NEW MELBOURNE SEAFOOD STAR

With a terrace overlooking Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD, the new Pinchy’s Champagne and Lobster Bar is serving a range of dishes that put the focus on sustainable seafood. Expect lobster rolls, mussel chowder, and crab, scallops and clams on the menu, with cocktails, beers and wines to match.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST PINOT NOIRS

A Tasmanian wine took out the top title at the annual Australian Pinot

Noir Challenge, with the 2018 Tertini Tasmania Pinot Noir winning the competition. Tertini is based in the NSW Southern Highlands, but also makes wines from Hilltops in NSW and Tasmania, where the winery recently planted vines. Seven Australian winegrowing regions were represented in the competition, with one wine winner per region. These included the 2018 Handpicked Collection Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula), the 2018 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley) and the 2018 Dirty Three Holgates Road Pinot Noir (Gippsland).

For full results, visit pinot-noir.com.au

BIG WIN FOR FOUR PILLARS

Yarra Valley distiller Four Pillars has taken out the 2019 International Gin Producer of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition. Established in 2013, Four Pillars has ridden a huge wave of success in this short time, enjoying an incredible run of awards since their inception.

NEW PLUMM TRIO

Celebrating 10 years in business, Australian glassware company Plumm has released a trio of new glasses in the range, Plumm Three, The Sommelier Series. The new glasses follow close collaborations with some of the country’s top sommeliers to provide a minimalistic and functional solution for wine lovers at home.

The three designs are No. 1, a universal glass for all red and whites, with a focus on fuller-bodied styles; the No. 2, a white glass for fresh, crisp styles and sparklings; and the No. 3 for lighter reds and textural whites. The wines are priced at $89.95 per twin-pack.

plumm.com.au

CALLING ALL CABERNET LOVERS

For anyone who loves great cabernet sauvignon, the recent Halliday Australian Cabernet Challenge has named the country’s finest. The 2018 Ringbolt Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon won the top title, judged against some 350 wine entries. More than 25 Australian wine-growing areas were represented in the competition, in which the Best of Region wines were also named. These included the 2016 Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon (McLaren Vale), 2017 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) and the 2018 Dominique Portet Fontaine Cabernet Sauvignon (Yarra Valley).

For full results, visit australiancabernetchallenge.com.au