Boozy Birthday Bash

Trip Start Jun 05, 2007
1
84
131
Trip End Jun 2009


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Australia  ,
Friday, February 29, 2008

It was to be Linzi's 21st birthday - Again (I think this is the 10 year on the trott !!) and for the celebrations Rachel, Craig, Linzi and myself took a trip up the Hunter Valley wine region to try some of the world renound wines. We stayed on a Big 4 campsite called "Vinyard Valley" in a 2 bed cottage - no camping under canvas for this birthday bash. After arriving late on the Friday we settled and got an earlish night in readiness for the onslaught the following morning. We got picked up at 10am by the Wine Rover - a 14 seater minibus tour which would take us the 20 minute ride into the heart of the Hunter Valley, and then around 5 vineyards, a brewery and a cheese shop during the 7 hour trip. First stop was the "Rosemount" winery with a lovely old converted church as the tasting room. We sampled about 6 wines here from Sauvignon Blancs to Merlots, not all brilliant, but all good enough to get the palate going and yerning for more. Before leaving we were treated to a rendition of amazing grace by our host at the winery - A stunning irish voice, even with a sore throat, both me and Rach had goose bumps by the end Yorkshire Rose ?
Yorkshire Rose ?
 . After the free cabaret it was back onto the bus and on to the next winery and this was pretty much the same routine over the next few wineries which included Tulloch, Ivanhoe, McGuigan and Sobells, most pretty well known wines sold in the UK. As we had not really been out for a while we took the oportunity to break the bank and purchase some wine at cellar door prices - Well it would have been rude not to!
Lunchtime took us to the Village a large parkland with some great delicatessens, cafe's and shops where we could have a bite to eat, and stock up chocolates, fudge and vinagerettes. The whole village was owned by the ROCHE family, a name synonomous with make up and pharmaceuticals, they also made wine in a nearby vineyard. With so much money the family could even afford to build a church especially for their nieces wedding, located within the Village, when she couldn't find the perfect place to do the deed. The church and setting was stunning and it didn't take a rocket scientist to see why they did what they did. The last stop of the day was at the Blue Tongue brewery and i for one was sooooo excited. Although we were not allowed a free tasting session, we were able to sample 6 of the beers which came on a large paddle. Try all 6 for $10.00, take your paddle back and get a free glass of the one which you liked. Brilliant ! Although the saying about not mixing the grape with the grain really did apply, and after a day on the wine the fizz of the beer sent us all a little tipsy - not enough to stop completely however, so once back at the cottage we continued well into the night, remembering some of the wines we had tried earlier in the day, by drinking some more!
The following day was spent recovering from the previous days alcohol and very little else was achieved. The drive back to Sydney on the monday gave Rach and me the chance to see our first Kangaroo - not exactly what we had expected however due to the lack of movement. Yes it was unfortunately dead, the probable casualty of a night time collision with a car. This is the problem when man and animal live in such close proximity.
Slideshow Print this entry Sydney hotels