Pinot Heaven

May is pinot noir heaven in Martinborough.  Not only are the precious grapes now doing their thing quietly in barrels, the wines from earlier seasons are being served by 47 restaurants around the greater Wellington region in a new Catch Pinot promotion.
 
From 1-29 May 95 pinot noir wines, matched with 95 special dishes, are being offered to celebrate this region’s flagship grape.
 
In Martinborough The Village Café, The Vineyard Café at Margrain and E10 at the Pukemanu Eatery are offering local wines by the glass and matched to delectable dishes.  Greytown’s La Pancetta and Salute, The Gladstone Inn and in Masterton The Farriers and The Grill at Solway have also created their own wine and food matches, while in Wellington another 39 restaurants are participating. Catch Pinot is a new event, organised jointly by Wines From Martinborough, Wairarapa Wines and Wellington on a Plate.
 
All the wines are also available at Martinborough Wine Merchants, with Saturday tastings.
 
The merry month of May culminates in a gala Pinot Celebration Dinner on Saturday 28 May, at Te Papa.  Auckland-based chef Michael Meredith (Metro magazine’s Restaurateur of the Year 2016) is creating a four course dinner which will be served with fine examples of regional pinot noirs, selected by leading winemakers Larry McKenna (Escarpment) and Allan Johnson (Palliser Estate).
 
Details of wines, dishes and restaurants are on www.catchpinot.nz; and dinner bookings for individuals or tables of 8 can be booked online