Today we were picked up by Julie, the owner of "Funny French Cars" tour company and driven around in one of her vintage citroens.
We asked for a tour of wine country and art galleries. First stop was a photography studio and quilt shop. Gilbert van Reenen has several published books of his NZ photos, and there was a quilt in the shop that I would have bought if I were a rich person, although technically it wasn't even for sale. I did take a pic of a wall hanging representing a fern for friend Joan Starr.
Then we went to a woodworking gallery but resisted buying any of the really beautiful bowls there. Hal was hungry (surprise!), so Julie hustled us over to a cafe in Bannockburn for lunch. Then on to the first winery, Georgetown, where owner Ian poured for us and talked about his grapes.
There are over 180 small private vineyards in the central Otago area and it is known especially for its pinot noirs and pinot gris, but also for rieslings and gewurztraminers. We tasted some yummy wine and then went on to see the old gold mining area around Cromwell.
We then went on to "Old Cromwell Town" which is a restoration of the old gold mining town that previously existed in the late 1800's, but which was flooded when they built a dam to create Lake Dunstan. Saw several more art galleries here.
And a lavender shop with a lovely wee garden out back.
We went to visit Lowburn Lavender farm, where we talked to the owner, got a small tour of the farm and I bought some rubbed lavender to bring home.
Our final stop was really the best--a second winery called Pisa Range Estate (after the Pisa range of mountains that back the property). Again tasted some wonderful light gewurztraminer, pinot gris and a couple vintages of pinot noirs. Owner Ginny and her dog Pinot are seen here in front of a shearing shed converted into a most wonderful home, where we tasted wines at her dining room table, while we talked about her experiences living all over the world, since her husband was with the NZ Foreign Ministry.
Overall a fabulous outing with a great guide we'd recommend to anyone!
There are over 180 small private vineyards in the central Otago area and it is known especially for its pinot noirs and pinot gris, but also for rieslings and gewurztraminers. We tasted some yummy wine and then went on to see the old gold mining area around Cromwell.
