The 2024 Australian Pinot Noir Challenge, taking place in September, is now open to entries. Now in its seventh year, the Challenge stands has developed a reputation as one of the nation’s leading competitions available to Australian Pinot Noir producers.
This year’s competition also coincides with a 23% increase in the volume of Pinot Noir crushed this year. According to Wine Australia’s National Vintage Report 2024, 48,814 tonnes of Pinot Noir was crushed, or about 3% of the overall national crush. Despite this, its overall value was estimated at over $90 million, around 9% of the total value of all grapes crushed.
“Australian Pinot Noir is among the finest varieties, and while it has made significant strides, there’s still much potential to unlock,” said Tom Carson, Chair of Judges.
“Judging this show is a highlight because it provides a chance to see how viticulturists and winemakers are mastering this notoriously challenging variety. It is in the vineyard where the potential is set, and as the show is judged regionally, it provides an opportunity to showcase what is happening in the region and who the regional stars are.
“It is a detailed and precise assessment that offers grape growers and winemakers a chance to benchmark themselves against their peers.”
Last year, Tasmania’s 2022 Meadowbank Pinot Noir took home the top prize out of a record number of entrants. Tasmania is also the region that experienced the most notable improvement in the National Vintage Report 2024, growing 36% by volume and 51% by value on the year before.
“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,” said Peter Dredge, Meadowbank’s Winemaker.
“We sold out within ten days of the announcement, and it provided extra traction for our mailing list, which validated what we have been trying to achieve over the last ten or so years.”
Working alongside Tom Carson on the judging panel for 2024 will be Samantha Connew, Gabrielle Poy, Loic Le Calvez, Ben Portet, Anna Pooley, and Tim Perrin, along with associates Brendan Hawker and Imogen Dillon. Judging will take place over two days, during which 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.
Chair of the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge Lindsay McCall said, “we are incredibly proud of how the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge has evolved over the past seven years… 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 competition will close to entries on Friday 16 August. Following this, the final results will be announced at a gala dinner at Melbourne’s Cutler & Co on Thursday 3 October.
For more information, visit the event’s webpage here.
