…. followed by Pinot lunch and dinner!
You gotta hand it to those Pinot Noir wine makers, growers, Sommeliers and enthusiasts. It takes commitment to start tasting at 9am and still be going at midnight particularly in the 36 degrees heat that the weather gods gave us for all 3 days. Such an awesome experience to be part of the Pinot Celebration 2018 in Central Otago and Queenstown with over 180 wine makers and enthusiasts celebrating the mighty Pinot Noir grape and it’s resulting glorious wines.
Starting with the rather serious Central Otago Discovery Tasting at the Millennium Queenstown then transferring by Thunderjet to the Hilton Resort for more tasting. Day 2 started at the wonderful Amisfield Winery for the Grand Tasting followed by lunch in the Vines at a choice of Aurum, Two Paddocks, Akarua, Gibbston Valley or Mt Difficulty. Then home for a wee siesta in time for dinner at one of 5 of Queenstown’s top restaurants and more tasting. Day 3 started with serious tasting at the Millenium followed by sumptuous lunch under the trees at Millbrook Resort. Another wee siesta to refresh just in time for the Grand Finale Dinner at the Skyline in Queenstown.
Attended by many of the top wine makers from Central Otago and across the world the highlight was seeing the wines each person brought from their own collection to share with others at the Grand Finale dinner. The tables were covered with every imaginable Pinot Noir from around the world.
Top wine, top view, top weather. Hard to beat really. Like I said – Yes I get all the good jobs. And no I wasn’t tasting – needed to keep my eye well and truly focused for 3 days. But I certainly had a good sleep at the end of it.
