Bless the baby cheeses - and wines

 

Calling all lovers of cheeses and wines. 

Mould x Pinot Palooza returns this year with its largest food and wine tour yet, visiting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Hobart again misses out. 

The festival boasts its brings "friends, fromages and fermentation" under one roof for one of Australia’s biggest food and wine celebrations.

Mould (established in 2017) will showcase 50+ varieties of Australian artisan cheeses, drawing producers from around the country. 

Pinot Palooza, which began in 2012, showcases 50+ expressions of pinot noir from Australia, New Zealand and beyond. 

Sydney returns after an 18-month hiatus dropping in at the Hordern Pavilion, while the Melbourne event moves to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). 

Brisbane returns to the John Reid Pavilion at the RNA Showgrounds, and Perth to the Silver Jubilee Pavilion at Claremont Showgrounds.

Building on the popularity of last year’s tour, the 2026 program will see four sessions run over three days, with Sundays now part of the line-up in every location.



Jess Audas, head of organisers Revel, said: “Cheese and pinot naturally belong together, and this format gives people the freedom to explore both at their own pace, talk directly with producers, and enjoy the experience without it feeling over-programmed or precious. 

"It’s about great produce, great people and having a genuinely good time.”

On sale now via mouldxpalooza.com, tickets are $59 + booking fee and include festival entry, unlimited cheese and pinot tastings, a complimentary cooler bag for cheese purchases, a stemless wine glass for tastings and a custom wine tote. 

Event Dates: 

BRISBANE: May 22-24, John Reid Pavilion, RNA Showgrounds

SYDNEY: June 12-14, The Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park

MELBOURNE: July 3-5, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre 

PERTH: August 7-9, Silver Jubilee Pavilion, Claremont Showgrounds

ADELAIDE: August28-30, The Queens Theatre 

Sims stands down, but will bounce back

You might not know the name Dan Sims.

But if you've attended a Pinot Palooza or Mould - A Cheese Festival event then you'll have enjoyed his work.

Sims, whose latest business iteration was as part of REVEL Global, has been hailed as man who "re-invented wine events in Australia".

The livewire marketer helped make wine and food events fun again - and sold a whole lot of wine and cheese along the way.

Sims announced this week via LinkedIm that he is "stepping away from all things REVEL Global, Pinot Palooza and Mould"

His post said:

"At a briefing in Melbourne the other week I said 'Since that first crazy idea of Pinot Palooza back in 2012 and then MOULD in 2017 (and all the others!), we’ve come together and celebrated the best of our collective industries. 

"We’ve come together in collaboration, not competition and made it not just our mantra but a code. A true belief.

"Together, the festivals of both Pinot Palooza and MOULD have grown and grown with tens of thousands of people joining across the country and overseas.

"And as a result, they’ve grown above and beyond any one brand or producer and certainly, beyond any one person.

"To have been a part of this, to witness this, and to lead it has been the greatest privilege of my professional career.”

Sims has handed the reins to Jessica Audas.

"She’s fully taken on the REVEL ethos of ‘giving a shit’ and cares deeply for all who take part; producer, supplier and punter alike," Sims said.

"She's gonna nail it.

"I’m so bloody proud of her, the team, and the empowered culture we’ve built as a result and I trust all will support her with the care and respect she deserves."

Sims paid tribute to Justin Dry and the Vinomofo team, who backed the return of the festivals post-Covid.

"They truly saw our potential, backed us and allowed us the space - and critical support - to keep us going as we reimagined festivals post-Covid."

Sims says he will take "an extended break to rest, recoup and focus on my health".

But fear not, he has some ideas in the pipeline. And the former sommelier, writer and show judge will continue in his role as chair of Wine Victoria.  

And I notice there is a website  https://www.dansims.com.au/ coming soon.   

Double treat for gourmets in Tasmania

Tasmanian wine lovers and gourmets are in for a rare treat with Mould - Australia’s biggest cheese festival - and Pinot Palooza - the country's major pinot noir festival - are coming to Hobart for the first time.

The two festivals will combine and the dates are Friday October 21 to Sunday October 23 at the Goods Shed at Macquarie Point. 

Mould will be showcasing over 65 varieties of the very best in Australian artisan cheese from around the country - God Bless the Baby Cheeses - while Pinot Palooza is celebrating its 10th year. 

The festival mission statement is simple; to celebrate the diversity of pinot noir and to have a heck of a lot of fun doing it.

But with added cheese. 

Expect to see not just local Tasmanian pinots, but many from the mainland, New Zealand and beyond.

Both festivals have recently run in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 

Tickets will be $55 plus booking fee and will include all cheese and pinot tastings (no annoying tokens);  a complimentary Mould Cheese Collective cooler bag and a Stemless Revel wine glass. 

There will be four sessions to choose from,. including two on the Saturday.

For details and bookings see www.mouldcheesefestival.com/mould-x-pinot-palooza-hobart-2022/

Paradise for pinotphiles

Tasmania will be a major focus when the Pinot Palooza festivals make their return in Australia later this year. 

Tasmania will be the "featured region" when tastings are held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 

"Having come of age, Tassie wines have firmly put the island state on the map and created a world-class wine destination in the process," says event convenor Dan Sims of Revel Global.

"This year, we are incredibly excited to have over 20 of the island's best producers joining us in each city of the tour, including many rarely, if ever, seen on the mainland. 

"And it’s not just about the pinot; you’ll also find incredible cheese, spirits and cider from some of Tasmania’s most talented producers."

So think star producers like Grandvewe and Bruny Island cheese, Hartshorn, Taylor & Smith, Ironhouse Whisky and Pagan Cider.

Wineries involved include Apogee, Barringwood, Bay of Fires, Charles Reuben Estate, Devils Corer, Tamar Ridge,  Ghost Rock, Haddow & Dineen, Marion's Vineyard and Beautiful Isle, Meadowbank, Merriworth (whose wines I have not seen or tasted), Mewstone, Moorilla and Domaine A, Pipers Brook, Pooley, Small Island Wines and Spring Vale.

As part of a promotion with Wine Tasmania, wine lovers in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will have the chance to wine a starter Tasmanian wine cellar – a total of two dozen bottles, with wines coming from each of the producers involved.

The dates are Melbourne: May 6-7; Brisbane: May 20-21 and Sydney, June 17-18. Tickets are $65 plus booking fee and include a Revel wine glass and tastings of all wines (no tokens). 

Get your tickets here: www.pinotpalooza.com.au/tickets-2022/ 

 

Pinot Palooza returns in 2022

It has been a long wait for pinotphiles but the very popular Pinot Palooza wine tastings are coming back to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in 2022. 

Right now the Revel Global team should be hosting the 10th anniversary Pinot Palooza in Melbourne, which was scheduled for this weekend.

Due to Covid, the entire program was shut down.

Organiser Dan Sims says: "Behind the scenes we've been working hard to make the Pinot stars align and we're stoked to say we have new dates!"

For ticket holders, tickets have been transferred to the new dates.

Same Day. Same Session. Same venue. Just a different date.

Those who cannot make the new date will get refunds via hello@pinotpalooza.com.au

The new dates are Melbourne: May 6-7, 2022; Brisbane: May 20-21; Sydney: June 17-18. See www.pinotpalooza.com.au for full details.