Five minutes with Austins & Co. for Pinot Palooza

Pinot Palooza is heading your way, in Melbourne on October 7 and Sydney on October 8. We will be there for both events and answered a few questions for the lovely folks over at Pinot Palooza. This was published there originally and you can read all of the wineries profiles here.

What style do you think characterises the wines of your region (Pinot specifically) opposed to others?
Moorabool Valley can produce wines of great power and concentration but with precise varietal definition and deft balance. Pinot Noir has all the lovely character of Pinot… cherry when ripe and strawberry when picked earlier. Largely continental in nature, but with close proximity to the southern ocean and generally quite dry in summer, allows for full ripeness to be achieved but with finesse!

Tell us THREE THINGS we need to know about your region?
Ancient volcanic soils containing limestone giving perfect soil profiles for viticulture. A rich history in viticulture and winemaking where during the 1860’s was the largest vineyard area in Australia as the early European settlers saw the great potentiation for growing quality fruit around the Geelong region.
Unfortunately phylloxera ended the grape growing story by the 1870’s in Geelong until the early 1970’s where the next period of viticulture begins.

Whats the ONE THING you you simply MUST do in your region?
It is difficult to choose one thing to do. The valley is filled with many many quality producers. The one thing you must do is the Moorabool Valley Taste Trail.

If not you, what other wineries should people try?
As the original viticultural area in Geelong, the Moorabool Valley offers many quality producers; By Farr, Bannockburn and Clyde Park would be a few of our picks.

What song should we listen to when driving to the winery?

What song should we listen to when driving away and onto the next one?​