Pinot Views From a St Kilda Rooftop
6 March
Hotel Barkly, St Kilda
When I hear “wine tasting” I automatically go into foodie mode, trying to remember every adjective I can, so if pressed to describe a wine, I can pull out some fabulously extravagant answer.
So on the tram down to Pinot Views from a St Kilda Rooftop last Sunday afternoon I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be a bunch of 50 something’s yapping on about wine ? As I discovered, it was a complete mélange of people enjoying the epic Melbourne weather with some Tgallant wines matched with some sumptuous canapés.
Set atop the Hotel Barkly, utilising both a large function room and the rooftop terrace, the afternoon attracted all sorts with old wine buffs, trendy St Kilda locals and even a few backpackers all mingling together to have a good time. Founder and winemaker Kevin McCarthy led the afternoon with a range of tastings covering both Pinot G and Pinot Noir, which, according to Kevin, have taken inspiration greatly from the Alsace region of France and areas of the German Rhine region which make stunning Pinot Gris. When asked why the wines were described as neither Pinot Gris nor Pinot Grigio, McCarthy responded that the market had not found a distinct difference between the two (both overseas and in Australia) and that this was the best way to label the wines.
Over two hours with stops for an acoustic band to play we moved through six wines each matched with a canapé, and matched very well:
• Tgallant Juliet Pinot Grigio a young vibrant quaffing wine served with an ocean trout sashimi.
• Tgallant Grace Pinot Grigio which I found quite dry but very enjoyable with freshly shucked oysters.
• Tgallant Imogin Pinot Gris a high sugar, low acid very smooth wine also known as “white grange” served with a blue cheese tart.
• Tgallant “Tribute” (which according the McCarthy can be described in one word: opulence) was served with a prawn dumpling.
• Les Petites Vignettes Pinot Noir as an example of an Old World wine which was very smooth served with Peking Duck. We love duck and pinot.
• Tgallant Cyrano, a wine with an amazing nose that smelt like a big bunch of warm berries matched with a duck pie.
Sitting back at the bar enjoying the last wine I noticed something that set this afternoon apart from other tastings I had attended; there was no pretentious banter, everyone was having a great time and as a true definition of how Melbourne Food and Wine Events operate, the spittoons were left unused. The festival is not just about food, but appreciating produce and a chance to have some great times at uniquely Melbourne events. This was my first event for this year’s festival and I’m über keen to get stuck in to as many events as I can, and so should you.
The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is on now until March 14. Check out the rest of the events on the MF&W website.
For more details on Tgallant wines, hit them up here.
