The first-ever Pinot Picnic is a four-day celebration of pop-up, pinot-inspired events throughout the Southern Forests region of Manjimup and Pemberton in Western Australia from 22 to 25 April 2021.  The Pinot Picnic  program pairs the finest local produce with regional pinot wines; highlighting varieties from pinot sparkling through to pinot rosé and the region hero, the pinot noir.

Foodies, wine-lovers and romantics will have the chance to sip, taste and explore this stunning corner of WA in the heart of Karri Tree country, just three and a half hours from Perth. 

An opening cocktail reception kicks off the long weekend filled with picnics, live entertainment, sparkling soirées, wine tastings, vineyard experiences, wine-matching dining and exploration of the Southern Forests' farm produce. 

The Southern Forests is Australia’s premium cool climate wine region and the leading pinot region in WA, known for quality, expressive wines.  The region is renowned for boutique, artisanal gourmet food such as fresh local marron or the internationally famous black truffle, to premium produce such as the Pink Lady and Bravo apple, potatoes, avocados and limes.

For those wine-lovers who can’t travel to sip, taste and explore this stunning corner of Western Australia, Pinot Picnic Hampers are available for domestic, interstate and international orders, with free shipping through the website.  Small and large hampers have been curated with a range of Southern Forests regional pinots and local produce such as macadamias, honey, truffle and apple products and more, accompanied by engraved Plumm outdoor stemless wine glasses, valued at $12.50 each.   Small hampers with two bottles of wine, five products and two glasses are priced at $160, and large hampers with four bottles, eight products and four glasses at $260.  Order at www.pinotpicnic.com.

The inaugural 2021 Pinot Picnic is a partnership with Wine Australia, Wines of WA, Australia South West, Southern Forests Wine Region, Southern Forests Food Council, Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development, Southern Forests & Valleys Tourism, South West Development Commission, RAC Western Australia and Shire of Manjimup.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Opening Cocktail Reception on Thursday 22 April at RAC Karri Valley Resort from 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm.  Sample regional pinot wines, enjoy local produce canapés, meet the producers and soak up the majestic views of the soaring Karri Forest.  Tickets $65 per person (RAC member discounts).
• The Many Faces of Pinot running Friday 23 to Sunday 25 April, exclusive to Pinot Picnic.  Indulge in the ultimate tasting with a Mountford Wines Pinot Paddle matched with local produce pairings and soak in the estate views. From current releases, to rare museum stock and new natural trends, there's a Pinot for everyone.  Available Friday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and Sunday 12 noon to 4.00 pm. Includes tasting paddle of four Pinot varieties and paired local produce picnic spread for $25 per paddle.
• Pinot Pilgrimage is an internationally live streamed wine tasting event on Friday 23 April from 7.00 pm at Tall Timbers Manjimup. Guests will learn about the Southern Forest's premium pinots from a panel of local winemakers and wine aficionados.  The pilgrimage through a menu of pinots and local produce will be accompanied by a matching canape dinner experience, and finish with a Pinot Party featuring DJs at the new Tall Timbers brewery.  Tickets $75.
• Sunset Picnic on Friday 23 April from 6.00 to 10.00 pm.  Watch the sun go down whilst enjoying a lavish picnic in Pemberton Anzac Park with Wild at Heart Cafe and Treehouse Tapas and Wine Bar. Savour a delicious six-course picnic feast of fresh local produce, complemented with pop-up bar and live jazz music, with welcome cocktail on arrival. Indulge in Southern Forests finest, celebrating our farm-fresh produce and world-class pinot noir with tunes and grazing into the evening.
• Graze your way to Pinot hosted by Genuinely Southern Forests on Saturday 24 April in Manjimup.  Graze your way to Pinot is a specially curated afternoon of grazing, sipping, and exploring, with the added element of going beyond the farm gate to meet the genuine people who grow and produce the amazing food and wine offerings of the Southern Forests.  Sip a glass of sparkling pinot whilst sampling the unique flavours and aromas of truffle products, enjoy a tractor ride through the autumn orchard then huddle around the open fires to graze on roasted chestnuts, macadamias, feijoas, persimmons, apples and other fresh-from-the-tree tastings, before ending your day with a stroll through a vineyard at sunset accompanied by a selection of sumptuous pinots and a grazing board of local delicacies.  10.00 am to 4.00 pm in Manjimup, $165 per person.
• Pork and Pinot at Lost Lake Winery on Saturday 24 April from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm, picnic style around the lake with live music.  Renowned chef and truffle grower David Coomer, will create Asian inspired bao buns from estate raised pork on the spit and fresh marron from the lake, with a range of Pinot matched accompaniments (noir, rosé or sparkling).  $25 per person.
• Wine and Cheese Masterclass at Wild at Heart Café in Pemberton on Saturday 24 April.  Discover the art of cheese making. Learn to make traditional cheddar and ricotta cheese from scratch with local wine and cheesemaker, Bob Peruch, and finish with a delicious group lunch paired with premium pinot, with your own cheese to take home.  Tickets $130 per person, 9.30 am to 1.30pm.
• Pass the Pinot at Pemberley of Pemberton from 5.30 pm to 10.00 pm on Saturday 24 April. This curated vertical tasting of Pemberley pinot noir vintages will be offered with gourmet hampers from Wild at Heart Café. Book a private table of six in the vineyard – tickets are limited at 42 guests.  Tickets $120 or $90 per person for non-alcoholic admission.
• Gourmet Pinot Dinner at The Forest Lodge Resort on Saturday 24 April.  Internationally trained Chef Ingo Maass will prepare a pinot matched gourmet four-course dinner.  Surrounded by the stunning Karri Forest backdrop, enjoy your meal with expertly matched premium pinot wines.  Limited spaces available.  Runs 6.30 to 10.00 pm for $125 per person.
• Oysters and Sparkling on Sunday 25 April at Lost Lake Winery from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm.  Romantics will love this pairing of fresh hand shucked oysters with Lost Lake’s premium pinot sparkling, on their deck with picturesque garden and vineyard surrounds.  Half dozen oysters and a paired glass for $25 per person.