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By Kath Gannaway
In a coup for the local industry, the Yarra Valley Winegrowers Association secured the 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial, showcasing more than 230 fine wines from Australia’s premier wine regions.
The event is an initiative of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation aimed at creating new insights and opportunities for Australia’s fine wine segment.
Participants came from key international markets for what AWBC general manager Market Development Paul Henry said was about reshaping the way the world views Australia’s fine wines.
“The aim of the Landmark Australia Tutorial is to positively engage a new generation of international wine influencers – and provoke new opinions about Australian wine,” he said.
YVWA CEO Richard Howden said the event was a great success for the Australian industry and for the Yarra Valley.
“They were extremely impressed by what they saw and what they tasted. It really opened their eyes to what Australia can do and what we have to offer,” Mr Howden said.
Mr Howden said it was very much about the experience, as well as the wine.
“The primary focus is the wines and the tastings, but we put together a program which made sure they dined at different places around the Yarra Valley and got to see a number of different places.”
Among the 22 winemakers and presenters drawn from the leading luminaries of the Australian wine industry were local representatives Tony Jordan, Steve Weber and James Halliday.
The Yarra Valley’s most promising young winemakers also had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the visitors, and show what the future has to offer at the Young Guns Dinner at Innocent Bystander.
“We have some really good young winemakers, people like Franco D’Anna (Hoddles Creek Estate), Ben Portet (Dominique Portet), Sarah Fagan (De Bortoli), Steve Lampsted (Giant Steps) and Troy Jones and Behn Payten (Payten Vignerons),” he said.
“The Young Guns’ dinner gave the visitors an opportunity to chat to the guys who will be taking over the mantle in 10 or 15 years.”
