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Life After Brown
Around the world with Traveler
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<blockquote data-quote="traveler" data-source="post: 259891" data-attributes="member: 1954"><p><strong>Re: Around the world with Traveller</strong></p><p></p><p>Today's stop is Napier. This is a town with wonderful Art Deco buildings. They have walking tours leaving from the information center in town with guides who explain the history of the town and the buildings. They even do tours using vintage vehicles.</p><p></p><p>We took the ship supplied free shuttle into town. It terminated at the info center. As we exited the bus, there was a young fellow touting his wine tasting tour. When I made a further inquiry he said that payment was to be made at the information desk inside. Well, the weather was not looking too good and I felt that a walking tour of the city might not be the best choice, we went in and booked the tour. The cost was $65 NZ per person and they went to 4 wineries with a snack at the second one. This translated to about $45 US and the fact that the ship ran a similar tour to three wineries (no snack included) at $86 US, we felt good about the deal. As it turned out, it was a very good deal. Ten of us in all fit in his van and we struck off, first to the Mission Winery. It was at one time a convent and the attached church was still in use. A pleasant place with views of the vineyard.</p><p></p><p>After sampling I purchased a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that suited our tastes. All their wines were on the light side at this and the other three stops. These were true tastings as they had a barrel available to spit into if you wanted only to taste wine or if you didn't like the wine. The people at the bar told us there was no shame in spitting out the wine. That is the way to taste. Also, there was a pitcher of water to rinse the glasses between tastings. During the ride between stops the young guide/driver gave us a detailed history of the area and its wine making. As good, if not better than one would get on a ship tour.</p><p></p><p>On the way to the second stop, my wife asked if there would at least be crackers as she was already feeling the effects of the first tastings. The driver promised there would be a snack available and that pleased her. When we arrived there we were ushered into a restaurant like setting on the ground floor. I overheard our guide talking to another guide who said there was a large group tasting in the basement. That, it turns out was the tour from our ship. This stop was a real treat. On the table before us were 5 wine glasses at each place. The guide told us that special plates of food would be out in minutes. When they came, family style, we were to share each plate between three of us at the long table. What a spread! There were chunks of freshly, lightly smoked salmon, prosciutto, venison slices, yams, olives, mushrooms, the famous New Zealand green lip mussels, pumpkin, yogurt spread and a choice of rolls or thick, toasted bread... a veritable feast for the eyes and the stomach. All this with five different wine tastings. Later we learned that the ships your got a choice of crackers at this stop, nothing more. When we left, it was already raining heavily.</p><p></p><p>The third stop was a pleasant little winery where we continued tasting and we purchased a bottle of their version of ice wine. Since there are no deep frosts, the grapes harvested late in the season are quickly placed in freezers which simulates them freezing on the vine. This sweetens the grape and makes for a very sweet desert wine.</p><p></p><p>The last stop was at a large winery. The driver had us take seats on the couches and not stand at the bar where tastings mostly took place. He brought bottles of various wines to us and generously poured the tastings. After about 10 or 12 different wines, whew, it was time to take us back to the ship. We rode through the rain and arrived at the gangway about 45 minutes before the ship was scheduled to set sail. What a great day, even with the rain.</p><p></p><p>The local band welcomed us back to the ship too...</p><p></p><p>Tomorrow, Wellington and our chocolate tour...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="traveler, post: 259891, member: 1954"] [B]Re: Around the world with Traveller[/B] Today's stop is Napier. This is a town with wonderful Art Deco buildings. They have walking tours leaving from the information center in town with guides who explain the history of the town and the buildings. They even do tours using vintage vehicles. We took the ship supplied free shuttle into town. It terminated at the info center. As we exited the bus, there was a young fellow touting his wine tasting tour. When I made a further inquiry he said that payment was to be made at the information desk inside. Well, the weather was not looking too good and I felt that a walking tour of the city might not be the best choice, we went in and booked the tour. The cost was $65 NZ per person and they went to 4 wineries with a snack at the second one. This translated to about $45 US and the fact that the ship ran a similar tour to three wineries (no snack included) at $86 US, we felt good about the deal. As it turned out, it was a very good deal. Ten of us in all fit in his van and we struck off, first to the Mission Winery. It was at one time a convent and the attached church was still in use. A pleasant place with views of the vineyard. After sampling I purchased a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that suited our tastes. All their wines were on the light side at this and the other three stops. These were true tastings as they had a barrel available to spit into if you wanted only to taste wine or if you didn't like the wine. The people at the bar told us there was no shame in spitting out the wine. That is the way to taste. Also, there was a pitcher of water to rinse the glasses between tastings. During the ride between stops the young guide/driver gave us a detailed history of the area and its wine making. As good, if not better than one would get on a ship tour. On the way to the second stop, my wife asked if there would at least be crackers as she was already feeling the effects of the first tastings. The driver promised there would be a snack available and that pleased her. When we arrived there we were ushered into a restaurant like setting on the ground floor. I overheard our guide talking to another guide who said there was a large group tasting in the basement. That, it turns out was the tour from our ship. This stop was a real treat. On the table before us were 5 wine glasses at each place. The guide told us that special plates of food would be out in minutes. When they came, family style, we were to share each plate between three of us at the long table. What a spread! There were chunks of freshly, lightly smoked salmon, prosciutto, venison slices, yams, olives, mushrooms, the famous New Zealand green lip mussels, pumpkin, yogurt spread and a choice of rolls or thick, toasted bread... a veritable feast for the eyes and the stomach. All this with five different wine tastings. Later we learned that the ships your got a choice of crackers at this stop, nothing more. When we left, it was already raining heavily. The third stop was a pleasant little winery where we continued tasting and we purchased a bottle of their version of ice wine. Since there are no deep frosts, the grapes harvested late in the season are quickly placed in freezers which simulates them freezing on the vine. This sweetens the grape and makes for a very sweet desert wine. The last stop was at a large winery. The driver had us take seats on the couches and not stand at the bar where tastings mostly took place. He brought bottles of various wines to us and generously poured the tastings. After about 10 or 12 different wines, whew, it was time to take us back to the ship. We rode through the rain and arrived at the gangway about 45 minutes before the ship was scheduled to set sail. What a great day, even with the rain. The local band welcomed us back to the ship too... Tomorrow, Wellington and our chocolate tour... [/QUOTE]
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