Ten Minutes by Tractor - 'making waves'

Last week we were delighted to be visited by Martin Spedding from boutique Mornington Peninsula winery Ten Minutes by Tractor. For me especially, this is one producer visit that I always find particularly enjoyable, being one of my favourite wineries in the world. I 'discovered' it, and the rest of the Mornington, on a happy post-vintage trip when I was last in Australia, three years ago, as recommended by the winemaker I was working with at the time. Coming here and tasting at the cellar door then was a bit of a light-bulb moment for me. It was here when I finally 'got' Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - from this side of the world and from a cool climate, but it all suddenly made sense - over a taste of the 'difficult' 2011 vintage Pinot Noir.

This time, Martin was here for a 'Making Waves' tasting hosted at Australia House along with 11 other producers from the Mornington Peninsula. In the morning there was a masterclass in which Martin presented the McCutcheon Pinot Noir, and Coolart Road Pinot Noir - the latest edition to the Ten Minutes by Tractor portfolio - a whole bunch pressed Pinot Noir which offers an earthier style of wines relative to his others. A trade and press tasting followed where a number of friendly faces were in attendance.

Martin pouring at the Mornington Peninsula's Making Waves tasting, with an interested Oz Clarke in conversation

Bancroft Wines at the 2016 London Wine Fair

One of our favourite things to do here at Bancroft Wines is to hang out with our wine producers and once a year we get a chance to do that for three full days over the London Wine Fair.

Here's a summary of the show for us this year in pictures.... If you missed out on any of the wines or would like a sample, download, the tech sheets from our website, or get in touch with your Account Manager for more information. Thanks to all those who stopped by our stand to meet the faces behind the labels!

Bancroft's Johnny P and our favourite Mexican, Luis from Remirez de Ganuza (Rioja)

Newbie Trade Sales Simon Newbury and Christina from Lionello Marchesi (Chianti)

Bancroft's Wine fair Maestro, James Wainscott and Raf De Haan from Export Iberia showing off our recently much bolstered Spanish offering.