Mornington Peninsula world class food and wine
Two hundred people visited the Mornington Peninsula in early February this year, and attended the fourth biennial Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration. Two days of celebrating Pinot Noir from around the world was an exceptional experience. The stylistic expressions of terroir and the 2006 vintage from France, US, Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand were highlighted.
"Pinot Noir is the messenger not the message” Mike Weersing from Pyramid Valley Vineyards in New Zealand reminded those attending.
The 2009 keynote speaker Jancis Robinson had not visited the region since 1985 and has since referred to “Australia’s greatest concentration of Pinot Noir producers, in the Mornington Peninsula” as follows: “The Mornington Peninsula is reliably cooled by Antarctic influence and virtually all the Mornington Pinots (and Chardonnays) I tasted had lovely natural refreshing acidity, and were surprisingly transparent for Australian reds – the polar opposite of Barossa Shiraz” Jancis Robinson, The Financial Times 7 March 2009
During the Mornington Peninsula tasting Jancis noted that the region tends to follow the Burgundy model of producers growing and making their own wine which gives more personality to the wines and the region. The brackets of local wines she tasted during the Celebration indicated a regional style which, she commented, was “very very creditable…..overall, the wines were delightful; subtle and refreshing”
Twenty wine writers, producers, friends and pinot lovers predominantly from around Australia but including producers and guests from France, Canada, US and new Zealand, were treated to lunches held at 14 wineries who matched food to the local wines being showcased. The regions’ Chefs and Winemakers did not hold back in creating wonderful experiences, and Jancis commented on her experiences as “first class by any world standards” after visiting Montalto, Ten Minutes by Tractor and Salix at Willow Creek.
The inaugural Pinot Garden Showcase was attended by another 200 visitors following the Celebration, at Lindenderry in Red Hill. Visitors were treated to tastings provided by over 30 Mornington Peninsula Vignerons with guests from New Zealand, Canada and other Australian regions. A picnic lunch prepared by three local chefs and a Masterclass involving wines from Burgundy, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland were featured alongside many tastings of the 2007 vintage Pinot Noir.
Ben Edwards, President of the Victorian chapter of Sommeliers Australia, suggests 2007 will be a watershed for Mornington Peninsula with wines showing “grace, finesse, depth and power”.
The next Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration will be held in 2011 and details posted to www.mpva.com.au click here to check the 2 day 2009 program format Pinot Garden Showcase - Sunday 8 February 2009
In 2009 following the Pinot Celebration, the MPVA created an extra day for visitors with less time to attend - great wines, fine food in a beautiful setting.
