Wine fix

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We seem to have spent rather a lot of our time tasting our way around New Zealand. We started taking a photo outside each winery to remind ourselves which ones we had been to. Once we put them all together we realised we had been to rather a few... So rather than spread out entries for Hawkes Bay, Martinborough and Marlborough, here is a rundown of all the wineries we have visited so far. Otago still to go, so we are hoping to add to the fine collection of snaps! We didn't do all these in one day. Honest. It has all been quite spread out.

All the places we have been to have been very visitor friendly, offering free tastings and heaps of information about the growing conditions, styles and awards reflecting the quality and range of wines on offer. We didn't buy from every place of course, but have treated ourselves to a few nice bottles. There's nothing more satisfying than opening a decent bottle in the back of a campervan to accompany a dinner of beans and sausages.

Wine growing country all looks pretty similar in NZ, but the backdrop of the mountains in Marlborough was stunning. Martinborough was so tiny we were able to rent bikes and cycle around all the wineries in a day. All the areas we have been to have been thoroughly civilised and although very hard work, of course, it has been a highly rewarding aspect of our trip so far. We found lots of fine examples that we will try to seek out when we get home.

Highlight of the winery visits was undoubtedly a trip to see Mandy Weaver of Churton Wines. Sam, her husband and the winemaker, was visiting the US, so we didn't get to meet the man himself, but Mandy very kindly gave up an afternoon to show us round the vines and talk us through their new vintages of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. We were extremely grateful to her for sharing her time and expertise.

Normal blogging will commence again shortly. Just got to finish the rest of the bottle...

1st October update... We've done Central Otago. New photos below.

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