Wednesday morning dawned dull and cool so after breakfast we decided to tour the vineyards in Gibbston Valley and Cromwell. Gibbston Valley is close to Queenstown and for a wine area is quite a narrow valley populated by small, boutique but very classy wine growers. The Pinot Gris from Gibbston Valley vineyard itself is justly famous and we had tasted it on our last visit at Tim Wilson's (Rosemary's cousin) house.
However, our particular target in the Cromwell area was Wooing Tree vineyard which had been introduced to us by David Dixon last time we were here. They do a really good Pinot Noir and having purchased some we had lunch there before starting back towards Queenstown.
Back to base camp but out plans for a BBQ were thwarted by intermittent rain.
Before entering the cellar door we visited a very good cheesery on the same site and having tasted a number of their cheeses inevitably bought some for supper.
A very knowledgeable young man talked us through the various wines and the Pinot Gris did not disappoint; very pale, dry and less flowery than many Pinot Gris's, it is a very elegant wine. We bought two bottles and a Pinot Noir.
On then to Peregrine Wines a favourite of ours when we last visited. An equally knowledgeable young lady this time told us all about the Peregrine wines and apparently these are now available at Majestic and even sometimes at Hennings in Pulborough. The Pinot Noir is excellent and yes we bought some more and a bottle of their very good Riesling.
Further north along the valley after the Kawarau Gorge are Cromwell and Bannockburn home to some of the slightly larger and more well known vineyards such as Felton Road and Mount Difficulty. We had stayed at Cromwell on our first visit to NZ and this area is also the fruit growing centre of the south island. The LLW wanted some cherries and inspite of the cherry season being over was determined to find some. Luckily for the crockery in our van we did spot a cherry emporium fairly quickly and duly purchased 2Kg!! And very good they are too!.
However, our particular target in the Cromwell area was Wooing Tree vineyard which had been introduced to us by David Dixon last time we were here. They do a really good Pinot Noir and having purchased some we had lunch there before starting back towards Queenstown.
We stopped briefly in Arrowtown an old (in NZ terms) gold mining town and then I suggested a stop at HJ Hackett's which apparently is the original bungy jumping spot. We watched a few jump off the bridge and swing around, heads very close to the swirling Kawarau river, but we were not tempted.
Back to base camp but out plans for a BBQ were thwarted by intermittent rain.
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