Marlborough, ah yes

Day 2 of Mary’s birthday experience – it was Dec 8^th yesterday in New Zealand, but Dec 8^th today back home. She’s really milking this!

Big surprise – we expected our booked wine tour of Marlborough through ‘Bubbly Grapes’ to be a group thing as they are incredibly popular, but we end up getting a personal tour guided by Kerry, the company’s owner. Very cool.

What a great area for wine touring – famed for Sav Blanc, but big on Pinot Noir. Kerry has many connections which are evident throughout our stops. It’s clear we’re getting special treatment.

Once back at our B&B, we decide to stroll up to the ‘Cork & Keg’, a local joint with nice beers, good wines & a decent menu.   We met a friendly goat and nice family of sheep along the way. A pleasant evening.

Dick

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It is quite an advantage crossing the international date line when you are celebrating your birth day is that you kind of get to do it twice!

Some time ago, we booked a wine tour with ‘Bubbly Grape’ and had conversation with regards to where they would go, since we knew we were going to do the “Wine by Bike” tours the day before. They had advised us to focus on things close to where we were staying, and we would go further a field with them the day after. While we were touring wineries yesterday, we ran into a Bubbly Grape tour twice and were a little concerned that we would be duplicating wineries and be with a large group.

So, we were pleasantly surprised this morning when a small Mercedes SUV pulls up and it’s Kerry, the owner of Bubbly Grape, to take us on a private tour of the region. She’s got us on a route that doesn’t include any of yesterday’s stops. Yay!

We have a pleasant tour of both boutique and medium sized wineries. Lunch is at Brancott, the largest winery in Marlborough; Dick has a Fillet and I had a Mushroom Risotto. Our table has an awesome view over their vineyards with mountains in the background. We finish with bubbly at No. 1 Family Estate and a tasting at Whitehaven. Somehow, Kerry has produced a slice of carrot cake with a candle and the cellar staff sing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, paired well with the pinot noir.

This is a beautiful part of the planet, people are kind and thoughtful, they are interested in who you are and sharing who they are. The conversations we have had, have been memorable. I would hope to return here again.

Post Note: I wanted to come here for the Sauvignon Blanc, but I think I am returning as a Pinot Noir convert. (don’t get me wrong, Sauvignon Blanc will always be my first love)

May

• Wine