The Wine Appreciation Tour to Central Otago

This weekend would be exactly 2 months since I got here. Have settling in pretty well. No complaint so far. My accommodation is located just slightly out of the way. But, I am good. I mean the walk is actually in fact good for me, I think....Well, at least I think so.

Well, I haven't been exactly out of Dunedin since I got here. I was thinking since I will be here for the next two years. Going to take it slow and easy. So, basically, I have only did some sight-seeing in town. But, I did a short "Wine Appreciation Tour" in Central Otago, 2 weekends ago; which was awesome. Seeing winery and learning a thing or two about wine drinking. But, I doubt I am still sober enough to listen to what the winery person have to say after the 3rd winery that we went in a day. Hahahah! But, it's all good.

Saturday, 21 March

We actually started off rather early. Pushed off around 7:30am, headed toward Alexandra.


The troop for the day!

We went from Dunedin and our first stop was at Black Ridge Vineyard and Winery. Apparently, it was one of Otago's oldest. It was still early and I haven't had much breakfast and I started off with wine. Healthy, hah? Well, it wasn't too bad.



Anyway, here...I totally fell in love with Riesling.




Followed by a stop at Cromwell to visit the Quartz Reef's Tasting Room in the Lake Dunstan Estate. We sampled the Chauvet Methode Traditionnelle, their famous sparkling wine. Sparkling wine, pretty cool! I guess if you are hosting some private exclusive party, having sparkling wine is definitely in.



Anyway, we continued the morning to The Big Picture where we had lunch and also more wine. Here we were actually taught to unveil our senses. We were brought into the aroma room where we got to sniff bottles and bottles of aroma of all sort. Then, we were brought into a dark room for a 25 minutes short documentary of wine from the region while, tasting. Pretty interactive, I would say.



Trust me, by now...most of us have lost our senses......hahahahah!!..

The afternoon was continued with the visit to Mt. Difficulty Wines. The scenery was magnificent here. Really wish we had lunch here coz it's just so cool to be able to sit under the sun, have a good wine and enjoy the scenery. What a life!



The last winery we visited before we called it a day was to the Chard Farm. Again, another really nice place with really interesting building structure.

We passed through the Kawarau Gorge to actually come here. That is where you can do the Kawarau Bungee Jump. And, the day was just perfect with beautiful sun and beautiful people.

We end the day in Queenstown; staying at Pinewood Lodge.

Luckily, no hangover for me. However, I constantly get motion sickness from the travelling in the van.

Sunday, 22 March

The next day, we head back to the Kawarau Gorge, where we visited the Gibbston Valley Wines and we had a wine cave tour.

I would say probably, the Gibbston Valley Wines was the biggest compared to the others that we have visited. I am not talking about the farm, of course. No way, I would know how many acres of land they have for the grapes plantation. Here, we did the wine cave which was totally awesome. Beyond words could describe. It kind of give you that feeling of how classic winery should be like. Love the Pinot Noir, would love to have a bottle of those but...it was a slightly expensive for my current budget. Sigh! Next time, perhaps. Would surely go back.

Peregrine Winery was the following stop. Here the building is rather unique. I seriously felt like we are heading to some extraterrestrial place. Hard to explain. I mean it's located at such a beautiful place, beautiful landscape. And, the building itself just speaks for itself.

Unique in its own right. Here, I fell in love with the Rose Wine. Apparently, it's their new wine. But, I do like it. I blame myself now for not getting it. Such an idiot.

We had our lunch in Carrick Wines. The last winery for the whole trip. I didn't had any wine here. Was just lazy. Somehow the environment don't give you that feel of trying out the wine. But, the garden in front of the restaurant was just great. We all just laid their for hours under the sun and not willing to go back to Dunedin.

Sadly, we have to......

So, we made a quick stop at an orchard fruit and vege. market in Cromwell to grab some fresh fruit ice-creams and went back to Dunedin.

=)