By Amy Looker
Pinot Noir produced in Victoria has been given a $20,000 boost, following a grant from the government to assist winemakers in raising the profile of locally-produced pinot noir, particularly from the Mornington Peninsula region.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Peter Ryan, announced the grant at the commencement of the Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration late last month (January).
The Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration is a two-day conference established to provide a platform for Victorian winemakers to discuss Victorian and Australian pinot noir, exchange information and develop their pinot noir-producing skills.
“The aim of the conference is to help increase the knowledge of participants to ensure they are better-equipped to compete in the international market,” Ryan said.
“The conference, which is both educational and promotional in nature, helps participants develop a better understanding of worldwide trends and opportunities in the production of pinot noir.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for Victorian producers of pinot noir to benchmark their wines against those from across Australia and right around the world.”
Ryan said pinot noir was an increasingly popular variety of wine, with the wholesale value of Mornington Peninsula's pinot noir having doubled from $35 million in 2000 to $70 million in 2008.