29 Apr 2010 - Carmen Blackler

Pinot Power not to be underestimated!

The 2010 Oxfam Trailwalker was held in Taupo on 10th & 11th April.  Mt Difficulty Wines was proud to sponsor the “Powered by Pinot” team, made up of Carmen Blackler, James Collinson Smith, Sue Powell & Andy Sommerville.  The four are staunch fans of Central Otago wines, and Mt Difficulty in particular.  They thought our name quite apt given the circumstances.

The Oxfam Trailwalker is described as the “most life changing, team building, foot slogging, friendship forming, group hugging, experience ever…” It has two sides to its challenge:

•    Firstly the physical challenge of walking 100km in under 36 hours. That is, the whole team of 4 walk the 100km together - not a relay.

•    Secondly, raising funds for Oxfam New Zealand’s vital work, helping some of the most vulnerable and poor people around the world.

Though it was the team’s intention to cross the finish line complete with a bottle of Pinot Noir, when they finished at around 4am a glass of Pinot was, unsurprisingly, not on the top of their agenda! “Powered by Pinot” had the goal of completing the walk in a time of 18-24 hours and raising at least $2500 for Oxfam New Zealand. They made it through the 100km, completed (as a full team) the event in 22 hours, and exceeded their fundraising target.

Check out the “Powered by Pinot” website page.

View Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir 2008