Celebrating its 7th year, The Australian Pinot Noir Challenge has announced that entries for the 2024 competition are now open for the finest winemakers across the country.
Known for its rigorous judging process and esteemed panel of judges, the challenge is recognised as a significant accolade in the wine industry, capable of propelling wineries into the.
The competition not only highlights the incredible diversity and quality of Australian Pinot Noir but also provides a platform for winemakers to showcase their craftsmanship to a broader audience.
“We are incredibly proud of how the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge has evolved over the past seven years,” said chair of the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge, Lindsay McCall.
“The quality of entries continues to impress us, and it’s truly inspiring to see how winning the Challenge can transform a winery’s trajectory. We encourage all Pinot Noir producers to enter and be part of this exciting journey.”
The 2024 show boasts an impressive assembly of judge that includes some of the best Pinot Noir minds in the country, including Tom Carson, Samantha Connew, Gabrielle Poy, Loic Le Calvez, Ben Portet, Anna Pooley, and Tim Perrin, with associates Brendan Hawker and Imogen Dillon.
Over two days of judging, the panel will benchmark the best of Australia’s Pinot Noir regions and wines assessing quality, regional variation, and emerging themes from Australian grape growing and winemaking.
Winning the Challenge has proven to open doors to new markets and elevate their standing within the industry.
2024 Challenge winner, Peter Dredge of Meadowbank, is still reminiscing about the win.
“Just the other day I was at Cutler & Co remembering how good it was to take home the chocolates,” said Dredge.
“We only make around 300 cases of this wine, and for such a small producer to take out such an illustrious gong was very special. We sold out within ten days of the announcement, and it provided extra traction for our mailing list.”
Results will be announced at a gala dinner at Cutler & Co in Melbourne on Thursday, the 3rd of October 2024.
To enter the challenge, please visit pinotchallenge.com.au.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 19th August.
