Yesterday afternoon I popped into Pinot Palooza, a consumer Pinot Noir event that hails from Australia but which has been transplanted to New Zealand for the day before the Pinot 2017 event in Wellington. 117 producers from all over New Zealand were present, and it had a great vibe. I wandered around chatting to people and drinking some lovely Pinot Noir. It was a great way to begin this Pinot-focused week. Here are some pictures (credit: some were taken by Hannah Burns who stole my camera).

Rosie Finn and Mel Brown

Dan Sims, right, organiser of Pinot Palooka

Chatting to Nat, winemaker at Yealands

Nick and Jo Mills, Rippon

Angela Clifford with Lynette Hudson, Tongue in Groove- Clive Dougall photobombs

With Tim Kerruish, Folding Hill

Clayton twice

With Jo Mills, Rippon

Chuck Hayward

Angela Clifford, Tongue in Groove

Hannah Burns with Rudi Bauer

Andrew Hedley, Framingham

Theo Coles, Kalex and others