8 December 2011

Margaret River 2012 Wine Festival Dates Announced

The Margaret River Wine Industry Association (MRWIA) announced today its major plans for the 2012 Margaret River Wine Region Festival, presented by Channel 9 and WIN Television. It will be staged over a four day period from 13th – 16th April 2012 covering a range of venues in the region with the main event, the Vintage Festival on Saturday 14th April once again being hosted by Palmer Wines, Dunsborough. Palmer Wines were recently awarded the 2011 WIAWA wine industry award for the Most Outstanding Cellar Door / Wine Tourism Facility.

Stuart Watson, Vice President of the MRWIA said, “We are excited with the way the Wine Festival is shaping up for 2012 in showcasing Margaret River wines and enabling visitors to experience the unique and attractive lifestyle of the entire region ‐ our wine, food, arts / creative industries, natural attractions. We’ve some exciting changes and key marketing initiatives coming together. The popular Vintage Festival will once again be held at Palmer Wines at the northern end of the Margaret River wine region and further meets the commitment from the Association to ensure the whole wine region is included in the Festival. We expect a great turn out from visitors to the many Wine Festival events over the four day period.”

The Wine Festival will be launched with the popular Long Table Lunch at Leeuwin Estate on the afternoon of Friday 13th April. Prepared by some of the region’s most passionate chefs visitors will enjoy a delectable selection of local produce perfectly matched to a range of Margaret River wines. That evening the towns of Dunsborough and Margaret River will come to life with locals celebrating the end of vintage at their Street Fiestas. Wine and food sampling and live entertainment make for fun filled free events for all the family to enjoy.

John Bradbury, TMG Event Manager said today “All our major partners have supported the Festival again in 2012 with the inclusion of Gourmet Traveller and Gourmet Wine magazines promoting the region to a truly national food and wine audience. We have some really exciting plans for the Vintage Festival including a “Live Art Tent” where local artists can demonstrate their skills in all types of medium, as well as live music and street theatre. Corporate Tents will also be available for companies wanting to enjoy some first class hospitality within the Festival arena.”

The Sunday Times will be distributing the official event programme in April 2012 so Festival patrons can plan their escape to Margaret River wine region.

Those interesting in participating as an exhibitor or event holder should contact John Bradbury, Festival Event Manager at TMG Events on 1300 765 518 or email jb@travelmanagementgroup.com.au.

29 June 2011

2012 Margaret River Wine Festival Peoples Choice Poster Competition Winner

Julienne (Jules) Pogue, a local Margaret River artisan and long time resident, is the winner of the 2012 Margaret River Wine Region Festival Peoples Choice Poster Competition for her piece ‘Lunch with the girls at Cullen’s winery’.

Jules said, ‘it is thrilling to win the People’s Choice Poster Competition and assist in marketing the Margaret River Wine Festival locally, nationally and internationally.  What’s important to me is that the award promotes and will be of benefit to the Margaret River wine region; which I love, and it was chosen by people’s choice and public acclaim making it a very, very innovative art competition as far as judging was concerned.

To assist in this achievement, her Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts at Melbourne University; this has given her the skills and qualification to share her passion for art, by teaching in the region for the last 15 years.

Artists design themes were very open with entries required to demonstrate the full colour of ‘vine and wine’ with any other of the Margaret River wine region’s essential elements being its People, Lifestyle, Art, Produce, the Natural Environment or the Festival itself with patrons at the 2011 Festival asked to judge the 2012 poster art winner from a selection of 13 finalists shown at the Vintage Festival Art Display.

The work ‘Lunch with the girls at Cullen’s winery’ captures the spirit and essence of the Margaret River wine region its quality rich lifestyle.

”To me the pastel and ink painting portrays the enjoyable experience of good wine, good food in the company of good friends, at one of the many magnificent wineries in the region.  The artwork was created spontaneously on location at Cullen’s winery, while I was relishing the luncheon moment with friends.  This plien-air technique of painting outdoors, generates vitality and spirit to the piece, giving the viewer the feeling of being part on the indulging experience.  This light hearted and whimsical style in the painting is emphasised by using flowing, organic lines and lumanicesant, rich colours and is also evident in other pieces of my art work, inspired by the impressive surf, music and natured offered in the Margaret River wine region.”, Jules said.

Nigel Gallop, MRWIA President said,’ all of the people attending the Festival were impressed by the quality of the artworks entered in the competition and the various ways in which the given theme can be expressed.  When it came to voting there was very little separating the top three entries and it was also very close from first to fifth.  Jules’ piece depicts two unique aspects of the Margaret River region wine plus food being a classic cornerstone scene that all can identify with.’

‘Lunch with the girls at Cullen’s winery’ will be incorporated into marketing and promotional material used for the 2012 Margaret River Wine Festival providing an opportunity for the artist to be in the spotlight for that period as well as informing visitors and tourists alike what the ‘image’ is for the forthcoming year.