31 Wine Country - Sth Australia 20 April

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31 Wine Country – South Australia 20 April 2012

Got a bit messed up with the photos, etc, hence entry no30. Anyway, picking up from No 29, forgot to mention for those of you with a map, Nuttbush is about 40km west of Port Augusta, SA. Our route took us there and back into familiar territory as we passed through PA on our way north in our camping trip in early August (See blog no 16 Darwin to Darwin) This time we headed SE until we passed through the Clare Valley and reached the Barossa Valley where we camped for a couple of days. As it was Easter Weekend, everywhere was full and we were lucky to get a spot at Nooriupta in the heart of the Barossa. Drinking, eating and restocking was the order of the days and then we headed to the south side of Adelaide, via Eden Valley, and Adelaide Hills until we arrived at Leigh and Janet’s at McLaren Vale. For those who haven’t picked it up, the above are all wine-growing areas. SA produces about 45% of all Australian wines or 730,000 tonnes of grapes or 43 million cases of wine a year. It’s the only agricultural crop I know where unsold stock not only doesn’t perish, it actually goes up in value!

We stayed one night with Janet & Leigh and then caught a plane back to Auckland on Wednesday. On Thursday we walked in on Jan at work and she nearly died – after a major double-take. We then headed north and stayed the night at our place near Matakohe. On Friday 13^th, Jenny’s 40^th birthday, we arrived at the Kai Iwi Lakes with a chicken and some champagne and surprised her too. The grandchildren were also wildly excited and then moved on as children do. Many thanks to Rhys for keeping in touch and not spoiling the surprise. Stayed the afternoon with them and back to Matakohe for the night. The next day, lunched with Liz Morrow and then to Jan and Dean’s where we surprised their children too. Then had a couple of days which were surprisingly busy, restocked on pills, etc and flew back to Adelaide.

We are staying for a few days with Leigh and Janet and catching up with all their news, and we will try to learn a bit more about winemaking, etc. Their vineyard is called “Mollydooker” which is Aussie slang for a left hander as all the family are. The wine sells mostly through websites in Australia and USA, and is predominately Shiraz and Cab Sav. Quite high priced, but really rich chewy wines. The weather is good and we are being looked after really well.



Scroll down past the ads, etc for more photos.
PandD
20 April 2012

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Photos

White Cockatoos
On the school grounds, Nooriupta, Barossa

White Cockatoos 2
Nesting in (above) the campground

Terrace View
From Leigh & Janets Note the overhanging grapes

Surprise, surprise
This is our youngest child turning 40 !

Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Founded 1892. Weplayed on Thursday, Don won.

With Janet & Leigh
Eating AND drinking

Caravan site
Great view

McLaren Vale Terroir
A thin smear of topsoil over fractured rock. Good for grapes, olives and weeds