarau Pinot Noir, 2018 – $45.00
LIVE AUSTRALIA
Australia is a BIG country so, as you can imagine, the styles of pinot noir that you find here are as varied and diverse as the people themselves.
There’s light and ethereal examples from the Yarra Valley, fuller flavoured from Mornington, super fresh styles from Tasmania, the wildness of the Adelaide Hills and everything else in between.
Australian pinot noir has never been better and, with around 15 different regions producing excellent quality examples, there is much to explore.
Which is why we’re again bringing you the LIVE AUSTRALIA stand to Auckland. Here you’ll get to try a range of wines that we recon are pretty bloody cool and worth seeking out. In fact, many aren’t even available in NZ!
VICTORIA
Victoria is the ‘classic rock’ of wine regions. You know all the songs and you love to sing along to them. Loudly. It’s got the heartfelt ballads of the Mornington Peninsula, the sexy slow jams of the Yarra Valley and the funky, cool tunes that you find in Macedon, Ballarat and Gippsland. Victorian Pinot is always on high rotation on our playlist (or cellar) because we know it’s always a crowd pleaser.
Mornington Peninsula
Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Noir 2018
Ocean Eight Pinot Noir, 2016
Quealy Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2018
Red Claw Pinot Noir, 2018
Stonier Jimjoca Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2016
Read our regional profile here!
Gippsland
Moondarra Conception, 2018
Read our regional profile here!
Yarra Valley
Coldstream Hills Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, 2018
Greenstone Pinot Noir, 2018
Medhurst Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, 2018
Rob Dolan White Label Pinot Noir, 2017
Bellarine Peninsula
Leura Park Estate Pinot Noir, 2018
TASMANIA
Tassie pinot is like listening to your mate’s banging hip hop playlist: fun, full of soul and thought-provoking. Pinots from this region have the structure of a DJ Shadow song, and the flavour of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic record. Get your wineglasses ready and start scratching those vinyls, because there’s a new kid on the pinot block and they’re bringing the funk.
Chatto Pinot Noir, 2018
Ghost Rock Bonadale Pinot Noir, 2018
Josef Chromy Pinot Noir, 2016
Pipers Brook Pinot Noir, 2018
Stargazer Pinot Noir, 2018
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australian pinot noir is the Pop Princess of the wine world. Most of the time, the wines are fun, bright and dance across your palate. But there’s pockets within the region (we’re looking at you, Basket Ranges) where the wines get a little down and dirty, a bit funky, and push the barriers of winemaking norms (think Christina Aguilera when she dyed her hair and starting wearing a lot of leather). They don’t always get it right, but experimentation is at the heart of the region’s charm, and why pop music (like it or not) will always reign supreme.
Good Intentions Wine Co. Ooh La La Noir, 2017
