Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
T&KonTour
Friday 8 April, Gisborne to Napier
Today's drive is a relatively easy run south along the cost with only a short section of twisty hill driving. The scenic views distract us for the 3 1/2 hour trip, with the usual break for morning tea, being coffee and, for most, a cake. We arrive at midday and are able to check in to our beach front unit, very nice view, thanks for the upgrade.
In the afternoon we make the most of the lovely weather by walking around town. The forecast is not so good for the next two days unfortunately, rain is expected, more so on Sunday, so perhaps that will be a good day to hit the wine tasting trail.
Napier is the major city of the Hawkes Bay region and retains its Art Deco architecture in the central district. The town was hit by a serious earthquake in 1923 that destroyed most of the town, and it was then rebuilt in a consistent style typical of the time i.e. Art Deco.
Colin is cooking tonight and has selected steak and salad as the main course, cooked to perfection of course.
Saturday 9 April, Napier, Hastings and Wine Tasting 101
Today is looking a bit grey, with a light drizzle. The girls are heading into town to look at the retail opportunities. Meanwhile the boys have coffee in the Sisters café on the waterfront before attending to individual duties. We all meet up before lunch and decide to head towards Hastings via a craft shop in suburban Napier. Kathy finds a couple of crafty needlework projects in short order, all good.
After lunch we drive inland a short distance to the wine area, only 10-15 minutes and we are in the Hawkes Bay version of the Swan Valley. We visit the Unison Hill Vineyard and Te Awa Winery. Part of the area is underlain by this special gravel layer that keeps the vines well drained but warm in the cool autumn evenings and ensures the grapes ripen properly. We are impressed by the c******nay and cabernet blend although NZ is not normally a good place for cabernet grapes. Other people are on the wine trail, either on push bikes (not so good in the rain) or in a chauffeur driven vintage car. The lady chauffeur was something to see in her bowler hat! Then on to the Silky Oaks chocolate factory and museum. We sample some chocolate of course, but do not have time to go around the museum.
Sunday 10 April, Serious Wine Tasting
We have a day set aside to explore some of the vineyards and learn a bit more about Napier's wine producers. The Wine Centre gave us some advise, and Colin very kindly volunteered to be skipper, although we would have been happy to take a wine tour from one of the local operators. Captain Colin set an itinerary so we start off by driving just 6km south of town to Brookfield. One of the oldest established wineries in the region (1937), it is run by a couple, Peter and Sharon Robertson. The wine tasting area looks deserted initially, until we walk a bit further into the building, to a lovely big room with barrels around the walls, a huge fireplace and plenty of seating. Here the lady of the house is sitting around a table talking wine with a couple. We are invited to sit and taste some excellent wines, accompanied by personal anecdotes and lots of information about the local industry. We learn that this part of North Island is now producing some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes thanks to an early-ripening clone. Needless to say we buy some bottles for consumption over the next 2 weeks.
Next stop on the wine trail is Chapel Road winery, which is a much bigger concern. We taste their best wines to select a glass to accompany lunch. Meanwhile Colin & Suz have found a table, so we order the tasting platter for two. It looks so appetising that C&S make the same selection. It turns out to be an excellent choice. Thanks to the manager and the very obliging, and very French young man in the tasting area, we have a really good time.
Our last visit is to Mission Estate winery, which Tony & Kathy recall from our last visit to the area some 15 years ago. First established by French missionaries in 1851, this was the first winery in the entire country. The missionaries arrived in 1838 with a few vines to make sacrificial wine, but by 1870 the winery was producing a commercial vintage. Like most of the wineries, there is a charge to taste, $5 per person, but Mission gives you a large engraved glass as part of the deal, not so bad. We take lots of photos of the historic building and gardens.
In the evening both couples decide to do their own thing. C&S decide to just graze on the food we have in the apartment. Kathy decides that Tony should take her out for something simple. After walking around most of the central district we opt for a Thai restaurant on Marine Parade. Two mains plus rice and a glass of wine each, all for NZ$62. Not bad.
Today's drive is a relatively easy run south along the cost with only a short section of twisty hill driving. The scenic views distract us for the 3 1/2 hour trip, with the usual break for morning tea, being coffee and, for most, a cake. We arrive at midday and are able to check in to our beach front unit, very nice view, thanks for the upgrade.
In the afternoon we make the most of the lovely weather by walking around town. The forecast is not so good for the next two days unfortunately, rain is expected, more so on Sunday, so perhaps that will be a good day to hit the wine tasting trail.
Napier is the major city of the Hawkes Bay region and retains its Art Deco architecture in the central district. The town was hit by a serious earthquake in 1923 that destroyed most of the town, and it was then rebuilt in a consistent style typical of the time i.e. Art Deco.
Colin is cooking tonight and has selected steak and salad as the main course, cooked to perfection of course.
Saturday 9 April, Napier, Hastings and Wine Tasting 101
Today is looking a bit grey, with a light drizzle. The girls are heading into town to look at the retail opportunities. Meanwhile the boys have coffee in the Sisters café on the waterfront before attending to individual duties. We all meet up before lunch and decide to head towards Hastings via a craft shop in suburban Napier. Kathy finds a couple of crafty needlework projects in short order, all good.
After lunch we drive inland a short distance to the wine area, only 10-15 minutes and we are in the Hawkes Bay version of the Swan Valley. We visit the Unison Hill Vineyard and Te Awa Winery. Part of the area is underlain by this special gravel layer that keeps the vines well drained but warm in the cool autumn evenings and ensures the grapes ripen properly. We are impressed by the c******nay and cabernet blend although NZ is not normally a good place for cabernet grapes. Other people are on the wine trail, either on push bikes (not so good in the rain) or in a chauffeur driven vintage car. The lady chauffeur was something to see in her bowler hat! Then on to the Silky Oaks chocolate factory and museum. We sample some chocolate of course, but do not have time to go around the museum.
Sunday 10 April, Serious Wine Tasting
We have a day set aside to explore some of the vineyards and learn a bit more about Napier's wine producers. The Wine Centre gave us some advise, and Colin very kindly volunteered to be skipper, although we would have been happy to take a wine tour from one of the local operators. Captain Colin set an itinerary so we start off by driving just 6km south of town to Brookfield. One of the oldest established wineries in the region (1937), it is run by a couple, Peter and Sharon Robertson. The wine tasting area looks deserted initially, until we walk a bit further into the building, to a lovely big room with barrels around the walls, a huge fireplace and plenty of seating. Here the lady of the house is sitting around a table talking wine with a couple. We are invited to sit and taste some excellent wines, accompanied by personal anecdotes and lots of information about the local industry. We learn that this part of North Island is now producing some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes thanks to an early-ripening clone. Needless to say we buy some bottles for consumption over the next 2 weeks.
Next stop on the wine trail is Chapel Road winery, which is a much bigger concern. We taste their best wines to select a glass to accompany lunch. Meanwhile Colin & Suz have found a table, so we order the tasting platter for two. It looks so appetising that C&S make the same selection. It turns out to be an excellent choice. Thanks to the manager and the very obliging, and very French young man in the tasting area, we have a really good time.
Our last visit is to Mission Estate winery, which Tony & Kathy recall from our last visit to the area some 15 years ago. First established by French missionaries in 1851, this was the first winery in the entire country. The missionaries arrived in 1838 with a few vines to make sacrificial wine, but by 1870 the winery was producing a commercial vintage. Like most of the wineries, there is a charge to taste, $5 per person, but Mission gives you a large engraved glass as part of the deal, not so bad. We take lots of photos of the historic building and gardens.
In the evening both couples decide to do their own thing. C&S decide to just graze on the food we have in the apartment. Kathy decides that Tony should take her out for something simple. After walking around most of the central district we opt for a Thai restaurant on Marine Parade. Two mains plus rice and a glass of wine each, all for NZ$62. Not bad.
- comments