Wine

Sauvignon blanc grapes

 Wine.

What has yet to be written?

Based upon the time spent in the doctor and blonde woman's attempt to understand oenology, a few paragraphs need to be swallowed and savored.  Probably the entire blog.

Rippon Vineyards overlooking Mt Aspiring

New Zealand produces 3% of the world's wine supply according to people who estimate things like that. Tim Fitz produces 3.1% in his basement according to friends who know things like that.  

Big juice containers in Church Road in Hawke's Bay

   
     Rivers of wine statistics flow forth.  Interesting facts and figures can be found in books, websites, billboards, and brochures.  One can easily listen to experts spin stories of the wine history.  Knowledgeable people throughout NZ add to the magic of the grape.  Fascinating information would need careful review…..somewhere else.  Not here.  No stinking facts here.


     "Couldn't understand a single word he said but he sure had some mighty fine wine…"
                                            3 Dog Night

Mercury Bay wine tasting

 New Zealand wine is mighty fine.  The tasting experience began shortly after arrival.  The tasting rooms uniformly involve picturesque settings, friendly people, tasty food additions, and the opportunity to purchase extra whenever the swirl disappeared.  

Overlooking vineyards at Brancott Estates

As Tom and Cheryl ventured through the countryside, vineyards divided the vast sheep stations and bush vegetation.  The wine path led to Waiheke Island, Hawke's Bay, Martinborough, Canterbury, Marlborough, West Auckland, and the Coromandel Peninsula.  Each scrutinized by amateur wine tasters in search of the perfect $12 bottle.

Mudbrick winery and restaurant in Waiheke Island

Wine has been sampled in restaurants, cellar doors, and homes of the Kiwis (always, the best).  Some locales caused Tom and Cheryl to wear clean shirts with their jandels (Kiwi for pedal thongs).  The wine tasting experience excelled in all places.






                                                                                 

Sharing stories at Babich Winery 

The recent South Island voyage in the Jucy camper van allowed investigation of the Marlborough area.  Multiple wineries sit in the sunshine closely together.  Quick trips to each location.  The conversation openings were nearly identical.

"Good afternoon.  Are you interested in a tasting?"

"I'm driving, but Cheryl might be interested."

"We are known for our Sauvignon Blanc.  The toitu (environment) lends itself to cool nights, soil alkalinity, and dry climate producing the perfect grape.  Try this one….I am sure you will taste the rich French oak, the hint of apricot, apple, asparagus, fennel, flax, fig, mushroom, and macadamia.  How do you like it?"

"Ummm…I really like it!  Oh, Tom, too bad you can't have some.  I think you should try just a little sip."  Martin Luther added his opinion on a near-by placard, "Beer is made by men, wine by God."

Sharing stories at Hunter's Winery

"OK, a little….um, mighty fine."

"Here, try this one."

"Well, that is mighty fine, mighty fine."

"That's it?" came the incredulous response of the wine hostess. "What about the gooseberry and walnut flavors?  C'mon, love,you can do better."

Another little sip.  "I sense a lavender sunrise on an isolated white sand beach with a beautiful woman holding my hand in a longing sort of way while she lets the morning breeze rustle her hair
across my shoulder and gazes at me like I am the

A mighty fine wine

Supreme Being ready to consume her as Andrea
Bocelli sings 'Con Te Partino'."

"Oh. Oh!"

"It is mighty fine wine."

The people next to us bought 3 cases.












They drove out of the South Island in the Jucy camper van back to Christchurch.  Then home to Thames via Auckland.  The wine country of the South added to the checklist.

Yealands Estate, largest in Australia/NZ