The Grapes Of Wrath

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Surfer's shark bite shock: my foot was in it's mouth

"Surfer's shark bite shock: my foot was in it's mouth" reads the morning paper. I'm glad that this was today, and not yesterday else I never would have gone surfind again. It seems that while I was struggling to catch waves on the beach, a 15 year old boy was being attacked by a shark a couple of hundred metres up the beach. He was fine... but still!

Today is definitely going to be surfing free - but not alcohol free. I was picked up at 9 by 'Shadow' tours to be taken wine tasting round the Hhunter Valley. The Hunter Valley is home to many fine wineries ranging from the small the the super big. We visited mainly small to medium sized vineyards. Some of these only sell wine from their cellar door, while others import and export produce globally. The drinks on offer were limited to wines either. Of course there were fortified wines, but also a wide range of liquors to the delicious (white chocolate) to the bizarre (butterscotch and chilli (also delicious)). Perhaps unsuprisingly the best wines of the day were the reds and in particular the Shiraz. Not just a personal opinion - the Shiraz grape is perfectly suited to the hot and dry conditions of the hunter valley. AS well as the wines we visited a fantastic cheese shop which stocked a heavenly blue cheese (3 varieties) and port blend. Yum! There was also a chocolate shop, but they were rather mean with their tasting. Infact the only thing to note about this shop was the fact that amongst all the chocolate it also sold mango mayonaisse. As you do!

Wineries Visits: Coopers, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

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Photos

Coopers Winery
The smallest and most friendly that we visited

The Hunter Valley
Not the most spectacular shot, but the only one I took!

Comments

[Jodie Cooper]

COOOP!
Well there's a surprise! Bet you knew I'd leave a comment about the Coopers winery. Good to see my family name is being used for wonderful things like fuelling the alcohol induced society. Is it available for order???